There are only three places on the planet where deciduous forests transform into the reds, oranges and yellows of fall. And nowhere else is it as bright and brilliant as in Eastern North America. While the autumnal equinox officially starts on Sept. 22, there's still plenty of time to plan your trip, even if it's just down the street. All of the 48 contiguous United States have some fall foliage, even Florida, but here are the best options for a true explosion of color.

The usual suspects

You may recall from your high school science class that chlorophyll is what gives plants their green color. The natural nutrient allows plants to utilize the sun's rays to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars and starches by photosynthesis. However, as the Earth tilts away from the sun, plants send less chlorophyll out to the leaves, causing them to transform into the vibrant colors of autumn.

New England

If there's one area that's known for pretty fall colors, it's New England. The farther away you are from the equator, the less sun you get. Plants in the northern regions produce more chlorophyll during the spring and summer, and when they stop pumping out to the leaves, the colors are even more spectacular.

The White Mountains of New Hampshire are well known for their fall foliage. Millions come to see the leaves erupt into reds, oranges and yellows during October. The same sugar that creates true maple syrup causes chemical reactions in the leaves, causing the more brilliant reds. If you visit too early, the colors will seem dull, but mid-October is prime viewing time.

Head up Route 112 to hit the famous Kancamagus Highway, a 34-mile drive with no distracting businesses, restaurants or gas stations, just mile after mile of beautiful fall scenery. The smell of the forest transports you back in time, and many choose to camp along The Kanc for the best autumn experience.

Named by Travel + Leisure as one of the Best Places to See Fall Foliage in the United States, Stowe, Vermont, is known as the fall color capital. You'll want to visit the last week of September through mid-October for the best leaf peeping. You can see the explosion of fall colors around the historical buildings in town, or wind up Smuggler's Notch, first used in the War of 1812.

Further south, the hills and valleys come alive with fall colors in Green Mountain National Park. What better way to maximize your autumnal experience than going through a forest of trees, all displaying slightly different varieties of color? The mountains make the perfect backdrop, as you hike into the 400,000 acres using the oldest continuous footpath in the U.S.

Typical fall colors are offset by the blues and greens of evergreen trees in The Berkshires, Massachusetts. Take a trip down the Mohawk Trail along Route 2 that includes the famous Hairpin Turn, or work your way up the winding road to the top of Greylock Mountain, where you can see colorful leaves for miles.

Last year, Yankee magazine named Kent, Connecticut, one of the best fall foliage towns in New England. It's a great place to take the family. Along with Mystic, Hartford and New Haven, you can see plenty of colorful leaves, historic buildings and old covered bridges. You can even catch a fall foliage-oriented train ride.

Make a whole day of it by slipping into nearby Rhode Island. The Blackstone Valley region is gorgeous and just a few miles away from Providence and Newport, where you can see tall ships on Narragansett Bay.

Tri-State Area

In early to mid-October, the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York flourish with a spectacular display of color. Hannacroix Creek Preserve is a nice hike into an explosion of fall foliage, ending with a majestic waterfall. The overlook next to the historic Catskill Mountain House, built in the 1820s, provides a perfect vantage point for admiring the changing leaves.

The leaves in the trees on the 6 million acres of the Adirondacks change so consistently, it's like watching a colored wave. They shift from yellow to orange and red, then purple, before dropping entirely off. They also shift depending on weather and how close they are to the lakes and rivers.

Whether you opt to hike into the Allegheny National Forest or bike along the Great Allegheny Passage, fall colors are unmissable in Pennsylvania. Pine Creek Gorge adds purple to the mix. Late September to early October is the best time to leaf-peep in the Keystone State. Big Pocono State Park offers a summit with ideal views of fall foliage in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey

Less crowded, still beautiful

Their colors may not be quite as spectacular as what you'd see in the crisp New England autumn, but the middle of the country still has plenty to see, and often boasts much smaller crowds.

Midwest and Great Lakes

The variety of trees and waterways they're adjacent to provides a unique spectrum of color in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The usual red and yellow leaves are complemented by reddish brown, bronze and purple-hued reds. Mid-October is the best time to visit Peninsula State Park in Door County, Wisconsin. And to really avoid crowds, but still see plenty of color, try Lilydale, Minn.

Michigan's Upper Peninsula, or U.P., is a hidden gem amongst leaf peepers. Mackinac Island, famous for its fudge and saltwater taffy, is car free and covered in deciduous trees, carpeting the community in an explosion of color starting in mid-October. Ride a bike or hop on a horse-drawn carriage to explore.

The third week of October is the best time to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. The usual reds are mixed in with a whole palette of other rose-colored hues, along with yellows and some oranges.

The Mason-Dixon Line

While there are many places to spot fall colors in the Southern states, there's one road that combines the best views. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina, connecting Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That's hundreds of opportunities to see gorgeous fall colors, with the best prospects in mid-to late October, depending on your elevation.

Underrated alternatives

Finally, take a look out west. These are places you might not expect, but look beautiful, and with a much smaller crowd.

Go West, young man

A proliferation of cottonwood, red alders and maple trees decorates the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon with stunning golden and red-hued leaves. Mid- to late October is when the colors pop most, depending on elevation. Residents recommend hiking Multnomah Falls, Hood River or Eagle Creek Trail. The Columbia River Gorge Scenic Byway is perfect for vehicle traffic, with plenty of areas to pull off and snap shots.

Grand Teton, Yellowstone National Park and Jackson Hole in Wyoming have their own unique fall flavor. An abundance of Aspen trees means yellow is the dominant autumn color here, laced with some oranges and few reds and the occasional purple.

Surprisingly for some, the Arizona high desert displays a fiery fountain of fall foliage. The color changes can be clearly tracked north to south. In Flagstaff and north of the Grand Canyon, the colors are most vibrant in late September. As they fade, the palette shifts down, Sedona in mid- to late October, and the Chiricahua Mountains light up in late October into November.

Colorado follows a similar pattern, with their vivid yellows, golds, oranges and reds cascading southwards as September turns into October and then November. For Aspen, the most vibrant hues are in late September and can be seen from Cathedral Lake, driving down Independence Pass, or camping near Maroon Bells.

Mount Rainier in Washington state finds itself carpeted with fall colors tinged with southwest hues. From mid-October to early November, tour the park between Sunrise and Chinook Pass, as well as the Paradise area, Reflection Lakes, Bench and Snow Lakes, and the Grove of the Patriarchs.

Orange hues tend to dominate the forests around Lake Tahoe, straddling the California and Nevada border. Drive Highway 50 or 80 to see some beautiful landscapes, or venture off the freeway for more exploration around Truckee River and Donner Lake with views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Check out Ponderosa Meadow, famous to so many boomers thanks to the show "Bonanza."

Turning over a new leaf

While leaves can start changing as early as mid-September, October is really the peak time for most leaf peeping. If you need a state-by-state reference, the Farmer's Almanac breaks it down even to the specific regions. Even the busiest areas are a little quieter during the week. With proper planning, you can see lots of gorgeous fall color without tripping over too many other tourists.

Ksenia Prints is a food and travel writer from Montreal, Canada. She blogs over at We Travel We Bond, writing about family travel off the beaten path.