Mountains destinations are showing prime color in the 2,000-foot to 3,000-foot range, and spreading to the Piedmont; fall color drives are plentiful and accessible.
RALEIGH, NC - Vibrant color is on display this week in Asheville, Highlands and Cullowhee and should peak in Franklin by the weekend. Now is the perfect time to enjoy fall color in the mountains in the 2,000-foot to 3,000-foot range and take the drive as color spreads to the 1,000-foot range in the Piedmont.
The Piedmont region of North Carolina is beginning to blaze with color with Hanging Rock State Park entering their peak period. Pilot Mountain State Park in Surry County reports park elevations above 1,800 feet are just past peak; color is full-blown in the lower elevations.
For the complete fall color report go to: www.visitnc.com/journeys/articles/fall-color-l-fall-fishing/1/weekly-fall-color-reports.
All areas of Western North Carolina are accessible for leaf-watching trips despite the rockslide that caused a detour on Interstate 40 near the North Carolina/Tennessee border earlier this week. Detours only involve travel to and from Tennessee on I-40 and do not impact drives in North Carolina to see fall color. For visitors coming to North Carolina from Tennessee on I-40 the detours are 30 to 50 minutes at the most, and they take travelers through especially scenic countryside. For rock slide updates, visit www.visitnc.com/advisories/view/6 and for a list of scenic drives throughout the state, go to: www.visitnc.com/journeys/articles/scenic-drives.
Visit our fall color media kit with downloadable images and story ideas at media.visitnc.com/?page=north-carolina-fall-color.
Fall Events For the Weekend and Beyond
Enjoy Halloween celebrations this weekend or start planning your holiday trip. Go to VisitNC.com for hundreds of event listings.
Ghost Ship, Wilmington
Oct. 30, 2009
You’ve seen the Battleship on paranormal programs, now come see for yourself! Tour guides will take you through the ship as you learn who the ghosts can be and why they are still haunting the Battleship. As you walk along the passageways, you might see why the ship is haunted. www.battleshipnc.com
Heart of Brevard Annual Halloweenfest in Transylvania
Oct. 31, 2009
The only other Transylvania is in Romania, so where else would you want to honor Halloween? Join in the fun and enter the proper pot apple/pumpkin bake-off and then head over to the bicycle rodeo. There's plenty of fun for the family with the tiny tot pumpkin bowl, cookie decorating, the Pisgah climbing wall, ghoulish golf, spooky hay maze, costume parade, "Flight of the Vampire" 5K Race and more. www.brevardnc.org/halloweenfest.php
Tweetsie Railroad Ghost Train, Blowing Rock
Oct. 30 – 31, 2009
Take a ride on the frighteningly fun Ghost Train with engineer Casey Bones. Take a walk through the haunted house if you dare, or trick-or-treat throughout the park. Be a part of all of the Halloween-themed attractions, which promise to provide a memorable night of safe and scary fun for the entire family. This is one of the High Country’s marquee Fall events. www.tweetsie.com
18th Annual Hog Happnin', Shelby
Nov. 6 – 7, 2009
Don't miss the 17th Annual Tar Heel BBQ Championship, car and cycle show, arts and crafts and lawnmower racing. Thousands attend this annual event and compete from Illinois, Pennsylvania and more. The cook-off is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS). www.hoghappnin.com (704) 739-7760
Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore Estate, Asheville
Nov. 6 – Jan. 2, 2010
Discover the enchantment of a candlelight visit of Biltmore House, complete with roaring fireplaces, live music, storytellers and thousands of delicate ornaments. Includes a daytime estate visit to Biltmore's Gardens, Winery, River Bend Farm, shops and restaurants on the day of your candlelight visit or the next day. www.biltmore.com
Fall Fishing Reporters Report Great Weather and Good Catches
The fall shift of the Gulf Steam creates ideal fishing on the North Carolina coast. Captain Gary Dubiel, the VisitNC fall fishing expert, is reporting great fall fishing from up and down the coast with specked trout being reeled on the Neuse, Pamlico and Bay Rivers. The marshes near Morehead City, Core Creek and the rock jetty produced great trout and puppy drum fishing near Cape Lookout. Puppy drum and speckled trout were also caught along the beaches of the Northern Outer Banks and to the south at Wrightsville.
For the complete fall fishing report, go to www.visitnc.com/journeys/articles/fall-color-l-fall-fishing/1/weekly-fall-fishing-reports.
Order the 2009 North Carolina Travel Guide, download itineraries, sign up for e-newsletters and search extensive lodging, rental, restaurant, attraction and event listings at VisitNC.com, or call 1-800 VISIT NC (1-800-847-4862). Become a fan of North Carolina on facebook at Visit North Carolina. Follow the latest travel news on twitter @VisitNC and vist our Media Center at Media.VisitNC.com.
Images available upon request.
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Contact
Meghan Musgrave
(704) 936-7783
mmusgrave@visitnc.com
Wit Tuttell
(919) 733-7420
wit@visitnc.com
Susan Dosier
(704) 953-9408
sdosier@visitnc.com
