Although we have yet to really see fall colors here, don’t let that keep you from taking a little day trip to see Fall in all of its mountain glory other places in our state. If you wait until it looks like Fall here [usually around the middle of November, am I right?] many of the gorgeous leaves on the Blue Ridge Parkway will have already started falling. And you’ll have missed seeing this…
Blue Ridge Parkway – photo credit NC Division of Tourism
Of course, they don’t all peak at the same time, but peaking will start along the Parkway and in the mountains around the middle of this month.
Right now, if you go up to the Linn Cove Viaduct on the Parkway, you will get to see some gorgeous bright yellows:
Linville Cove Viaduct – photo by Skip Sickler
Click here for directions. This pic was taken 5 days ago, so you can depend on the color being much richer with each passing day.
Grandfather Mountain State Park – photo by Monty Combs
Going on to Linville, the view from Linville Peak at Grandfather Mountain State Park was already bursting with color as of Sept 29th, which means by now it will be amazing.
Rough Ridge – photo by Mark File
This picture was taken on September 28th from Rough Ridge looking down at the Parkway (north of Linville, south of Blowing Rock). This would be a good route to see lots of color. This site has awesome resources for trip planning in the area.
The best time for seeing optimal fall color is when the days are cool and starting to shorten, but the nights are still above freezing. The seasons when we have had good rain are also great for keeping the leaves on the trees while they peak in color.
Unless you make a stop in your route in Asheville or Brevard for dinner, unfortunately there aren’t a ton of good places to eat in the mountains. Lots of chicken fingers and burgers? LOL. Imma pack a cooler with the goods from Dean & Deluca myself for our mountain day trip. Thinking a nice cold sandwich on their crispy baguettes, with an apple, cookies, possibly a bottle of Argyle Brut Rose?… something to look forward to to keep me out of my kids’ trail mix and M&Ms.
