COLOR ACROSS THE U. S.
Some perennial favorites and some places you might not think of top the list of this year’s best color drives around the country.
Leaves the color of sunsets. The crackle of bits of summer’s past beneath your feet. When fall puts on its finery, here are some places, expected and otherwise, that will yield hues of gold — and orange and red — on a fall road trip. North Carolina
You can’t talk about fall color without mentioning the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469mile extravaganza of autumn that connects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina with Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
On a recent visit to Asheville, known as the home of the Biltmore Estate and the birthplace of author Thomas Wolfe, I was captivated by drives just outside the city. ( The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, at Milepost 384, is about eight miles east of downtown Asheville.)
Dozens of stone tunnels dot the parkway, and the Tanbark Ridge Tunnel at Milepost 375, about 15 minutes outside of Asheville, was the gateway to a favorite find. Jennifer Pharr Davis, founder of Blue Ridge Hiking Co. ( www.blueridgehikingco.com), guided me on a trail that leads to the ruins of the 1903 Rattlesnake Lodge. The place burned in 1926, leaving behind an interesting footprint. Thetrek takes about 30 minutes for the moderate hiker.
I also relished the drive along Crab Creek and DuPont roads leading to the DuPont State Forest, about 45 minutes from Asheville. Water- starved Californians can soak up the scenery here at three stunning waterfalls: High, Hooker and Triple.
Just outside Asheville, I found another way to take a swing through autumnal glories: a three- quarters- of- amile zip line trip that affords unforgettable views of valleys and mountains, thanks to Navitat Canopy Adventures ( www.navitat.com). The South Some of my favorite Southern road trips in autumn:
New Orleans: Here you can take an excellent fall foliage drive without ever getting into your car. The St. Charles Avenue Streetcar is a 13- mile line that glides through the city’s Garden District. In fall, the oak trees burst into color, and the historic streetcars give you a platform from which towatch. One- way fare on a streetcar is $ 1.25, exact change only or with a multiuse Jazzy Pass. This line takes riders through Audubon Park, past the Civil War Museum and Gallier Hall before reaching the Garden District.
Paducah, Ky.: About 175 miles southeast of St. Louis is Paducah, founded in 1827 by William Clark ( of Lewis and Clark). Its proximity to the Ohio and Tennessee rivers makes itani deal place for leaf peeping. The best drives are along U. S. 60/ 62, which leads out of town, then intersects with U. S. 68. A country road leads to the Land Between the Lakes ( www.landbetweenthelakes.us), anational recreation area. Another gorgeous drive, the 43- mile Woodlands Trace Scenic Byway, is a ridge of land between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley ( www. bit. ly/ 1vb yUG4). The surrounding forest provides 3,000- plus miles of leaf- filled hiking.
Ridgedale, Mo.: Nestled in the Ozarks, Big Cedar Lodge ( www. big- cedar. com, doubles from $ 195 a night) bills itself as “America’s premier wilderness resort.” The area also has some gorgeous drives, particularly from the lodge to Dogwood Nature Canyon Park ( www.dogwoodcanyon.org) and Top of the Rock ( www.bit. ly/1lE okFL). Visitors can take a guided driving tour through the park and hang out a few feet from herds of buffalo or learn to fly fish, among other experiences. FromBig Cedar Lodge, the trek to Dogwood Canyon is about 25 minutes. Heading west, the road crosses over Table Rock Lake to just north of the Missouri/ Arkansas border. Northeast and Midwest
New York City and southern Michigan couldn’t be more different, but they never fail to enticeme with different ways of taking a road trip.
New York: You don’t need a car here to take a road trip. Traversing Central Park by bike or carriage ( www.bit.ly/ZgLsAf) reveals Frederick Law Olmsted’s masterpiece in all its glory, and its trees more than hold their own against their upstate cousins.
Southern Michigan: Charming Ann Arbor has a lot of autumn to share, thanks to tree- lined lakes and the Huron River. Its nickname — Tree Town — makes it a sure bet for good color and beautiful drives. Don’t miss the 15- minute drive to Ypsilanti, where the Makielski Berry Farm ( www.makielskiberryfarm.com) has 4 acres of specialty pumpkins to choose from. Info: www.visitannarbor.org