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Fall Color in the Southeast

© Martine G. Bates

New England is well-known for its colorful fall display of leaves. Since I've never been to New England in the fall, I can't dispute that. I can say with authority, however, that autumn in the Southeastern U.S. is...is...breathtaking? Incredible? Incomparable? All these terms are overworked, I know, but how else do you describe the beauty of the golds, reds, oranges, and browns?

As I take in the colors, I understand how the word "breathtaking" must have been coined. It had to be used to describe tree-covered mountains in all their spectacular autumn beauty. The sight is so beautiful that it almost hurts to look-and I catch my breath in my throat at the splendor I'm privileged to behold.

Our season in the Southeast is a little later in the year, with most areas peaking by mid-November, although it varies year by year and region by region. The Blue Ridge Mountains, the Smoky Mountains, and the Appalachian Mountains all run through the South, and all offer spectacular color shows in the fall.

We usually make a "Fall Color" run to the Smokies in October, along with everyone else, it seems, in the Southeast. Motels are booked, restaurants are crowded, and roads are jammed in October, much as they are in the summer months. We keep going, year after year, in spite of-or maybe because of-the crowds. Who cares if you have to creep through the mountains at a breakneck 20mph; that just gives you more time to enjoy the scenery!

I just got back from a trip through Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. The best color was on the North Carolina side of the Smokies, although extreme northwest Georgia had its share. The Gatlinburg area still has a lot of green, so expect a later color season this year. Alabama's northern mountains are just beginning to turn, so there should be several weekends ahead to drive around and enjoy the leaves before they fall off the trees.

Not sure where to go for the best views? Afraid you'll get there too early or too late and miss the show? Well, do I have good news for you! Here is a list of Fall Foliage Hotlines and assorted interesting webplaces I found for you.

And let me know if you find sites I missed.

Here are some general sites. Some of them even have live cams set up so we can all enjoy the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (Is that spelled right?) trees!

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