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Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Fall into colorful leaves on these journeys
Are you a fan of fall foliage? Where do you go to get your fill?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Right now, I’m listening to the wind blow outside and dreaming of a warm cup of apple cider. Most of the leaves on my hardwood trees are still green, but brown straw is shooting from the pines like spears into the ground.
As I put off calling someone to clean the clogged gutters on my house, I am looking forward this weekend to embracing autumn in all of its colorful, leafy glory.
While most people associate dazzling red and yellow leaves with the New England states, you don’t have to hop a plane to see some wicked-good foliage this fall — and now’s the time to see them.
Georgians accustomed to the ubiquitous Southern Pine or the vast clear-cut areas of suburbia can get a good glimpse of the chlorophyll-depleted leaves for less than a tank of gas. Trees in north Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and northern Alabama are bursting with color to rival any New England landscape.
For a day trip or a short weekend check out these nearby wonders…
The State of Alabama lists several driving tours that take leaf-watchers through the poplars, maples and hickories of the north. From the Birmingham area northwest to the Natchez Trace, across the top of the state or east down toward Anniston, the Alabama Tourism Department highlights detailed routes that offer prime leaf-viewing, as well as other sights to see in each area. Along the way, check out the covered bridges near Oneonta, Russell Cave near Scottsboro or the antiques shops in Mentone.
Our own great state offers excellent options as well. The Russell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway, located between Brasstown Bald and Helen, is a beautiful drive through the Chattahoochee National Forest with plenty of places to get out, hike or just take it all in.
When the colors run out in the mountains, return to the Peach State’s Piedmont area as trees in the Oconee National Forest near Eatonton show their true colors a couple of weeks later.
About 120 miles up the road near Robbinsville, NC begins the Cherohala Skyway, which winds through the Nantahala National Forest before crossing into Tennessee and ending near Tellico Plains. The route has more than a dozen picturesque overlook areas and several interesting stops along the way. (Check out Tennessee’s underground lake, the Lost Sea).
With a little more time and gas, you can venture further afield into the colorful wilds of the Great Smoky Mountains (Tenn. and NC), the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Valleys (NC, SC and VA), Arkansas’ Ozarks, and Kentucky. Check the status of the leaves before you head out by calling the National Forest Service’s fall color hotline at 800.354.4595.
Or choose a site from the AJC’s list of one-tank trips. With destinations like Dahlonega, Asheville (NC), Fort Payne (Ala.), Helen and Chattanooga (Tenn.), you will be sure to encounter quite a lot of red, orange and yellow leaves. If you’re heading out this weekend or if you just got back, send us some snaps of your fall foliage trip!
Where is your favorite place nearby to view autumn’s art show? Do you prefer a driving tour or a hike through the woods? Have you ever checked out the leaves by taking a train tour or hot air balloon ride in the mountains?
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