Fall at Mohonk Mountain Lodge in New York's Catskill Mountains. Courtesy of Mohonk Mountain Lodge.

By Susan Breslow Sardone

Any time is the right time for a romantic getaway. But fall has its special charms.

Wherever you travel in America in fall, there's a world of natural and man-made wonders to discover.

While most people think of NEW ENGLAND as the best place to visit in fall, the splendor of the season actually extends to a much larger area. Discover other spots where you can celebrate the season.

Fabulous Foliage

GEORGIA The Ante-bellum Trail loops through the center of the state, past Athens, Madison and Macon. Along the way one can travel to grand mansions, former plantations and magnolia-filled gardens.

SOUTH CAROLINA More than 70 pre-revolutionary buildings plus some 600 others from the early 1800's still stand on cobblestone streets in historic Charleston, South Carolina. Its museum is America's oldest.

NORTH CAROLINA Outside of Asheville, North Carolina, Pisgah National Forest offers visitors a journey down a mirror-smooth rock into a deep mountain pool. Abundant state waterfalls include Connestee Falls' twin gushers and 441 foot-tall Whitewater Falls.

VIRGINIA Blue Ridge, Allegheny, Shenandoah and Appalachian mountain ranges tower over Virginia's other natural endowments, which include tidal rivers, forest land and 20 miles of beach coast.

PENNSYLVANIA The green and thickly forested Pocono Mountains area encompasses 2,400 square miles that include numerous state parks. On hiking trails in fall one may encounter deer and other wildlife - but not another human -- for miles.

Fall's exquisite beauty is on display for travelers willing to go the distance.

NEW YORK STATE This is among the country's most picturesque and pastoral fall destinations. From Long Island to the Catskills to Niagara Falls, visitors will find multi-hued fall foliage, extensive biking and hiking trails and crisp apples for the picking.

MASSACHUSETTS Extending into the Atlantic Ocean, the glorious Cape Cod National Seashore stretches for 27,000 acres. Beyond the coastline are cranberry bogs, forests and natural and historical sites. A ferry ride away, quaint and charming Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Island appear as watercolor landscapes.

MISSOURI In the Midwest, Missouri's Ha Ha Tonka State Park is a geologic and scenic treasure. Towering limestone bluffs overlook the Lake of the Ozarks. Caves, underground streams, natural springs and bridges are part of this wondrous environment.

TEXAS Miles of inland freshwater creeks, ponds and lakes an hour's drive from Austin, Texas, lure anglers to try their luck. They're where the large and small mouth black bass, bluegill, catfish and sunfish are jumping.

ARIZONA Rugged mountains and unique desert landscapes lie just outside Scottsdale, Arizona. Further northwest, but well worth the trip, Grand Canyon National Park is for canoeing, river rafting, hiking and marveling at America's grandeur.

http://honeymoons.about.com/cs/weatherforecasts/a/FallTravel.htm