Autumn on the Katy Trail

One popular way to see this part of the state in fall is along the Katy Trail, the bicycle pathway that stretches 225 miles from Clinton to St. Charles. The trail crosses several wine country towns, including Hermann and Augusta, across the Missouri River.

Alan and Leigh Buehre, who own and operate the H.S. Clay House Bed and Breakfast in Augusta, see plenty of traffic from Katy Trail bicyclists.

October and November are often good times to explore the trail, they said. "I think July and August are so hurried and hot, so once the weather breaks ... it's kind of like your last chance before winter," Leigh Buehre said.

Fall is a busy time for their business, Alan said. "Probably starting Labor Day. People are looking for an escape, plus the fall colors."