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.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

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

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.