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Each fall, Mother Nature splashes the countryside with colors of golden yellow, burnt orange and vivid red. Many families hit the road during autumn when fall foliage is at its peak. The Eastern half of the United States offers a myriad of sightseeing adventures, from New England to Georgia. Autumn's warm afternoons and crisp nights are perfect for leaf peeping excursions. Add in the brilliant colors that you'll experience and you've got a trip that you will remember for years to come. Because many accommodations sell out each year, be sure to plan your autumn vacation well ahead of time. Choose a route that will take you through the picturesque byways that offer the most scenic value. The autumn season is a perfect time to drive through Massachusetts, known for its brilliant display of fall foliage. Take a drive off the beaten path so that you can discover picturesque routes that wind through small towns and country back roads. Plan to stop for a while at Wachusett Mountain Reservation. You can hike, drive or grab a "skyride" to the summit of the mountain for some of the best views around. Pennsylvania's landscape is also transformed in the fall. If you decide to bike instead of drive, the state has over 120 public biking trails. The Southern Alleghenies in the central portion of the state has over 800 miles of cycling opportunities. Bucks County in Pennsylvania has beautiful vistas of horse and wine country as well as antique shops, art galleries and historic sites. Virginia offers more than 15 million acres of foliage. Early- to mid-October is prime leaf peeping season along the more than 2,500 miles of designated scenic byways that include the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Skyline Drive. Why not mix music and nature and drive along Virginia's Crooked Road where you'll find spectacular colors and a generous helping of bluegrass and country music. You can experience the leaf season from a different vantage point when you take a canoe trip on North Carolina's French Broad River in Rosman. Stop along the way for a quiet picnic. South Carolina offers different walking tours so you can take in all the beauty of the season. In Table Rock State Park, you can stroll along Pinnacle Lake as a guide talks to you about the forest ecosystem. The northeast mountain region of Georgia features everything from hiking and scenic backdrops to tubing and rafting. If you enjoy the amazing display of nature at this time of year, these websites and phone numbers will help you decide where and when to get the best views from your autumn Getaway drive! Alabama: 1-800-ALABAMA www.alabama.travel Connecticut: 800-CT_BOUND www.ctvisit.com Delaware: 866-284-7483 www.visitdelaware.com Georgia: 800-VISIT-GA www.exploregeorgia.org Maine: 888-MAINE-45 www.visitmaine.com Maryland: 800-MD-IS-FUN www.mdisfun.org Massachusetts: 800-227-MASS www.massvacation.com NewHampshire: 800-FUN-IN-NH www.visitnh.gov New Jersey: 800-VISIT-NJ www.state.nj.us/travel NewYork: 800-CALL-NYS www.iloveny.com North Carolina: 800-VISIT-NC www.visitnc.com Ohio: 800-BUCKEYE consumer.discoverohio.com Pennsylvania: 800-visit-pa www.visitpa.com Rhode Island: 800-556-2484 www.visitrhodeisland.com Vermont: 800-VERMONT www.1-800-vermont.com Virginia: 800-VISIT-VA www.virginia.org West Virginia: 800-CALL-WVA www.wvtourism.com |
