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Now by now, I’m sure we all have had a good glimpse about how Canada is so far, primarily in the Summer months. But, Autumn (Or Fall) is now upon us, and i have to admit, this is now my favourite time of year. Some like sun, i actually like cosy log fire lit rooms.. So, Canada as we all should know is represented internationally by its bright bold red and white flag, with a brilliant red Maple leaf at its centre.. And its this i want to touch on in this article.

When you ask most people, think of some colours you’d see as representing autumn.. Most say Brown, Yellow or Orange.. In Canada, you get a whole variety of these colours, as well as Reds. Sometimes reds so vivid, you would seriously wonder how it is possible for a tree, a thing from nature to paint its leaves such brilliant red! Of coarse, there are other places you may see red leaves, but Canada truly is the best place on earth you will ever get to see this in such a quantity.

No doubt you may have even came to look at this article because you may be interested in actually seeing this for yourself, so i don’t really think i need to ‘big up’ this firework display of colour too much, but one thing i will say – is this is one of those things you MUST do before you die! So better sooner than later!..

Interestingly there are particular places in Canada you’d be best to go to should you really want to catch nature in its full glory when in Canada and so if your main reason for visiting Canada is to see the leaves Ontario, Quebec or the Maritime provinces are probably your best destinations! Here are the best places, within those provinces – and just as important – the times in which you’ll want to plan your trips.

Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario: Somewhere we have already featured on Canada Trip, and happy to feature once more. The size, beauty and proximity to Toronto of this 7,725 square kilometre park make it one of the most popular parks in Ontario. The forests, lakes, and rivers that comprise Algonquin Park can only be explored by foot or canoe.
The maple trees are at their best at the end of September or early October. The aspens, tamaracks and red oaks reach their peak in the middle or end of October. Consult the Algonquin Fall Colour Report for fall colour activity and specific viewing spots. For more information on Algonquin park, check out our Algonquin park catagory!

Niagara Parkway, Ontario: The historic Niagara Parkway, or “River Road,” is the route that Winston Churchill called “the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world,” and follows the winding curves of the Niagara River, which divides Canada and the US. The loveliest stretch in autumn is between the small towns of Queenston and Niagara-on-the-Lake and reaches its pinnacle of colour in early October. Finish your day with by tilting back a glass of Niagara Wine.

The Bruce Peninsula, Ontario: The Bruce Peninsula features one of the best portions of the Bruce Trail – an 800 km (almost 500 mile) hiking trail – that features splendid Ontario flora, fauna and water vistas. Some of the trees are more than 1000 years old and in the autumn, especially the end of September to beginning of October, the colours are something to behold.
Check the Ontario Parks Fall Colour Report for autumn colour activity and great viewing spot suggestions.

The Laurentian Mountains, Quebec: Québec is famous for its autumn colours because of the sugar maple trees. Also prevalant are the provincial yellow birch and the American beech. Try the Laurentian Mountains for one of the most beautiful displays of fall foliage in North America. Colours begin their peak at the end of September and continue until mid- to late-October in lower elevations and more southern locations. Celebrate the season by visiting resort town Mont-Tremblant for its annual Symphony of Colours festival.

Prince Edward Island: PEI forests have an exceptional range of colours in autumn. The warm waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait moderate PEI’s climate and help to create one of the longest fall foliage periods in northeastern North America. PEI’s forests are bear-free, providing year-round safety for visitors. As well, there are no deer or moose in Island forests, providing a safe viewing experience without large game hunting. Consult the PEI Fall Foliage Website for details.

The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia: Hailed as one of the world’s most beautiful drives, the Cabot Trail winds around Cape Breton’s northern shore and rewards fall colour seekers in a spectacular way. Fiery reds, oranges, crimsons and golds blanket the highlands and reach their peak the first or second week of October. Try visiting Cape Breton Highlands National Park or Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site. Consult the Nova Scotia Fall Foliage Report for detailed autumn colour activity.

Fundy Coastal Drive, New Brunswick: Like the Cabot Trail, the Fundy Coastal Drive is another outstanding maritime journey. See some of the highest tides in the world and enjoy the vivacious reds and deep pumpkin oranges, which are at their best the first two weeks of October during Canada’s Thanksgiving Weekend. Tree variety and colours are similar to New England’s, yet crowds are minimal in New Brunswick by comparison.

ALSO here’s a little factoid!
Autumn or Fall?

The word autumn comes from the Old French word autompne (automne in modern French), and was later normalized to the original Latin word autumnus. There are rare examples of its use as early as the 12th century, but it became common by the 16th century.

Before the 16th century, harvest was the term usually used to refer to the season. However, as more people gradually moved from working the land to living in towns (especially those who could read and write, the only people whose use of language we now know), the word harvest lost its reference to the time of year and came to refer only to the actual activity of reaping, and fall, as well as autumn, began to replace it as a reference to the season.

The alternative word fall is now mostly a North American English word for the season. It traces its origins to old Germanic languages. The exact derivation is unclear, the Old English fiæll or feallan and the Old Norse fall all being possible candidates. However, these words all have the meaning “to fall from a height” and are clearly derived either from a common root or from each other. The term came to denote the season in the 16th century, a contraction of Middle English expressions like “fall of the leaf” and “fall of the year”.

During the 17th century, English immigration to the colonies in North America was at its peak, and the new settlers took their language with them. While the term fall gradually became obsolescent in Britain, it became the more common term in North America, where autumn is nonetheless preferred in scientific and often in literary contexts.

Source: wikipedia

So, now you know!

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This entry was posted on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 2:08 pm and is filed under Nova Scotia, Ontario. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.