By Laurie Baratti, TravelPulse As autumn starts to settle over the U.S., plenty of leaf-peepers are eagerly awaiting the annual show of Mother Nature’s splendor — that is, leaves turning to brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red. But, understanding precisely where and when this phenomenon will reach its peak vibrancy in various areas of the country takes more than just guesswork. For those keen to witness the trees’ colorful transformation, national parks are always popular because where better to view the changing of the seasons than places where forests are preserved and protected?