This Scenic Gondola Ride Is One of the Best Ways to See Fall Foliage in the Midwest-and It Has Mountain and Lake Views

"To see fall colors from the window of a car is lovely, but when you're suspended above the treetops, gliding through a sea of crimson and gold in a glass-walled gondola, things just feel different, and a bit more magical. Thankfully, you can experience that fall feeling and more at Lutsen Mountains. The ski area located in northern Minnesota is known for its fall colors as much as it is for its snow."

"New this year is the Signature Gondola Experience, which is designed to make an outing at the resort even more seamless. Guests receive priority boarding, a private cabin to themselves, and a few small luxuries-a complimentary drink, house-baked cookies tucked into a goodie bag, and a coupon for a free appetizer at the newly opened Charlie's Alpine Bistro, which has a lovely outdoor patio set below the gondola line."

"A round-trip ride on the Summit Express Gondola is $35 for adults, while the new Signature Gondola Experience starts at $120 for two people and is $250 for five or more guests (each gondola car can hold seven people). The gondola runs daily through October 19, with extended hours during three of the peak fall foliage weekends (Sept. 27-28, Oct. 4-5, Oct. 11-12)."

Lutsen Mountains in northern Minnesota features the glass-walled Summit Express Gondola that provides 365-degree views of autumn colors, the Sawtooth Mountains, and Lake Superior. The gondola deposits visitors at the top of Moose Mountain, where an observation deck, on-mountain hiking, and the Summit Chalet are available. Wildlife sightings can include eagles, bears, pine martens, moose, and timber wolves. A new Signature Gondola Experience adds priority boarding, private cabins, a complimentary drink, house-baked cookies, and a coupon for Charlie's Alpine Bistro. Fall colors typically peak between mid-September and early October, and the gondola runs daily through October 19.

Read at Travel + Leisure