Minnesota’s Fall Colors Arrive Fast And Fade Faster..[SEE PHOTOS]

Do you have the bug?

No. I'm not talking about the flu. I'm talking about the fall photo bug! Have you noticed that your drive down country roads is starting to show our beautiful fall colors so much that you have to stop and take a photo?

If you haven't, I've got some beautiful fall photos for you. Just take a look.

Kelly Cordes

THE FAMILIAR BECOMES NEW AGAIN...

The best part about fall colors is that you never really know what you'll see. A familiar road can suddenly look completely different when the trees along the way are glowing with autumn color.

Kelly Cordes

FLIPPING THE SWITCH

Something about fall in Minnesota makes you want to slow down. One day the trees are mostly green, and the next, it seems like someone flipped a switch and painted the landscape in shades of yellow, orange, and red.

Kelly Cordes

BRIGHT YELLOWS...

And then there are those bright yellow trees. They almost seem to glow when the sun hits them just right. Against a blue Minnesota sky, they can make an ordinary October day look pretty spectacular.

Kelly Cordes

SHOWSTOPPERS

The reds are the showstoppers, though. When the maple trees turn that deep shade of red, it is hard not to stop and take a picture. In fact, you may find yourself taking several because one photo never seems to be enough.

Kelly Cordes

COZY IS COMING...

Fall also has a way of making everything feel a little cozier. Cooler mornings, warm coffee, sweatshirts, and the sound of leaves crunching underneath your feet are all reminders that another Minnesota season is changing.

Kelly Cordes

A MOMENT IN TIME...

Of course, the colors don't last forever. That is part of what makes them so special. A strong wind or a rainy day can send thousands of leaves to the ground almost overnight.

Kelly Cordes

PUT DOWN THAT PHONE AND LOOK AROUND YOU

That means we Minnesotans have a very small window to enjoy the show. It is one of those times when it pays to put down your phone, look around and appreciate what is happening right outside your window.

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Kelly Cordes

YOU DON'T NEED TO GO FAR...

You don't need to take a long road trip to enjoy fall. A walk through your neighborhood, a drive through the country, or a visit to a local park can give you plenty of beautiful scenery.

Kelly Cordes

GRAB THAT CAMERA

And don't forget to take pictures. Years from now, those photographs can bring you right back to that particular October afternoon, when the trees were colorful, the air was crisp and everything felt just a little bit different.

Kelly Cordes

FALL WARDROBES

Before long, the bright colors will disappear, and Minnesota will trade its fall wardrobe for bare branches and eventually snow. That's coming soon enough, so there is no reason to rush it.

Kelly Cordes

GOLDEN AND BRILLIANT

For now, let's enjoy every golden tree, every brilliant red leaf, and every beautiful fall sunset. Minnesota winters may get plenty of attention, but there is something pretty magical about Minnesota in the fall. Take a drive, take a walk, and take it all in while it lasts.

 OTHER STORIES BY AUTHOR KELLY CORDES

Five Great Fall Color Drives To Enjoy In Minnesota  

Kelly Cordes

THE COLORS

The reds, oranges and yellows seem to create a picture that almost doesn't look real. It is one of those views that makes you understand why people love this time of year so much.

Kelly Cordes

MEANINGFUL ISN'T ALWAYS FOREVER...

Fall is also a great reminder that beauty doesn't have to last forever to be meaningful. The leaves will eventually fall, the temperatures will drop, and another Minnesota winter will arrive. But for a few beautiful weeks, we get this incredible display of color completely free of charge.

Kelly Cordes

MINNESOTA MAGIC...

So if you have been waiting for the perfect weekend to get outside, this might be your sign. Grab your camera, take the kids or grandkids, bring along your favorite person or just go by yourself. Take the scenic route, stop when something catches your eye and enjoy a little Minnesota magic.

TAKE IT ALL IN WHILE YOU CAN

Before we know it, these colorful trees will be bare, and we'll be talking about snow instead. So for now, let's forget about what's coming and enjoy what is happening right in front of us. Fall in Minnesota doesn't last long, but when it arrives, it sure knows how to put on a show.