Perhaps even later. The wind whips, the branches wave. The candy bowl is empty. The doorbell has not rung for 90 minutes. And then… DING DONG! What infernal hell hath befallen us? Your spine stiffens ...

These elevated paths wind through mature hardwood forests where towering oaks and maples stand sentinel. Occasional overlooks provide breathtaking glimpses into the gorge where you previously walked.

Tucked in Shasta County along Highway 299, Burney Falls and nearby lakes explode with shades of red, orange, and gold — a surprising autumn wonder in NorCal.

The surrounding Withlacoochee State Forest offers pine flatwoods that glow ... Sunrise over the pine forests creates golden rays that filter through the trees in spectacular light shows. Local parks ...

The Coleman Trail takes you through a mature beech forest ... for nature’s light show as fireflies rise from the underbrush, blinking their secret codes into the darkness. It’s like watching the stars ...