Leaf peeping from NYC to Texas

[SusannaLeafPeeper]

My best friend and I are beginning to plan a birthday road trip starting from New York City and wending its way to Austin, Texas. We plan to take 5 days or so, and are most interested in scenic views, good food, and comfortable if not fancy motels, B&Bs, etc. We want to start the trip in the first or second week of October, but we're not sure what the best time will be for viewing the fall foliage.

Has anyone done this between New York and Texas? If so, what suggestions can you make for us? Anything will help.

Thanks

[AZBuck]

You're just a shade early, but should still get some excellent leaf peeping. In northern New England, the traditional peak color occurs around Columbus Day (Oct. 12), and of course it gets progressively later in the year as you move south. Still, if you stick to the Appalachians, you should have great views, good color and crisp autumn air most of the way down. For some idea of what color has looked like through past autumns, you can check out The Foliage Network, then return for current reports as your trip approaches.

There a couple of routes that basically follow the mountains to the southwest. I-81 is built for speed but does not shortchange on the vistas as it generally follows the valleys down through Pennsylvania and Virginia. Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway tend to stick to the ridge tops and are two-lane roads that require a bit more patience, but offer more than enough in return if you can afford the time.

A few of my favorites along that general route would be
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Gettysburg National Military Park
Chesapeake and Ohio National Historical Park
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
(Can you tell I enjoy history? Even so the drives to these places are scenic in their own right)
Skyline and/or Luray Caverns
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Natchez Trace Parkway
Vicksburg or Natchez

Five days will be sufficient to make the drive and smell the roses along the way, but you will have to keep a steady pace and not dawdle too long in any one place. I think you and your friend are in for a great time.

AZBuck

[Mark Sedenquist]

Timbo's reports on the Fall foilage "bloom" can be read here.