Leaf Peeping Toms

We’re back in New York, in the Northeast for that matter, for the first time since selling it all and leaving. We usually chase the sun, but we're chasing the leaves for the next few weeks, baby! 

It’s embarrassing to admit that, though we called New York home for many years, neither Colan nor I has ever been to the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate. (Which is only three hours from our former home. I know. I know) We hadn’t experienced a proper Fall in over two years and knew travel plans had to include it this year. 

Our first stop was Ithaca, which sits at the tip of Cayuga Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes. The city is famous for its waterfalls— there are over 150 within a 10-mile radius! While there, we tackled Buttermilk Falls, Taughannock Falls, and Robert H. Treman State Park. The hikes here are much different than out west— short and sweet, easy to bundle with a day of other adventures. With absolutely perfect weather and leaves just starting to change, that weekend was pure fall. Steep gorges of shale and limestone loomed over us. And with water that’s been hard at it since the Ice Age, the pools and swimming holes below us looked sculpted by human hands. Lines so smooth and curved you’d think Michelangelo himself was responsible. Insane.

We’d sandwich farmers markets, wineries, cideries, and Cornell University exploration between hikes and be home in time for a bonfire. (The best kind of Instagram-y experience, one you don’t  stop to record much.) 

Each region of our big, beautiful country has its unique charm. (And I say this as a proud product of “flyover” country.) With its historical charm and cramped quarters, the Northeast is so different from the West. It’s an inherently cozier experience for me, even if it wasn’t cool enough for sweaters yet. I can’t think of a better place to start our Fall Foliage extravaganza. It’s predicted to be an excellent year for leaf colors, so we hope to taste the rainbow and see the Skittles! (No pressure, Mother Nature, but my parents are meeting us in Vermont, and my mother has been dreaming of visiting New England for a long time. Vermont, please come dressed to impress.)

It’s only just beginning, as we’re poised to hit “peak leaf-peeper” season at each of our stops for the next few weeks, and expectations have already been exceeded exponentially. We’re either being set up for a great fall (bad um ching) or the mind-blowing leaf-changing season of a lifetime. I’ll let you know after we reach Florida.

Hope to see you out there! —CL

Cristy Lee McGeehan

Cristy Lee McGeehan, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of House of Highways, is a renowned figure in the hosting and hospitality industry, bringing her creative vision and expertise to the RV and nomadic travel space. Her work, highlighted in The Wall Street Journal, Magnolia Network, HGTV, and many others, centers on crafting rich, community-driven travel experiences and resources for modern nomads through technology and media. Through House of Highways, she inspires a vibrant, adventurous approach to life on the open road.