海角大神

Fall is here, and with it comes the changing leaves. In many parts of the U.S., tourists flock聽from around the world to see the beautiful聽autumn colors, a practice that's colloquially known as "tree peeping."

I'm based in Scottsdale, Arizona, so I won't be having the fall experience in my backyard this year. If聽I want to see those kinds of sights, I'll have to look elsewhere. Here are my favorite places to check out fall foliage on a budget:

Check out the聽(free!) gondola in Telluride, Colorado.

Telluride, Colorado is world-famous for its beauty, and its聽gondola ride聽is free year-round. Do yourself a favor and Google "Telluride gondola fall foliage" right now, and see how long it takes you to hop on a plane to see it for yourself. Of course, the closer you get to ski season, the more snow there will be on the ground, and the busier it will be. But fall is a shoulder season for Colorado, so it's a great time to save on rooms and cabins at resorts that would normally be pretty pricy.聽Check outTravelzoo聽for some good places to stay in Telluride.

Cruise down the Mississippi or off the Eastern coast.

New England and Eastern Canada are聽often noted as places with the best fall foliage around, and several cruise lines offer autumn cruises in those areas for this very reason. You can also experience the changing leaves throughout the midwest and south with Mississippi River tours that will leave you breathless and keep your wallet聽full.聽The聽American Queen Steamboat Company聽is great for budget travelers in the Midwest, and tree peepers聽with a little more cash on hand will likely聽enjoy aCrystal Cruise.

If you want more tips on frugal cruising,聽check our our article on how to avoid going broke聽on your next boating adventure.

Take a road trip through Missouri

We just published an article on how to save on fall road trips, so check that out if you're thinking of taking a mid-autumn vacation. If you're looking for a destination with plenty of fall-specific sights to see, Missouri offers some of the prettiest聽foliage in the country, and with fun stops (like Branson and the Ozarks) along the way, it's a budget-friendly destination the whole family can enjoy.聽Check out聽Main Street Lake Cruises聽for ways to see the changing of the colors from the water.

Saddle up and ride around聽Wisconsin!

Wisconsin has tons of gorgeous fall views even more ways聽to see them, but my favorite is in the saddle.聽Lots of options聽for horseback riding exist across the state, so if you're equine-inclined, check it out!

Take a leisurely train ride through West Virginia

West Virginia is underrated when it comes to travel destinations. If you can plan a long weekend and rent a cabin in Canaan Valley and visit Blackwater Falls in mid-October, you will not be disappointed. If you're planning a trip to WV for the fall foliage, you should also book your ride on the聽Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad.聽The train runs on weekdays and weekends throughout the month of聽October.

This article first appeared in Brad's Deals.聽