Sept.
24, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tricia Sizemore
304-558-2003, ext. 319
psizemore@wvcommerce.org
Spectacular fall colors bring
leaf-peepers to Mountain
State for a fantastic
show
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. –
As Mother Nature paints West Virginia’s
landscape with radiant reds, oranges, yellows and browns, returning tourists
and residents are sure to capture spectacular views.
“Not many states
are as naturally scenic as West
Virginia,” said Commissioner of Tourism Betty Carver. “There are so many backdrops where we
can enjoy the rich colors of fall. Everywhere we turn is breathtaking,
especially during this season.”
With nearly 80
percent of the state covered by forests, West Virginia
is one of the most tree-packed states in the country, next to Maine
and New Hampshire.
According to West Virginia
foresters, the state should have a colorful fall foliage season despite dry
weather this past summer. “We have some of the best color in the nation due to
the wide variety of hardwood tree species that grow here,” said Randy Dye,
director of the state’s Division of Forestry.
The Mountain State boasts stunning vistas and mountain
overlooks just about everywhere imaginable. The varied topography provides a
fall color show that begins in late-September in the most mountainous and
highest-elevated areas and continues through October in the lower-lying areas
and Ohio River basins. Visitors can plan their leaf-peeping vacations to West Virginia throughout
the autumn and aren’t limited to just a couple weekends.
West Virginia’s
location, anywhere from an hour’s to a few hours’ drive from major East Coast
cities, and convenient flights from major international airports mean easier
access for vacationers.
Visitors are able
to take in fall events and activities that celebrate the season or many
recreational opportunities.
The New River Gorge
in southern West Virginia
is home to the state’s largest one-day festival, Bridge Day, which is
strategically planned to coincide with the area’s peak foliage on Oct. 20. The
Gorge is nearly a mile across and 876-feet-tall, earning it the nickname, “The
Grand Canyon of the East.” It also happens to be tree-lined, meaning that come
Bridge Day each year, the Gorge is vibrant with a rainbow of fall colors.
Scenic passenger
train excursions celebrate West
Virginia’s heritage while taking visitors through
some of the state’s most wild and unspoiled territory. These rides range from two
hours to overnight stays.
Fall festivals
abound in the Mountain
State. It’s an
Appalachian tradition to celebrate the harvest with events such as the Pumpkin
Festival and the state’s rich forestry tradition with the Mountain State Forest
Festival.
For those looking
for the best show, the Division of Forestry provides weekly reports of the best
fall foliage areas in the state and recommends scenic routes for picturesque
trips. Starting Sept. 27, the reports are posted on the Division of Forestry
Web site, www.wvforestry.com, and on
the Division of Tourism Web site, www.callwva.com.
The Division of
Tourism’s full-color brochure and a map that shows approximate peak foliage
periods for each county, is available by calling the Division of Tourism’s
toll-free hotline, 1-800-CALL WVA. Callers and Web site visitors also can
request free state
highway maps and visitors guides.
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