Autumn finery.

Burnished gold and vibrant apricot... Fiery scarlet and gleaming copper... Royal purple and luminous amber.... The forests of eastern Canada blaze with astounding beauty in fall. And all you have to do to enjoy it is climb into a car and head on out, along one of the countless highways and side roads that reach deep into the heart of autumn.

Discover the rugged beauty of Newfoundland and Labrador at this time of year, when certain parts of the province explode with colour. Take the Kittiwake Coast scenic route into the picturesque reaches of Notre Dame Bay, where the area around Campbellton and along the shore of Indian Arm is a tableau of red, orange and yellow. If you still haven't had your fill, meander along the coast of the Bonavista Peninsula, another stunning fall drive (1-800563-6353 or www.gov.nf.ca/tourism).

With its scenic routes and gently rolling hills, Prince Edward Island offers limitless fall foliage vistas. Take your pick -- well-travelled roads like Lady Slipper Drive, Blue Heron Drive or Kings Byway, or unpaved heritage roads that wind behind farm fields and through forests -- and just follow your nose. Wherever you go, the Island is a kaleidoscope of colour, from the fiery crimson of red maple trees to the gleaming yellow of birch and the rich emerald green of pine. As a bonus, PEI boasts one of the longest fall foliage viewing periods in northeastern North America, from late September right through late October (1-888-734-7529 or www.peiplay.com). World-renowned for its beauty, Nova Scotia's Cabot Trail is arguably never more stunning than in autumn, when the Cape Breton Highlands erupt in blazing reds, oranges, crimsons and golds. Get close to nature in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, a colourful tapestry of woodland, tundra and bogs that's laced with 26 trails, from short interpretive walks to c hallenging hikes through dramatic landscapes. Elsewhere in Nova Scotia, check out the magnificent foliage along the Evangeline Trail while exploring the bucolic Annapolis Valley and the gracious towns of Wolfville and Annapolis Royal (1-800-565-0000 or www.novascotia.com).

Capture the colours of New Brunswick by following the Fundy Coastal Drive from the Maine border to the eastern end of the Bay of Fundy, through delightful fishing villages, lovely resort towns and awesome Fundy National Park. No cruise along this drive is complete without a side trip down a roller coaster "scenic route" to magnificent Cape Enrage. Or embark on the River Valley Scenic Drive along the St. John River, rimmed with woodlands cloaked in wild colours, to view treats like the Grand Falls Gorge and the world's longest covered bridge at Hartland (1-800-561-0123 or www. TourismNewBrunswick.Ca).

Drive the winding country roads of Quebec's Laurentian Mountains, making sure to stop at Mont Tremblant to ride the gondola up to the summit and the astonishing yew. Or head to the Eastern Townships, where roads curl past lakes and into charming villages set against a montage of fiery foliage. Continue into the Monteregie area, stopping at pick-your-own orchards and wineries to sample white wines that are as crisp and refreshing as the autumn air. Or, if you're in Quebec City, you can't go wrong on a drive through the Charlevoix region, where the autumn colours are accented by the cerulean blue of the St. Lawrence River (1-877-266-5687; www.bonjourquebec.com).

Journey through Ontario's Haliburton Highlands, filled with panoramic vistas of rugged outcrops against a backdrop of rich autumn hues. Take Highway 60 through the forests of Algonquin Provincial Park for an unforgettable natural display. Drive a loop tour out of Kingston through the Rideau region, where every curve of the road offers up a new view of the fall colours. Or combine an autumn road tour with studio tours in the rolling countryside of Prince Edward Country, the lake-dotted landscape of the Madawaska Valley or the densely forested Muskoka region, marvelling at bursts of brilliant colour and touring fascinating artists studios as you go (1-800-668-2746; www.ontariotravel.net).