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There’s no better way to enjoy the magic of a Traverse City autumn than to get out and walk about in it. Photographs are pretty, but there’s really no substitute for smelling the aromas of fallen leaves, listening to them crunch underfoot, and feeling the cool breeze brush your face as you surround yourself with in the sensory overload of this lovely, brief season.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the fall color from below – looking up from the seat of your bike or your car as you pass a blazing hillside of red, gold and orange maples. Hard-core foliage fans, however, won’t be content until they’ve climbed the summits of a few hills to enjoy the autumn display from above.

There are lots of ways to experience fall color in the Traverse City area: driving, hiking, cycling, or simply staring out your hotel window. One of the most rewarding is to combine a color tour with a paddling adventure by canoe or kayak .

It’s important to know where you should go to see the best display of fall color. After all, a true foliage connoisseur knows that it’s not just about finding a bunch of trees in full flame. It’s a matter of finding that perfect spot with just the right balance of tone and hue, with a proper framing and at least one interesting feature – a barn, perhaps, or a body of water -- to add a little artistic flair to the scene.

Peak color season has arrived in the Traverse City area, and so have leaf-peepers from all around the Midwest -- maybe even a little farther, if the license plates I’ve seen lately are any indication.

Fall is my favorite season, and the Traverse City area abounds in places where you can almost always find great color.

Early fall color just south of town By MIKE NORTON Fall is on its way. Little by little, hints of red and gold are appearing among the trees. The days seem to alternate between razor-sharp

The view from Pyramid Point -- and yes, it really is that color! By MIKE NORTON I’m looking out my window right now at a misty landscape where rain squalls chase each other across the surface of

Looking south on East Grand Traverse Bay. A little rain, a little sunshine, a little more rain... You get the idea. By MIKE NORTON September has certainly been a dramatic month here in the