Checking out the fall foliage in Franklin County

SHELBURNE, Mass. (WWLP) - The kick off to a three day weekend in the fall is the perfect excuse to check out the changing leaves.

22News went to Shelburne, along the Mohawk Trail in Franklin County, where cars were lining up to get a glimpse of the fall views.

"The leaf season, the Berkshires, this is the place to be," said Jean Champagne of West Springfield.

A bright start to our Columbus Day weekend brought plenty of people to Shelburne to leaf peep.

"I think it looks great, the sun's out, the leaves are turning, apples are here so it's great," said James Woolsey of Longmeadow.

22News met people as far away as Germany who had traveled to Western Massachusetts to see the changing colors which are yet to peak.

This fall season is already an improvement over the last, thanks to warm days and cool nights.
It's also helped not having to deal with severe weather and hurricanes like we did last year, helping businesses this year that rely on outside visitors like Hager's Farm Market .

"Lots of good oranges, some reds. It's been better than last year, I think because of all the rain we had last year it seemed like things just turned brown and fell off last year," said Matthew Boron of Hager's Farm Market.

While good color can be observed all over Massachusetts, peak color is happening now in upstate New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.

However that didn't stop people from staying farther south to enjoy the colors we have here.

"I think we're having, so far, a good year. Judging from the traffic that's going by, a lot of other people must think that too, because there's a lot of leaf peepers out today," said Kenneth Snow of Buckland.

But rather than being upset at all the extra traffic in town, people who live in the area enjoy the extra visitors.

"I like it, you know. It makes me feel like "hey, we live in a great spot" because of the bridge of Flowers and potholes. We live in a very scenic place," said Nancy Snow of Buckland.