For me, growing up in the Northeastern United States, autumn meant brightly colored leaves. When I moved to a subtropical climate as an adult, I liked the warmer weather. But I missed the beautiful autumn leaves. New England, the region where I grew up, is famous for colorful fall foliage. But when I moved back to the United States, I went to a different region, the upper Midwest. I was delighted to discover that here, too, the autumn leaves put on a wonderful display.

  My new home is on the border of Michigan and Indiana. It’s part of the Great Lakes region, named for five huge bodies of water. This region attracts many visitors who come to view its autumn foliage. These visitors, known as leaf peepers, time their trips to see as many colored leaves as possible. The best time to see leaves, called peak season, varies from year to year.