New York's Adirondacks offer plenty of fall foliage

When asked where to go to see the best fall colors, even many New Yorkers instinctively respond "New England." And while there can be no denying the strength of New England's claims to seasonal superiority, neither is there any need for Empire State leaf-peepers to "go abroad," not with their very own Adirondack Mountains -- a 6 million-acre state park -- beckoning them due north.

To be sure, the Adirondacks offer a different sort of autumnal splendor. Lakes (more than 3,000 of them), mountains (more than 100 over 3,000 feet) and unbroken forest (often as far as the eye can see) combine to create a more rugged, primitive canvas upon which Mother Nature paints her annual masterpiece. But it's much less congested and every bit as colorful. (The I Love NY website lists crimson, copper, bronze, burgundy, scarlet, mustard, goldenrod, pumpkin and canary, for starters.)

Given its size and topographical variety, it's hard not to find plenty of spectacular scenery in the Adirondacks during fall foliage season. But doing so requires both a car and a willingness to use it, since slight changes in elevation can make significant differences in the intensity of the colors and just a few miles can reveal an infinite variety of vistas and backdrops. Among the more rewarding drives, all of which are less than 50 miles in length are:

There are, of course, other ways to take in the fall colors and even the most ardent of do-it-yourselfers will appreciate letting someone else do the "driving" for a while.

While the lure of the Adirondacks has always been nature, up-close and personal, the mountains are not without their man-made attractions, and foliage fanatics should not overlook them, be it for variety's sake or in case the weather turns uncooperative. Among the most rewarding of these, especially in terms of appreciating the region's human and natural history, are:

Options run the gamut from modest roadside motels and lakeside cabins to rustically elegant Adirondack-style inns and resorts. Leaf-peepers will find the greatest concentration of choices in the two tourist centers of Lake Placid and Lake George, where dining and shopping opportunities (think end-of-the-season sales) abound. Those willing to think -- and travel -- outside the resort box, however, will find even more aesthetically compelling options among the park's many smaller villages.

Historically speaking, colors begin arriving in the higher elevations in early September and peak around the end of the month. The show then works its way down into the lower elevations with the Lake Champlain and Lake George valleys peaking in mid to late October. The best seats for the 2013 season, however, cannot generally be selected in advance but must be sought out the day of the performance. To assist you in that process, monitor the progress of the colors by contacting the official New York State tourism department at 800-CALLNYS, iloveny.com or by visiting the independent Foliage Network at foliagenetwork.com. General information about the region is available from the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council (518-846-8016, visitadirondacks.com).