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All the color of New England but none of the hype
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CHARLESTON, W.VA. – West Virginia might be the most underrated fall foliage destination in the country. Returning tourists and residents surely know how great the state is for fall vacations but those unfamiliar with the Mountain State have not discovered this secret autumn destination – yet.
Most everybody knows about New England’s renowned fall color but when you live, work or visit in the South, Midwest or Washington metropolitan areas, Vermont and Connecticut are not exactly a weekend’s drive away. West Virginia is only an hour’s to a few hours’ drive away from major East Coast cities. Convenient and inexpensive flights from major international airports mean even easier access.
That’s a big benefit, but consider these facts when planning a multi-colored autumn respite:
- West Virginia is nearly 80 percent covered by forests, making it one of the most tree-packed states in the country.
- West Virginia’s varied topography provides a fall color show that begins in September in the most mountainous and highest-elevated areas and continues well into November 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 boasts stunning vistas and mountain overlooks just about anywhere you can imagine in the state.
- The New River Gorge in southern West Virginia is home to the state’s largest one-day festival, Bridge Day, which is strategically planned for the peak of fall-color season in the area. The Gorge is nearly a mile across and 1,000-feet-deep, earning it the nickname, “The Grand Canyon of the East.” It also happens to be tree-lined, meaning that come Bridge Day time each year, the Gorge is like a gigantic trench full of a rainbow of changing fall colors.
- 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 Forest Festival.
- No crowds. West Virginia remains one of the most rural states in the country and, while a modern highway system makes it easy to get here, the road to West Virginia is still less traveled.
Each year, the West Virginia Division of Forestry provides weekly reports on where to see the best fall foliage. That includes scenic drives that highlight peak colors and special events that coincide with the changing of the leaves. The Division of Tourism provides callers with those reports, along with fall foliage maps that suggest when visitors can expect the best color for regions throughout the state.
In addition, the online pressroom at www.callwvanews.com, provides media outlets with high-resolution photographs, free for editorial use, as well as frequently updates story ideas, downloadable maps and contact information for special events.
More information is available by calling Division of Tourism’s toll-free hotline, 1-800-CALL WVA. Callers also can request a free travel guide, calendar of events and other information through the number or the Division’s web site, www.callwva.com.
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