Mid to late October is when Virginia’s trees begin to proudly display their most amazing colors, starting in the mountains and then slowly painting the coastal plain with warm fall hues.
“Virginia offers some of the most beautiful landscapes for travelers seeking a scenic vacation ,” stated Martha M. Meade, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “The fall foilage peak season is now starting in the mountains and moving east. Depending on where you live in the Commonwealth, planning is key to ensure you enjoy fall’s colors at their peak in your region.”
AAA Mid-Atlantic and the Virginia Department of Forestry offers the following tips for fall foliage travelers:
Skyline Drive (located in Shenandoah National Park) and the Blue Ridge Parkway
Skyline Drive (located in Shenandoah National Park) and the Blue Ridge Parkway provide brilliant displays of color every year, making Shenandoah National Park one of the nation’s busiest national parks in the fall. Motorists are offered several scenic overlooks designated to provide wonderful photo opportunities.
Charlottesville
In addition to beautiful scenery, Charlottesville is rich with history and wonderful fall activities. From a visit to Monticello and Mitchie Tavern to hot air ballooning, visits to the area will not disappoint. Apple orchards in the area also provide a wonderful activity for families, and for a small fee, visitors can pick apples while enjoying the outdoor beauty of the fall season.
Washington, DC
The George Washington Memorial Parkway is much more than a commuter highway as this stretch along the Potomac River offers an abundance of natural attractions and leaf-peeping. While in the area, it’s also a great time of the year to visit the monuments in our nation’s capitol.
For additional fall foliage information in Virginia, call:
- Fall Foliage Report: 1-800-424-LOVE (5683)
- Skyline Drive/Shenandoah National Park: 1-540-999-3500 (press “6”)
- Blue Ridge Parkway (between Waynesboro and the North Carolina Border): 1-828-298-0398 (press “3”)
For information throughout the East Coast, visit:
- AAA’s Blue Ridge Parkway Travel Guide
- http://www.foliagenetwork.com – which provides weekly reports of when leaves’ colors are peaking
- http://www.fs.fed.us/news/fallcolors/ — which provides National Foliate hot spots from the USDA Forest Service
