POWERFUL Places
By Sue Mayfield-Geiger
Yearning for the burnt sienna of autumn, the smell of fresh air, the crisp crunch of leaves under your feet as you walk in the woods? Fall is in full swing all over the USA. The following places are some of the best around to get intoxicated by nature. The closest place to our reading audience is Lost Maples. But if the sky’s the limit, and you have no time restrictions, take off on your own journey of color
this fall.
- The Kancamagus Scenic Byway, New Hampshire, New
England's most spectacular scenic drive. The 34-mile road cuts
an east-west channel through the 800,000-acre White Mountain
National Forest. The highway makes steep twists and turns and
climbs to nearly 3,000 feet at the peak of Mount Kancamagus.
- Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, a place of real beauty, especially in
late October. Enjoy the Lake of the Ozarks State Park, lush with
dogwoods, thong trees, and oak-hickory forests. Hike or take the
aquatic trail complete with markers that explain the sights along
the way.
- Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina, is
home to over one hundred species of trees with a showy display of turning leaves. Peak fall colors are predicted for mid-October through early November; the most memorable foliage coming from sugar maples, scarlet oaks, sweetgums, red maples, and hickories. 4. Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, is a geological wonder with the gorge itself weaving its way through the Cascade Mountains, forming the border between northern Oregon and southern Washington. Fir forests and twisted pines, big-leaf maple, cottonwood, Oregon ash, and vine maple trees show their stuff from late September to mid-October. The area is also known for the remarkable 620-foot Multnomah Falls.
- Mohawk Trail, Massachusetts, stretches for 63 miles from the Massachusetts-New York border to Millers Falls on the Connecticut River. Attractions include Mount Greylock, Glacial Potholes, a natural marble bridge formed by erosion, state forests, and old Indian hiking trails.
- The Catskills, New York, boasts maple, oak, birch, and beech that come into their prime during September and mid-October. Historic towns, charming B&Bs, farmers markets, orchards, antique shops and much more.
- Lake Champlain, Vermont, is every water lover's dream come true. The spectacular foliage, gentle breezes and comfortable temperatures make it hard to resist sailing, boating or windsurfing. As deep as 400 feet in some places and home to over 60 species of fish, there are historic lighthouses, uncrowded beaches, lakeside restaurants, and quaint communities. 8. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia has spectacular scenery along and around I-81 that includes Virginia's majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, George Washington National Forest, miles of Appalachian Trail, and natural caves and caverns that provide priceless scenic overlooks and outdoor experiences. 9. Lost Maples State Park, Texas, is a vast area covering more than 2,000 scenic acres in Bandera and Real Counties, north of Vanderpool on the Sabinal River. Marvel at the Uvalde bigtooth maples, whose reddish blush is most spectacular from mid-October through mid-November.
- Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway will enchant you with foggy sunrises and river vistas as you discover the hidden wonders of the Buffalo National River. A drive along Scenic Highway 7, gives way to gorgeous views of the fall foliage in the Ozarks. Hike along the Buffalo River Trail for even more scenic overlooks with glorious autumn colors.
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