Have you looked into the Sleeping Bear Dunes area in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan? It was voted the most beautiful place in America on Good Morning America last year. The maple trees might be just right by then.
I can vouch for it’s beauty. There is a neat little town called Glen Arbor around there....
We took the Tunnel of Tree’s Tour in the fall, starts near Harbor Springs. We stopped at Leggs Inn, a Polish restaurant. Polish Immigrant with the help of Native Indians built the restaurant.
If you really up for a drive go to Copper Harbor and Eagle Harbor, feels like you are in Maine (way up in the UP).