Fall foliage recommendations in Minnesota

Fait Accompli is a term that essentially means something is a done deal. The Confederates were done before General Lee's official surrender; the relationship was over before the breakup; Martin Winterkorn's resignation was guaranteed the moment the Volkswagon story broke. Lee's signature, Winterkorn's resignation, and the official end of the relationship - all fait accompli.

The Minnesota Twins' elimination from the 2015 playoff race? Fait accompli. Maybe that's too deep for a Saturday.

Let's talk about fall foliage instead.

The Basics

There are a great many places in this world where you can see some beautiful autumn colors. New England has some of the best locations in the United States, but while that perhaps makes it the most popular location for seeing colors that doesn't make it the only brilliant one. Up and down the Appalacians, the eastern seaboard south of Washington, and the Pacific northwest all have plenty of options.

Today, we're sticking to Minnesota. Minnesota's scenic beauty is criminally under-rated, as anyone who has spent any time there at all will tell you. Outside of the Red River Valley on the western border of the state, Minnesota is packed with lakes and forests and hills.

Today's recommendations are for those of you already in the state, for those of you with plans to travel to the great midwest, and for those of you who have stumbled across this post in a Google search and are bold enough to choose a travel destination that might not be at the forefront of your mind. Go forth, my friends, and see.

The Colors

First, a bit of science!

Leaf color is based on biochemicals. Green is the result of a pigment called chlorophyll, which is produced through the photosynthesis process. Chlorophyll reflects green light, absorbing blues and reds, but because it's processed faster than it's produced the shorter days in autumn mean less photosynthesis. Less sunlight and lower temperatures lead to less chlorophyll, allowing other pigments to be revealed in leaf color.

Carotenoid compounds give off the yellows and oranges. These compounds are already there during photosynthesis, but they only play a minor role and so become visible when the leaves break down chlorophyll. Reds, purples, and blues are the result of anthocyanin compounds. Sugar and acidity/alkalinity play roles here, but just like the yellows and oranges the colors will be more vibrant on warmer, sunnier autumn days. And here you thought it was all just in your imagination.

Only break out these bits of trivia if you know for a fact that they will impress your company. Otherwise, just point and say "Ooohh, pretty!"

The Recommendations

I browsed a number of websites for suggestions. While I haven't been to all of them personally, they come with fantastic first-hand reviews and are in some of the most beautiful parts of the state. Each entry comes with a title, linked to a website for more information, along with location (closest city or town) as well as the time of year where you're most likely to see the best colors (based off of the DNR's map below).

Below is a map from the DNR which indicates which times of the year are the best times to view colors in a certain part of the state. Please remember that this is just a guide, and that you can find weekly fall color updates for Minnesota here.

Additional Notes

If you check out any of these places, I approve of photographic evidence. I grew up in Minnesota and I'll certainly return there, but for the time being I'm out of state and so am very happy to live vicariously through your adventures. I also recommend having a look at the Superior National Forest Fall Colors Blog.

Here are just a few additional resources for you, in case giving you actual locations and websites and dates isn't everything you could possibly want from this Slumpbuster post.

Best Foliage Drives in Minnesota

• Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway
• St. Croix Scenic Byway
• Historic Bluff County Scenic Byway
• Glacial Ridge Trail Scenic Byway
• Minnesota's North Shore
• Duluth's Skyline Parkway

Best Other

• Hikes
• Riding
• Boat
• Horseback