Canada's Picturesque National Park Boasts Stunning Mirrored Lakes & Colorful Fall Foliage

There are plenty of places to see stunning fall foliage. You could head to Massachusetts for some apple picking and a park picnic, or you can take an autumn road trip through Vermont. However, if you want to have a unique vacation with a background of jewel-colored trees, you may want to head to Quebec, Canada, to visit Mont Tremblant National Park. This isn't just a piece of land marked off for recreation; it has far more than you might expect. Not only is there a gondola ride up to the highest peak in the Laurentians where you can hike, dine, and explore, and beautiful lakes to boat on (the park has over 400 lakes and streams), but there is a pedestrian village with no cars at the foot of the mountains, complete with spas, restaurants, shopping, and festivals. 

Mont Tremblant National Park takes roughly two hours to reach by car from the Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (which started the hot trend of secondhand designer bag stores in airports). However, there is also a seasonal, 90-minute shuttle right from the airport to the pedestrian village so you never have to put your hands on the wheel. In fact, when you get there, you can also take free public transportation to many places around the area. The leaves are at peak color from the end of September through mid-October, but if you're looking for specifics, you can check out the park's color index here. Make sure to layer your clothing and bring rain gear, and get ready to enjoy the beauty of the fall season.

Mont Tremblant National Park has more than one way to explore the brilliant hues of autumn. Once you've gotten to the pedestrian village, you can take the Panoramic Gondola to get to the summit. From that vantage point, you can see the colors reflected in Lake Tremblant and the vast forests. On top, you can climb the observation tower for a 360-degree view. It's open until mid-October, and then opens again in November for skiing season. A fall round-trip ticket is $32 for adults at the time of this writing, though you get $1 off if you book early, and there's discount pricing for seniors and kids as well. You can also hike your way up. There are plenty of trails, with some starting at the summit, but you can hike the Summit of Mont Tremblant via Grand Brulé and Les Caps Trail, a 6.8-mile loop from the village to the top with a 2,083-foot elevation gain. At the summit, you'll also find a chalet where you can eat, which isn't something you get on a normal hike. Note that many hikes also allow leashed dogs.

While you're hiking or biking the trails, keep an eye out for animals like white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, red foxes, snowshoe hares, Eastern wolves, and even black bears. (Make sure you know what to do if you see a bear while hiking.) Alternatively, you can go ziplining with Ziptrek Ecotours for a different view of the leaves. You can also visit the Centre Nautique Pierre Plouffe to rent paddleboards, kayaks, pontoons (which allow a canine passenger), and other gear. Alternatively, cruise with Croisière Mont-Tremblant if you just want to drift along.

The jewel in the crown of this autumn wonderland is the car-free pedestrian village. If you're hungry, there are restaurants of all types, from bistros to tapas to seafood, and Beavertails & Creamery for poutine, ice cream, fries, and more. The village is also a shopper's paradise, with clothing stores, sports and outdoor supplies, maple syrup gifts, groceries, delis, candy shops, liquor stores, and even bubble tea. There are two golf courses nearby, Le Diable and Le Géant, where you can get a different view of the colorful surroundings, with kids' golfing free (with an adult) after 3 p.m. There are also festivals to enjoy featuring live music, climbing events, races, and a Halloween extravaganza. Afterward, you can hit one of the village's two spas for some pampering. 

There are lots of places to stay in the village and surrounding area, and many have hot tubs to soak in after a summit hike. The Lodge de la Montagne Hotel has an outdoor hot tub and pool, as well as a sauna, and is ski-in ski-out. The Bondurant Vacation Rentals at Tremblant offers two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences if you plan to stay for a bit, and it's close to the gondola, the ski lifts, and some hiking trails.

This is also a really dog-friendly spot. Lots of stores welcome your pooch, and they'll have signs on the door if they do. Many also put out water and have treats available. Some restaurants have dog-friendly patio dining, and you can also get takeout if you decide to stay in the dog-friendly Fairmont Tremblant or Le Westin Tremblant.