By Evelyn Kelly, PhD
What? Leaf peepers? “Peeping” at leaves? I had never heard of such a thing.
Going to the Mountains
As East Tennesseeans, we knew it was time to go to the mountains when October rolled around. So we piled into the car and headed out of the city to do our October thing. And now for the shock: Leaf Peeping.
Going to See the Leaves
Living in Central Florida, we feel the heat lingering well into October. But for many, the itch starts. A group packs their bags and begins a cool, soul-stirring journey to east Tennessee or western North Carolina. Like a contagious fever, the urge spreads: we must go see the leaves. We dream in burnt orange, fiery red, and pumpkin spice. And so we join the pilgrimage to the mountains to witness the magic of fall.
It always struck me as funny—people travel miles just to look at leaves. Surely, there’s more to it than that. But they return energized, inspired, and claiming something near a spiritual experience.
We first encountered this curious term in 2024, while planning a tour of all six New England states. The timing was perfect—we’d catch the foliage at peak color. We didn’t expect to be told we’d be “leaf peeping.”
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We may have misunderstood and asked the guide to repeat it twice. LEAF PEEPING. Perhaps it was the New England accent that threw us off. We knew what a leaf was, of course—but “peep”? That word had strange associations. We thought of “Peeping Toms,” those sneaky characters lurking outside windows. That term dates back to the legend of Tom spying on Lady Godiva in Coventry. And then there were “peep shows”—not about trees.
Made in the USA
Imagine you’re a visitor from England, arriving in the Great Smoky Mountains in October. You’re overcome. You’ve never seen anything like it—England’s trees settle for muted browns and soggy leaf piles. But here, millions of Americans pack their bags each fall to chase golden roads and crimson dreams. Even Henry David Thoreau wrote about New England’s fall splendor in 1862.
Leaf tourism contributes over $30 billion to local economies across 24 eastern states.
And somewhere in all this color, the term leaf peeping was born. In 1966, Vermont’s newspaper Bennington Banner first used the phrase. Some say locals coined it to describe tourists flooding their towns every fall. Either way, the name stuck. And so, somewhat reluctantly, we found ourselves saying it too—leaf peeping—cringing each time.
Western Massachusetts
We loved Boston, but nothing prepared us for the beauty of the Berkshires. Drenched in autumn hues, the mountains looked like someone had thrown a patchwork quilt over the landscape.
After visiting the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, we drove winding country roads, marveling at maples ablaze in crimson.
Connecticut
Connecticut in the fall is an artist’s dream: a kaleidoscope of crimson, amber, gold, and russet. The hardwoods, rolling hills, and colonial charm make it one of New England’s best leaf-peeping destinations.
Vermont
Vermont was the last of my 50 states to visit—and what a grand finale! We stayed at a cozy inn in Stowe, warming by the fire while peeking out the window at leaves dancing in the wind. There were so many places to see beautiful foliage in Vermont.
New Hampshire
We took the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire—a breathtaking 34-mile drive through the White Mountains—no gas stations. No restaurants. Just nature.
At a scenic overlook, Natalie, the artist, said, “God took a giant paintbrush to this place.” Evelyn, the scientist, chimed in: “Actually, it’s the disappearance of green chlorophyll that reveals the brilliant colors that were always there.” Science and art, hand in hand on this journey.
Related: 30 Stunning Photos (with commentary) of Acadia National Park taken by park volunteer Alan Nyiri
The Leaves of Maine
Acadia National Park delivered a grand finale—dramatic cliffs, deep blue ocean, and a riot of color blanketing the forest.
We left New England full of gratitude for the color, the crisp air, and the reminder that change, though fleeting, can be gloriously beautiful.
Evelyn and Natalie Kelly are co-authors of “Have a Love Affair with Travel,” available on Amazon.com
