Experts predict the best color in years as the Blue Ridge Parkway celebrates its 75th anniversary. 2010's fall foliage spectacular will peak this week in the higher elevation mountains of Western North Carolina, the state where it all started 75 years ago this month.
The prediction for a fabulous fall comes from Virtual Blue Ridge out of Boone, North Carolina, a supporter of the non-profit Blue Ridge Foundation. After consulting professionals in the field, Virtual reports that this summer's combination of drought and rain with September's clear sunny days and cooler temperatures will in all probability combine to produce "the most colorful leaf season in years."Virtual Blue Ridge begins publishing weekly fall color reports online in a few days. In Virginia, the Department of Forestry offers a "Fall Color Hotline" at 1-800-424-LOVE starting the end of September.
A year to celebrate
For a great fall foliage trip that's free, the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway not only offers visitors stunning scenery with vivid colors but this year visitors can participate in celebrations of the parkway's history.
It was in September of 1935 that the groundbreaking occurred at Cumberland Knob near the Virginia-North Carolina state lines on this Depression-era work project. Visitors can relive the creation of the landscape architectural wonder at the Waynesboro Heritage Foundation close to where the parkway begins near Afton Mountain in Virginia. "The Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary Celebration" is open through the end of this year at 420 West Main Street in Waynesboro from Tuesday through Saturday between 9:00 - 5:00 and is free.
http://www.virtualblueridge.com/color-reports/
http://www.waynesboroheritagefoundation.com/
