How to View Fall Foliage in the South

Along the Eastern seaboard and across the upper South, fall color signals the arrival of cooler days and nights. Along the Blue Ridge Parkway and into Kentucky and Tennessee, in particular, you'll find highways and byways ablaze each autumn.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hiking Boots
• Picnic Basket
• Picnic Blankets
• Scrapbooks
• Wine Bottles
• Travel Services
• Cameras
• Film
• Day Packs
• Cameras

1. Find out when fall foliage peaks this year in the South. Color usually starts in October, with most locations peaking in late October to early November in the warmest areas.

2. Consider visiting the two national parks that anchor the eastern side of the Appalachian Mountains. Either is a good destination for a day trip or for a longer stay.

3. Visit one of the top crowd pleasers of the season - Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Be sure to take time out to experience the most popular drives in the park: Cades Cove Loop Road and Newfound Gap Road. (Leave early to avoid crowds.)

4. Head toward Cataloochee, North Carolina, for a less crowded destination.

5. Spend some time in the nearest gateway towns of Asheville, North Carolina, and Knoxville, Tennessee. Both are good destinations for a weekend or longer stay.

6. Explore Virginia's Shenandoah National Park, which blazes with color in October. Take Skyline Drive through the park for an overview, or stop and explore side roads. You can also head south toward North Carolina along the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 105-mile drive packed with color.

Tips & Warnings

• For more information about peak color times, call the National Forest Service Fall Color Hotline at [phone], or call the following numbers: in North Carolina, [phone]; in Tennessee, [phone]; in Virginia, (800) 434-LEAF; or in West Virginia, (800) CALL-WVA.
• Both Charlottesville and Roanoke are good central lodging points in Virginia. Reservations aren't necessary. If you're in Charlottesville, take some time to tour the University of Virginia and visit Monticello.
• Fall is pleasant, with warm days and cool nights. Bring layers, or have a jacket handy in case of a sudden chill or rainstorm.

on 11/22/2005 Little River Canyon in northeast Alabama is an absolutely beautiful place to watch the trees change colors. It is outside of a small town called Fort Payne and just east of I-59. You will take Highway 35 to get there. Little River Canyon is a river which runs on top of a mountain, one of the few rivers in the world that does that. The falls are also a beautiful spot. There are great places to kayak, hike, or just plain enjoy great views.

on 11/22/2005 If your plans for travel include Gatlinburg, TN, be sure to see the Classic Country Jamboree - even if you aren't a big fan of country music! It's a folksy, down home show that treats the audience like family! We loved it!

on 11/22/2005 Beautiful. Townsend is nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. It is home to the ever-popular Cades Cove. Much of this area is still untouched by man, tourism and the almighty dollar. And Gatlinburg is nearby.

on 11/22/2005 Visit Belhaven or Bath (the oldest incorporated town in NC). See the colors reflected in the waters of the Pungo River and the Pamlico Sound - open to the Atlantic and the world beyond. Eastern Beaufort County, North Carolina will entice you to stay.