:Leaf peeping
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Short description|Activity of viewing fall foliage}}
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File:Vermont fall foliage hogback mountain.JPG.]]
Leaf peeping, fall color tourism, or simply fall tourism is the activity in which people travel to observe and photograph the fall foliage in autumn. The term comes from the United States, having been first mentioned in 1966. Although the activity is prominent in the United States, where it is considered one of the most popular autumn activities, it is also present in other cultures, such as in Japan, where it is known as momijigari and has been practiced since the Heian period.
In the United States, leaf peeping is popular in New England and New York, where it has significantly affected regional autumn tourist activities, which have in return boosted local economies. New England states have also competed in leaf peeping tourism by launching advertisements and offering low-cost lodging. Some state parks have also introduced viewfinders for red-green colorblind people to allow them to view fall foliage. Leaf peeping has been negatively affected by climate change and weather occurrences, such as wildfires and hurricanes.
Terminology
The term leaf peeping is commonly referred to as an activity in which people travel to view and photograph the fall foliage during autumn, when leaves change colors.{{Sfn|Devarakonda|2023}} The term originates from the United States.{{Sfn|Haskell|2017}}{{Sfn|Lillywhite|Simpson|2024}} According to the Oxford English Dictionary, its first usage appeared in 1966 in the Bennington Banner newspaper.{{Sfn|Oxford English Dictionary|2024}}{{Sfn|Raftery|1966}} Leaf peeping is alternatively known as fall color tourism or simply fall tourism.{{Sfn|Kyne|Diver|2012|p=46}}{{Sfn|Spera|Spangler|Hubert|Gorman|2023|p=2341}} Journalist Devin Gordon of GQ criticized the term leaf peeping, saying that it sounds filthy and humiliating, "like I've never seen red or yellow before".{{Sfn|Gordon|2017}} Writing for NPR, biologist David George Haskell considers the term peep inappropriate in regards to fall foliage due to its definition and peep shows. He proposed leaf wonder or autumnal awe as replacement terms.{{Sfn|Haskell|2017}}
Ruskaretki (admiring fall colors) is an activity in Finland in which people travel to see fall foliage; in Japan, a similar activity is known as momijigari (hunting autumn leaves).{{Sfn|Devarakonda|2023}}{{Sfn|Haskell|2017}} In South Korea, leaf peeping is known as dan pung ku gyeong (purposeful look at the changing colors of leaves) and in China it is known as shangye (reward/appreciaton of leaves).{{Sfn|Haskell|2017}}
History
= Japan =
Fall foliage in Japan usually occurs from late October to early December.{{Sfn|Chee Wah|2024}} Leaf peeping in Japan has been a tradition since the Heian period;{{Sfn|La Carmina|2023}}{{Sfn|Delpierre|Vitasse|Chuine|Guillemot|2016|p=6}} Anna Selby of The Daily Telegraph wrote that leaf peeping "is a concept embedded deep within Japanese culture", citing Shinto and Zen as examples.{{Sfn|Selby|2024}} According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the activity had become widely popular in the 18th century.{{Sfn|Japan National Tourism Organization|2021}} Ginkgo, zelkova serrata, and chestnut trees are popular for leaf peeping in Japan.{{Sfn|Selby|2024}}
Selby wrote that leaf peeping is considered to be popular around the Kyoto area,{{Sfn|Selby|2024}} while the JNTO wrote that Miyajima Island is a "fan [favorite]" destination for leaf peeping.{{Sfn|Japan National Tourism Organization|2021}} Canadian blogger La Carmina has listed Tōfuku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, the Japanese Alps, and Daisetsuzan National Park as popular leaf peeping locations.{{Sfn|La Carmina|2023}} The National Geographic covered a story about leaf peeping in Kyoto in September 2023.{{Sfn|Taylor|2023}}
= United States =
Fall foliage in the United States occurs from September to early November, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.{{Sfn|Rice|Loehrke|2024}} Prominent leaf peeping locations in the United States are in New England and New York.{{Sfn|Whittle|2021}}{{Sfn|Withiam|1997}} The Appalachian Mountains in New England particularly have temperate forests, while in the Western United States, aspen tree species are popular for leaf peeping.{{Sfn|Haskell|2017}}{{Sfn|Crouch|Grady|Wilhelmi|Hofstetter|2021|p=2894}} Author and professor Heather Sellers considers the activity to be "goofy, overblown, and depressing".{{Sfn|Sellers|2012|p=296}}
The National Park Service claims that leaf peeping is one of the most popular autumn activities,{{Sfn|Devarakonda|2023}} while in New England its popularity is mainly attributed to forests being in close proximity to locations with high population.{{Sfn|Kyne|Diver|2012|p=46}} Considered a niche market, leaf peeping tourism has affected the economy of the United States, particularly the states in New England and New York,{{Sfn|Whittle|2024}} with New England states receiving approximately US$8 billion annually in revenue from tourist activities.{{Sfn|Kyne|Diver|2012|p=46}} The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development also reported that the state receives approximately {{Currency|600,000,000}} from leaf peeping tourist activities,{{Sfn|Cunningham|2024}} an increase from {{Currency|332,000,000}} in 2009. New England state governments have promoted leaf peeping tourism,{{Sfn|Kyne|Diver|2012|p=46}} and have also competed by launching advertisements targeted at tourists and offering low-cost lodging in hotels and inns.{{Sfn|Gianatasio|1998}}{{Sfn|Lee|2009}}
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation introduced viewfinders for red-green colorblind people at its state parks in 2024 to allow them to leaf peep the foliage. Ethan Howes, a red-green colorblind Natural Tunnel State Park ranger, created the plan after being inspired by viewfinders in Tennessee,{{Sfn|Lindner|2024}} which were installed in 2017 at the Great Smoky Mountains.{{Sfn|Mattise|2017}} The New York Times reported that similar viewfinders for leaf peeping were introduced at locations in Georgia, Florida, and Oregon.{{Sfn|Lindner|2024}}
Climate change and weather occurrences, such as wildfires and floods, have negatively impacted leaf peeping activities due to leaves withering early and pests increasing in quantity.{{Sfn|Whittle|2021}}{{Sfn|Perry|Casey|Whittle|2024}}{{Sfn|Rice|2024}} Hurricanes have also had an impact on leaf peeping activities by harming trees. Patrick Whittle of Associated Press wrote that a potential decrease in leaf peeping tourism could, in return, leave an impact on the economy of New England states.{{Sfn|Whittle|2021}} Hurricane Helene was cited as an example of a cause that negatively impacted leaf peeping activities.{{Sfn|Knoepp|2024}} Leaf peeping tourists in Vermont were criticized by locals due to trespassing on private property and jamming the traffic.{{Sfn|Sachs|Sampson|Closson|2024}}
= Other countries =
File:Bradley Hill, Soudley, Forest of Dean - geograph.org.uk - 1045886.jpg during fall.]]
Leaf peeping activities were popularized in other countries, including Ireland, such as around Lough Eske.{{Sfn|Vora|2018}} According to naturalist Ed Drewitt, the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire is a popular tourist spot for leaf peeping in the United Kingdom. He noted that during autumn, leaves become "burnt brown/orange" in the region.{{Sfn|Lillywhite|Simpson|2024}} Writing for British Vogue, Hayley Maitland listed Winkworth Arboretum, Cliveden, Stourhead, and Ashdown Forest as popular locations for leaf peeping near the London area.{{Sfn|Maitland|2024}}
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References
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Sources
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= Journals =
- {{Cite journal |last1=Kyne |first1=Amanda |last2=Diver |first2=Kim |title=Climate Change and Autumn Colors in New England's Forests |journal=The Northeastern Geographer |date=2012 |volume=4 |pages=34–53 |publisher=Wesleyan University}}
- {{Cite journal |last1=Crouch |first1=Connor D. |last2=Grady |first2=Amanda M. |last3=Wilhelmi |first3=Nicholas P. |last4=Hofstetter |first4=Richard W. |last5=DePinte |first5=Daniel E. |last6=Waring |first6=Kristen M. |title=Oystershell Scale: An Emerging Invasive Threat to Aspen in the Southwestern US |journal=Biological Invasions |date=2021 |volume=23 |issue=9 |pages=2893–2912 |doi=10.1007/s10530-021-02545-0|bibcode=2021BiInv..23.2893C }}
- {{Cite journal |last1=Delpierre |first1=Nicolas |last2=Vitasse |first2=Yann |last3=Chuine |first3=Isabelle |last4=Guillemot |first4=Joannès |last5=Bazot |first5=Stéphane |last6=Rutishauser |first6=This |last7=Rathgeber |first7=Cyrille B. K. |title=Temperate and Boreal Forest Tree Phenology: From Organ-Scale Processes to Terrestrial Ecosystem Models |journal=Annals of Forest Science |date=2016 |volume=73 |issue=1 |pages=5–25 |doi=10.1007/s13595-015-0477-6|bibcode=2016AnFSc..73....5D }}
- {{Cite journal |last=Sellers |first=Heather |title=Sheltered: Finding Home Through the Art of Mary Brodbeck |journal=The Georgia Review |date=Summer 2012 |volume=66 |issue=2 |pages=292–303 |issn=0016-8386}}
- {{Cite journal |last1=Spera |first1=Stephanie A. |last2=Spangler |first2=Keith R. |last3=Hubert |first3=Olivia M. |last4=Gorman |first4=Marc G. |title=The Effects of Climate Change on the Timing of Peak Fall Foliage in Acadia National Park |journal=Landscape Ecology |date=2023 |volume=38 |issue=9 |pages=2339–2355 |doi=10.1007/s10980-023-01703-0|doi-access=free |bibcode=2023LaEco..38.2339S }}
- {{Cite journal |last=Withiam |first=Glenn |title='Tween Time in the Adirondacks |journal=Cornell Hospitality Quarterly |date=December 1997 |volume=38 |issue=6 |page=80 |doi=10.1177/001088049703800623 |issn=1938-9655}}
= News articles =
- {{Cite magazine |last=Chee Wah |first=Lim |date=5 November 2024 |title=The Best Times to See Autumn Leaves in Japan for 2024, According to Official Forecast |url=https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/heres-the-official-2024-autumn-leaves-forecast-for-japan-090524 |magazine=Time Out |access-date=16 November 2024}}
- {{Cite news |last=Cunningham |first=Mary |title=Our Fall Foliage Forecast Map Shows When Leaf Colors Will Peak In 2024 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fall-foliage-map/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=CBS News |date=25 October 2024}}
- {{Cite news |last=Devarakonda |first=Mythili |title=It's Leaf Peeping Season! Here's the Best Way to Catch the Changing Foliage This Fall |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2023/01/02/what-leaf-peeping-fall-foliage/10704528002/ |access-date=5 November 2024 |work=USA Today |date=28 September 2023}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=Gianatasio |first=David |date=14 September 1998 |title=Battle for Leaf Peepers |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/battle-leaf-peepers-42098/ |magazine=Adweek |access-date=17 November 2024}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=Gordon |first=Devin |date=1 November 2017 |title=Fall Travel Is the Best, But Please Don't Call It "Leaf Peeping" |url=https://www.gq.com/story/ban-leaf-peeping |magazine=GQ |access-date=4 November 2024}}
- {{Cite news |last=Haskell |first=David George |title='Leaf Wonder' In a World of Changing Forests |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/11/15/562805926/leaf-wonder-in-a-world-of-changing-forests |access-date=5 November 2024 |work=NPR |date=15 November 2017}}
- {{cite news |last1=Knoepp |first1=Lilly |title=Hurricane Helene Caused Big Losses for North Carolina's Fall Tourism Industry |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/11/10/nx-s1-5184425/hurricane-helene-caused-big-losses-for-north-carolinas-fall-tourism-industry |access-date=2 January 2025 |work=NPR |date=10 November 2024}}
- {{Cite news |last=La Carmina |title=This Might Be the Best Country for Leaf Peeping |url=https://www.fodors.com/world/asia/japan/experiences/news/how-and-where-to-leaf-peep-in-japan |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=Fodor's |date=5 October 2023}}
- {{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Denny |title=Northeastern States Woo Leaf Peepers |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage-9E01E2D6133DF934A1575AC0A96F9C8B63.html |access-date=17 November 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=27 September 2009}}
- {{Cite news |last1=Lillywhite |first1=Maisie |last2=Simpson |first2=Maddie |title=The Area Becoming Britain's 'Top' Leaf Peeping Spot |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjwdx3nld1eo |access-date=4 November 2024 |work=BBC News |date=15 October 2024}}
- {{Cite news |last=Lindner |first=Emmett |title=Viewfinders Make Fall Foliage Pop for the Colorblind in Virginia |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/28/us/colorblind-viewfinder-leaf-peeping-virginia.html |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=28 September 2024}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=Maitland |first=Hayley |title=12 Beautiful Places Near London to See Autumn Foliage |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/best-autumn-leaves-near-london |access-date=10 November 2024 |magazine=British Vogue |date=15 September 2024}}
- {{Cite news |last=Mattise |first=Jonathan |title=Viewfinders Unveil Tennessee Fall Colors for the Colorblind |url=https://www.nwitimes.com/news/weird-news/viewfinders-unveil-tennessee-fall-colors-for-the-colorblind/article_5421e3b9-9203-527c-877e-d2ef82db400a.html |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=The Times of Northwest Indiana |date=1 November 2017}}
- {{Cite news |last1=Perry |first1=Nick |last2=Casey |first2=Michael |last3=Whittle |first3=Patrick |title=Leaf-Peepers Are Flocking to See New England's Brilliant Fall Colors |url=https://apnews.com/article/new-england-leaves-fall-colors-peeping-93e9e67391855cebff5ac2a9c846588d |access-date=5 November 2024 |work=Associated Press |date=15 October 2024}}
- {{Cite news |last=Raftery |first=Gerald |title=Thoughts of a Leaf Peeper |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bennington-banner-thoughts-of-a-leaf-pee/159288898/ |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Bennington Banner |date=10 October 1966 |page=4}}
- {{Cite news |last=Rice |first=Doyle |title=Where Is the Best Fall Foliage? Maps and Forecast for Fall Colors |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/09/20/best-fall-foliage-maps-and-forecast-2024/75263575007/ |access-date=4 November 2024 |work=USA Today |date=20 September 2024}}
- {{Cite news |last1=Rice |first1=Doyle |last2=Loehrke |first2=Janet |title=2024 Fall Foliage Predictions: These Maps Show When and Where to See Peak Colors |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/09/01/fall-foliage-map-peak-colors-leaves/74952163007/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=USA Today |date=1 September 2024}}
- {{Cite news |last1=Sachs |first1=Andrea |last2=Sampson |first2=Hannah |last3=Closson |first3=Hailey |title='It's Disneyland': Fall Foliage Destinations Overrun by Leaf-Peepers |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/10/24/leaf-peeping-tourists-closures-vermont-new-hampshire/ |access-date=17 November 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=24 October 2024}}
- {{cite news |last1=Selby |first1=Anna |title=Forget New England – Japan is the Perfect Autumn Destination |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/japan/japan-momijigari-autumn-leaves/ |access-date=2 January 2025 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=5 October 2024}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=Taylor |first=Mark Parren |title=Photo Story: Autumn Leaf-Peeping Season in Kyoto |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/autumn-leaf-peeping-season-kyoto |access-date=10 November 2024 |magazine=National Geographic |date=29 September 2023}}
- {{Cite news |last=Vora |first=Shivani |title=Bargains for Leaf Peepers |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA556327406&sid=sitemap&v=2.1&it=r&p=EAIM&sw=w |access-date=17 November 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=30 September 2018 |via=Gale Academic OneFile}}
- {{Cite news |last=Whittle |first=Patrick |title=Why Climate Change Is Making It Harder to Chase Fall Foliage |url=https://apnews.com/article/fall-foliage-climate-change-impact-58724f6cc5ca9c25ced549c29c90dbf5 |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=Associated Press |date=30 September 2021}}
- {{Cite news |last=Whittle |first=Patrick |title=The Midwest Could Offer Fall's Most Electric Foliage but Leaf Peepers Elsewhere Won't Miss Out |url=https://apnews.com/article/fall-foliage-leaf-peeping-autumn-df5b4726079d08156bc819179c0a8567 |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=Associated Press |date=21 September 2024}}
= Websites =
- {{Cite web |ref={{sfnRef|Oxford English Dictionary|2024}} |title=leaf peeping |url=https://www.oed.com/dictionary/leaf-peeping_n?tl=true&tab=factsheet |website=Oxford English Dictionary |date=18 November 2024 |access-date=18 November 2024}}
- {{Cite web |ref={{sfnRef|Japan National Tourism Organization|2021}} |title=Momijigari: How To Enjoy Autumn in Japan and the UK |url=https://www.japan.travel/en/uk/inspiration/momijigari-autumn-japan-uk/ |website=Japan National Tourism Organization |date=4 October 2021 |access-date=2 January 2025}}
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Further reading
{{refbegin|30em}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=Meyer |first=Zlati |title=Fall Foliage Prediction Maps Were Wildly Wrong in 2021. Here's Why |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90687834/leaves-changing-late-fall-2021-climate-change |magazine=Fast Company |date=20 October 2021 |access-date=2 January 2025 |ref=none}}
- {{Cite book |last1=Riley |first1=Erin Vivid |title=Leaf Peeping: Discover the Seasonal Wonder of Fall Foliage |date=2022 |publisher=Chronicle Books |location=San Francisco |isbn=978-1-7972-1742-0 |ref=none}}
- {{Cite journal |last1=Spencer |first1=David M. |last2=Holecek |first2=Donald F. |title=A Profile of the Fall Foliage Tourism Market |journal=Journal of Vacation Marketing |date=2007 |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=339–358 |doi=10.1177/1356766707081011 |ref=none}}
- {{Cite journal |last1=Spotts |first1=Daniel M. |last2=Mahoney |first2=Edward M. |title=Understanding the Fall Tourism Market |journal=Journal of Travel Research |date=1993 |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=3–15 |doi=10.1177/004728759303200202 |ref=none}}
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External links
- {{URL|https://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map|The United States Fall Foliage Map}} by SmokyMountains.com
- {{URL|https://www.almanac.com/fall-foliage-color-map-when-peak-foliage|The Fall Foliage Color Map}} by the Old Farmer's Almanac
- {{URL|https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/autumn|The Autumn Foliage Forecast}} by the Japan Meteorological Corporation
Category:Culture of the United States