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4 fitness havens for fall: pack a sweater, grab your hiking boots and book a ticket to one of these four getaways

Shape, Sept, 2005

As the days get shorter and temperatures begin to drop, a bit of hibernation (e.g., sleeping through an entire Saturday) is pretty tempting. Here, travel inspiration to get you off your duff and into the sights, sounds and scents of autumn.

All rates are double occupancy and do not include taxes or transportation unless otherwise noted.

Power up in the Poconos in Stroudsburg, Pa.

Look beyond the famous honeymooner-courting heart-shaped bathtubs and faux-palace facades; this forested northeastern Pennsylvania resort community 80 miles west of New York City is alive with woodland wildlife, sparkling rivers, lakes, waterfalls, glacier-carved ravines, historic hamlets and quaint country inns to explore.

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Fall fitness The sleepy mountain hideaway is especially beguiling in October, when oak, maple and birch trees blaze scarlet and gold against the hemlocks' evergreen. Hike, bike and paddle miles through eight wooded state and national parks in the 2,400-square-mile region, including Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Promised Land and Lehigh Gorge.

For a stunning autumn leaf display and excellent photo ops, make the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area your first stop. Encompassing 40 miles of the middle Delaware River (where it cuts eastward through the Appalachian Mountains), this 77,000-acre park offers multihued vistas less than three miles from several trailheads, including the light 1.5-mile trek to 1,463-foot Mount Minsi's peak. Take the less-traveled River Road to U.S. Route 209N for a self-guided 2 1/2- to five-hour kayak trip down the smooth Delaware River (rentals from $33 per person at Kittatinny Canoes; kittatinny.com, 800-356-2852). Or join Whitewater Rafting Adventures for a half-day of brisk biking or rafting 13-26 miles in the Lehigh Gorge (from $35 per person for bikes, helmet and guide; from $50 each for raft, safety equipment and instruction; 800-876-0285, adventurerafting.com).

Hit the hay Snuggle at historic Stroudsmoor Country Inn, perched on its own 250-acre wooded hilltop five minutes from Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Cozy main inn chambers feature antique furnishings and canopied four-poster beds (from $85; stroudsmoor.com, 800-955-8663).

Harvest delights Prep for your outing with Stroudsmoor's complimentary country breakfast. Order a bagged lunch to tote along on your adventures ($10). Later, savor seasonal squash cannelloni at the Antelao Restaurant in the village of Delaware Water Gap (entrees $14-$21.50; 570-426-7226).

Don't miss Conquer Mazezilla, a 10-acre corn-stalk labyrinth at Klingel's Farm in nearby Saylorsburg. For a spooky treat, hop on a hayride to the maze after dark (admission from $7; mazezilla.com, 570-402-7378).

For more info visitpa.com, (800) 847-4872--Margaret Sirolly

Trace Wisconsin's thumb in Door County, Wis.

Just three hours north of Milwaukee, the Midwest's version of Cape Cod sticks out into Lake Michigan from the rest of America's Dairyland like a crimson, orange and yellow-green thumb, showcasing 11 quaint townships, 10 historic lighthouses, five state parks and several cherry orchards.

Fall fitness Door County's mainland state parks--Peninsula, Potawatomi, Newport and Whitefish Dunes--offer about 70 miles of hiking and cycling trails. For an exhilarating view of fall's colorful canopy along the pebbly Green Bay shore, climb the stairs of Peninsula State Park's 75-foot Eagle Tower, which stands atop a 150-foot limestone bluff. Then, race back down to tackle the easy, breezy Eagle Trail. The two-mile loop wends around stands of white cedar, sugar maple, birch and oak trees scarred by woodpeckers, cool bubbling springs and foundations of old summer cottages.

Or rent a bicycle from Door County Bikes for slightly challenging spins along the back roads of Newport, Potawatomi and Peninsula parks (from $15 per half-day; doorcounty bikes.com, 877-DCBIKES).

Hit the hay Fish Creek's cozy, century-old White Gull Inn features private balconies for harvest moonlit views and in-room fireplaces and thick duvets for chilly autumn evenings (from $140 per night; whitegullinn.com, 800-624-1987).

Harvest delights Your stay at White Gull Inn includes a hearty breakfast such as buttermilk pancakes with Door County maple syrup or homemade granola sweetened with the region's famed fresh cherries. Be sure to make time for a traditional fall fish boil; the White Gull Inn boasts one of Door County's longest-running (since 1959). Diners gather out back around a giant kettle brimming with fresh whitefish and potatoes raised above a wood-burning fire pit. Then, just minutes before the fish has fully cooked, a splash of kerosene into the pit ignites 20-foot-high flames as the pot boils over, extinguishing the fire. The result: a full-flavored (and healthful) feast ($18.25 per person).

Don't miss Door County's fittest autumn festivals include the 5k Labor Day Weekend Run-Walk in Fish Creek (Sept. 3), which benefits YMCA's Strong Kids Campaign (from $13; 920-868-3660), and Oct. 1's 10k/three-mile "Run Wild 2005" in Sturgeon Bay, which directly funds Potawatomi State Park projects (from $12; 920-743-6866).

4 fitness havens for fall: pack a sweater, grab your hiking boots and book a ticket to one of these four getaways

Shape, Sept, 2005

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