One of the great things about Asheville, N.C. is its relatively easy access to all kinds of nature. No matter where you are in Asheville, you are only miles away from driving onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. And the Blue Ridge Parkway is the best spot to watch the leaves change colors.

When you decide to have a day of autumn leaf changing, make sure you and your vehicle are properly prepared for the trip. Have a full tank of gas and your car in tip-top condition. And have lots of water and snacks in your vehicle so that you’re hydrated and full of energy. Also make sure that you have layers of clothing because the weather can change suddenly in the mountains.

Some of the highest peaks in the Appalachian Mountain Chain are in Western North Carolina. Grandfather Mountain (5,938 feet) and Mount Mitchell (6,684 feet) are just a few of them. The color season typically lasts from late September until early November, depending upon the weather.

Most leaf-looking trips are all day ventures. If you don’t want to spend the rest of the night driving back to your hotel, then it’s advisable to book a room in a local hotel located off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

One good day-long trip is to take the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville to Cheroke, N.C. Then from Cherokee take US-19 to Gatlinburg, T.N. This is a good leisurely trip that winds around mountains and gives you many opportunities to pause at outlooks and gaze over trees, leaves, and mountains. There are also many trails along the parkway that you can hike if you get tired of setting in a car all day. Cherokee is a good resting spot, but don’t get stuck there too long, there is plenty more leaves to be seen. The drive from Cherokee to Gatlinburg is a bit different from the first half of the trip. The tiny winding roads put you right beside rivers and falling leaves, and the slow speed limit of 35 makes it easier to really look at the scenery.

Or, if you don’t want to spend all day in a car, then you can take a leaf-gazing tour. These tours are set from the comfort of river boats. The tours are six to eight hours long and take you along rivers in Western North Carolina.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 26th, 2007 at 9:17 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.