Watkins Glen State Park's Rainbow Falls, upstate New York, USA

© Kenneth Keifer/Alam

Autumnal falls. Autumnal falls in Watkins Glen

Welcome to this sleepy section of New York state, which seems a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple. Here in the Finger Lakes region (so-named for its eleven narrow, long lakes which sit side by side) you’ll find Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen State Park.

This tranquil scene is just one of 19 waterfalls handily situated along a two-mile trail, which follows this rushing stream through picturesque cliffs and a dramatic gorge. Sure, it’s no Niagara Falls (which is part of the same New York State Parks system and is the oldest state park in the US). But as we step into autumn, this stepped gorge shows off the rugged landscape surrounding this region, carved by the glaciers of the Ice Age.