Upstate NY city named one of the best places to see fall foliage in the U.S.

Kingston, N.Y. in the fall

This beautiful Upstate NY city was chosen as one of the best places in the U.S. to view fall foliage. Photo courtesy of Bentley Potter Photography.

Just as this year’s official fall foliage reports have begun, an Upstate New York city has been named one of the best places in the U.S. to view the spectacular seasonal colors.

According to a study done by Rocket Homes, three cities from each region of the United States with a population size over 100,000 were chosen. And in the Northeast, Kingston, N.Y., was named one of the prime leaf peeping locations.

The researchers used a number of metrics in order to determine the best cities in each census region to view fall foliage and the best day to spot it in each location. They included:

  • Square miles of metro area covered in deciduous trees
  • Percent of metro area covered in deciduous trees
  • Freezing temperatures relating to plants (plant hardiness zones)
  • Latitude of metro area
  • Elevation (feet above sea level)
Kingston was chosen due to its “unique fall perspective” while aboard the Catskill Mountain Railroad’s Fall Foliage Adventure train. Visitors can also take a scenic trolley ride through town and along the Hudson River waterfront.
Other cities chosen for the Northeast region include Norwich, Connecticut, and State College, Pennsylvania.