This time of year a war brews between states over which offers the best views of fall’s fabulous foliage. Here in the Upper Midwest, Michigan boasts that its colors are far more vivid than Wisconsin’s. Likewise, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are constantly at odds over which New England town sports the most impressive autumnal glow.
Then, there’s North Carolina, home to the world-famous Blue Ridge Mountains, which explode into a rainbow of orange, red and yellow this time of year. According to die-hard leaf peepers, there is no better place to view fall’s spectacular color show than in Asheville, North Carolina.
The city of 76,000 in Western North Carolina has a small-town feel and offers a welcome alternative to crowded New England cities. What’s more, Asheville is home to part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. To commemorate the milestone the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau is reaching out to leaf peepers from around the world. A number of exciting fall foliage festivals are taking place this fall in and around Asheville, including:
Zip-line tours: Fly through colorful trees during a fall colors zip-line tour. Navitat Canopy Adventures at offers 3.5-hour tours for $85 per adult.
Hot air balloon: Get a bird’s eye view of the fall colors in a hot air balloon ride for $225 per person with Asheville Hot Air Balloons.
Train: Take a ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad this fall for a leaf season adventure you will never forget. October fall color trips run daily, while the Great Pumpkin Patch Express runs on weekends. The Express has Peanuts characters, apple-bobbing and more. Round-trip coach is $53 for adults and $31 for children under 12 in October.
Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF): The big event runs from October 20-23 this year in nearby Black Mountain at the site of the former Black Mountain College. The festival offers arts, activities such as yoga, live music (including the Indigo Girls) and onsite camping.
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