Posted by Bruce Painter on September 13, 2007 at 9:59 PM
I will be taking off from work the last week of October. Usually we go to the Townsend TN area but with the drought in the south east I'm not sure what the colors may be like there. We were thinking that Virginia may have a better chance for good color but that is just a guess on my part. Can anyone give any ideas on where might be a good place to go. We will have about four or five days and will be driving from N. Georgia.
Bruce
Posted by Steve Hamley on September 14, 2007 at 10:55 AM
Given the uncertainty, I'd probably opt for a centralized location that's within quick driving distance of a lot of photographic options, then watch the fall color posts. Asheville comes to mind, and Roanoke if you're shooting for Virginia.
From Asheville, you have fairly quick access to the Carolina side of the Smokies via US 76 and the Blue Ridge parkway, south western NC waterfalls, then Roan Mountain, Doughton Park, and Craggy Gardens to the north.
From Roanoke you'd have access to the Parkway (I'd probably stay at the Peaks of Otter lodge on the Parkway outside Roanoke), Mabry Mill, Natural Bridge area, and even Shenandoah NP and Grayson Highlands although you'd likely want to take I-81 for quick travel to the last two.
Steve
Posted by Bruce Painter on September 16, 2007 at 11:45 PM
Thanks Steve. That is not a bad idea. While I love the TN side of the Smokies I'm just not sure that the colors wil be there, but then I guess that with the dry summer no one is sure right now. On Friday we got about 5-8 inches of much needed rain here in our neck of the woods depending on where you were. It may still be to late for the trees though as many have already started dropping some of their leaves with most of those going straight to brown.
Discussion
2 repliesBruce
From Asheville, you have fairly quick access to the Carolina side of the Smokies via US 76 and the Blue Ridge parkway, south western NC waterfalls, then Roan Mountain, Doughton Park, and Craggy Gardens to the north.
From Roanoke you'd have access to the Parkway (I'd probably stay at the Peaks of Otter lodge on the Parkway outside Roanoke), Mabry Mill, Natural Bridge area, and even Shenandoah NP and Grayson Highlands although you'd likely want to take I-81 for quick travel to the last two.
Steve
Bruce