Fall is starting to show itself where I live. The trees are just starting their annual color transformation with their leaves just beginning to show a tint of sun kissed gold. Plus, here and there, a few early leaf droppers are starting to turn orange.

When this post goes live on the blog, thanks to the magic of technology, I will be on a camping trip in northern Wisconsin where I get to be outside in the wonderful fall weather for 10 whole days! I just hope the weather is nice and not too stormy and rainy.

But today, day 4 of my 5 day series (day 1 was Vermont; day 2 was Michigan, and day 3 was North Carolina) on great fall camping destinations, focuses on a state several hundred miles from northern Wisconsin. It’s Georgia, with a focus focus on Vogel State Park and Amicalola Falls State Park.

VOGEL STATE PARK
Vogel State Park is one of Georgia’s most popular state parks and is located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest. It is a popular fall destination because the trees in the Blue Ridge Mountains turn from a sea of green to a gorgeous vista of reds, oranges, and golds.

The park has 103 tent/trailer/rv campsites, 18 walk-in campsites, 35 cottages (3 are dog friendly!) and primitive backpacking campsites.

There are 17 miles of hiking and backpacking trails and the 2,174 mile Appalachian Trail is nearby. There are also opportunities for fishing in the park’s 22 acre lake and miniature golf.

A fall hoedown is taking place at Vogel State Park during its prime fall foliage viewing season. The hoedown is on Saturday October 18, 2008 from 2 pm to 9 pm and will feature hayrides, campfire and dancing, a professional storyteller around a bonfire, with chili and drinks available for purchase.

Some of the nearby attractions include the Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Trail I mentioned earlier; the Dahlonega Gold Museum which features an award winning film telling the story of the beginning of the gold rush in North Georgia along with exhibits that include a large hydraulic cannon and nozzle that was used to blast soil from mountainsides; and the Cabbage Patch Kids Babyland General Hospital where they are celebrating their 25th anniversary (remember when Cabbage Patch Kids were so popular that people were fighting over them in the stores?).

If being up as high as possible without leaving the ground is your idea of fun, visit Brasstown Bald Mountain, which is the highest point in Georgia at 4,784 feet above sea level. It’s less than an hour’s drive from Vogel State Park and on clear days you can see 4 states (Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina) from the top of the mountain.

And, if you’re looking for a nice scenic drive to take while in the area, drive the Richard Russell Scenic Highway - Highway 515. It’s a 40.6 mile drive that the NSBP (National Scenic Byways Program) suggests allowing three hours to enjoy.

Plus there are ample opportunities for antiquing in the area plus, fall festivals, rafting, fishing, and golf.

Other nearby state parks include Moccasin Creek State Park (55 tent/trailer/rv campsites, wheelchair accessible fishing pier, lake fishing, 1 mile interpretive trail, and 2 mile Hemlock Falls hiking trail); and Unicoi State Park and Lodge (82 tent/trailer/rv campsites, 34 walk-in campsites, squirrel’s nest camping shelters, 30 cottages, tennis courts, hiking, biking, and fishing) are also nearby.

AMICALOLA FALLS STATE PARK
Amicalola Falls State Park is another popular Georgia State Park and is less than 50 miles from Vogel State Park, so you could split your trip into two segments and camp at both parks.

At 729 feet tall, Amicalola Falls State park has the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River (pretty easy to figure out how the park got its name isn’t it?); gorgeous views; 12 miles of hiking trails; trout fishing; great scenery for “shutter bugs;” and several lodging options with 24 campsites, 14 cottages, 56 lodge rooms, and the unique Hike Inn.

What is the Hike Inn? I wondered that too. It combines getting out into the wilderness and hiking with having creature comforts like soft beds, hot showers, and a family style meals you don’t have to cook!

That means no lugging of food and sleeping gear while on your hike. All you need to bring is water to drink while on the trail, clothing and socks, hiking boots, rain gear, toiletries, sunscreen, insect repellent, a first aid kit and a flashlight - things that you’ll either be wearing or able to fit in a normal sized backpack.

And, if you don’t mind heading there after the color has peaked, consider visiting the park for their Appalachian Thanksgiving on Thursday November 27, 2008 for a traditional Thanksgiving buffet with Appalachian cultural demonstrations, or visit them on Saturday December 6, 2008 for their Christmas Open House where there will be choir performances, gingerbread houses on display, winter hayrides, and visits with Santa!

FOLIAGE REPORTS
Peak fall foliage viewing in north Georgia where Vogel State Park and Amicalola Falls are located is typically from October 15 to October 31, but check the fall foliage report for the area to see for yourself what the color is like before heading there to avoid disappointment like I experienced several years ago when I planned a visit to Vermont but ended missing the best color for that year by a week. Fall color updates for Georgia and the rest of the United States can also be obtained by calling the National Forest fall color hotline at 1.800.354.4595 or by visiting their webpage.

Quote from Elizabeth Lawrence (writer and garden designer born in Marietta, Georgia in 1904) “Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.”

We are to part of three of my five day fall camping destination series. First up was Vermont. Yesterday was Michigan. Today we’re heading to the southern part of the United States, North Carolina.

If you are a fan of taking scenic drives in the Fall, then a trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway is a must. It is a 469 mile road that connects the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina with 250 miles of the parkway located in North Carolina.

Yes, I know it is a long drive and gas prices are sky high, but it isn’t necessary to travel the entire distance to see great views, but if you do plan to traverse the entire parkway the NSBP (National Scenic Byways Program - sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation) recommends allowing 4 days.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is called “America’s Favorite Drive” and has been designated as an “All-American Road” because of its scenic beauty. It is an extremely popular fall destination because of its stunning fall foliage.

Construction of the parkway started in the 1930’s and took over 50 years to complete. It was finished in 1987 when the last stretch of road around Grandfather Mountain was completed.

Because the parkway goes through mountainous areas it is susceptible to periodic closures from storm damage. Always check on the National Park Service’s road closures website page to see if there are current closures on the Parkway; or call the park information line at 828.298.0398. In addition to listing the current closures, the website provides detour information (as of 9/22/08 milepost 367.7 to 355.3 and milepost 285.5 to 291.8 in North Carolina along with milepost 105.8 to 112.2 in Virginia are temporarily closed).

Sadly I have not personally driven the Blue Ridge Parkway or camped in the area yet, but it is definitely a trip I plan to enjoy within the next couple of years. But even if you are not familiar with the area, there is tons of information available to help “newbies” plan a great trip and maybe even help seasoned travelers of the area find a new thing or two to check out.

There are nine campgrounds on the parkway that are open early May through the end of the fall color season. Camping is $16 a night for all campgrounds. For a list of all nine campgrounds, along with their location and reservation information click here to go to the National Park Service (NPS) website. BlueRidgeParkway.org also has information about the nine campgrounds.

Julian Price is the largest campground along the parkway with 129 tent sites and 68 RV sites. It is near Boone, North Carolina and is adjacent to Price Lake.

Mount Pisgah Campground is at milepost 408 near Asheville, North Carolina. It has 70 tent sites and 70 rv sites. It is the most secluded campground on the parkway and also the highest with an elevation of 4980 feet so the views are spectacular. Keep in mind though that its high elevation mean that temperatures are usually moderate to cool during camping season (don’t forget to pack your long underwear, cozy sweatshirts and warm socks!).

For a list of 60 things to see and explore along and near the parkway (that should keep you busy for a while!), go to BlueRidgeParkway.info. The list is sorted by milepost number (for example, Linn Cove Viaduct is on the list at milepost 304.4) and has a handy key that lists available resources at each one such as G for gasoline, H for hiking, C for camping, F for food (all that sightseeing and exploring is going to make a person hungry) and FEE - fee charged.

And for one more suggestion, how about taking a trip back in time and to a place where money was no object - the historic Biltmore Estate. It’s near Asheville, North Carolina and is only 4 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway (take the U.S. Highway 25 north exit).

To stay up to date on when and where color is at its best along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina or anywhere else in the state, check out VisitNC.com’s fall foliage reports or call them at 1-800-VISIT NC (1.800.847.4862).

If you’re still not sure whether or not you want to grab your camping gear and head to North Carolina, check out this great photo slide show of some of the sights along and near the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina to see for yourself “what all the fuss is about.”

North Carolina Fall Scenes

Yesterday I posted the first segment of my five day series of fall destinations where there are great views and great places to camp. The first featured destination was Vermont.

Today the focus is on the Midwest and the state of Michigan. Although the New England area boasts great fall color and scenic drives, the Midwest is gorgeous and colorful in the fall too.

Color starts peaking in parts of the Upper Peninsula in mid-September and into early October. There is typically good color in parts of Michigan until the end of October. The Michigan Travel and Tourism website has fall color updates and a list of several color driving tours all around the state to help make sure you don’t miss the great color no matter what part of the state you want to visit.

For color reports specifically in the Northern part of Michigan and in the Upper Peninsula, go to the NewsUpNorth website. They also feature some great fall driving tours, one of which features Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

TAHQUAMENON FALLS STATE PARK - THE UPPER PENINSULA
Tahquamenon Falls State Park in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a lot to offer. It has two of the best waterfalls in Michigan, 40 miles of hiking trails, and 13 inland lakes amidst its 45,000 acres. It’s a great place for camping, hiking, fishing, canoeing, fishing, viewing the colors of autumn and a great place to take pictures (sounds like it would be pretty hard to get bored there doesn’t it?).

There are 4 campgrounds in the park with rustic sites to modern sites that have electrical hookups. The park is open year round and there are heated restrooms by the modern campsites. For more information on camping or to make a reservation go the Michigan DNR website.

For a fun fall activity at Tahquamenon Falls State Park, attend the Harvest Festival at the park on October 17 and 18, 2008. There will be pumpkin carving, hayrides, costume contests, trick or treating and a walk through the “Haunted Trail in Paradise.”

And, to see what the park is like for yourself without having to leave home or spend a penny on gas, check out this Webshots slide show on Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

Michigan fall colors

TRAVERSE CITY
Traverse City Michigan is a popular destination in the summer and is also a great fall destination.

There are two great scenic drives in the area recommended by the Michigan Heritage Route Program . One is 64 miles long and goes from the Village of Empire on M-22 to the junction of M-72 just north of Traverse City. The second is easy on the gas tank at a little over 17 miles long and goes from the north city limits of Traverse City (just northeast of the Peninsula Drive and Center Road Intersection) to the northern terminus of M-37 at the Old Mission Lighthouse.

For more information on both drives visit the Michigan Highways website and look under the “Scenic Heritage Routes” section.

For a place to “park your wheels” check out Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Area at 4050 Hammond Rd. Traverse City, Michigan. They have camping facilities for for RV’s, tent campers, and cabins for those that don’t want to bring their camper or RV with them. They also have several miles of trails for hiking and biking.

On October 10 and 11, 2008 they are having a guided mountain bike ride where cyclists can enjoy the crisp fall air and colorful scenery on the Timber Ridge trails. Click here for more information.

While in the Traverse City area, why not take a side trip to visit a Michigan winery or two and to sample some wine (sounds like fun to me!). Chateau Chantel is just 12 miles north of Traverse City on M-37. They are open daily, year round (except for some holidays) and offer complimentary wine tastings.

And, to bring back carefree childhood memories, kick off your shoes and run down the sand dunes on the shores of Lake Michigan.

And to learn more about camping and rv’ing in general and to discover more great destinations to visit in Michigan check out the Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds website (MARVAC.org).

Truly immerse yourself in everything Michigan has to offer and make a point of experiencing all 10 things on their “Top Ten Michigan Experiences.” I’ve done a few of them (crossed the Mackinac Bridge - a scary thing because I hate bridges, tasted a Michigan tart cherry - yum!, biked Mackinac Island - lots of fun because we rode a tandem bike, and watched freighters pass through the Soo Locks).

While Michigan isn’t at the top of most people’s “places to visit,” it should be. There’s so much to see from the gorgeous lakeshores, to the many rivers and lakes, to the vast forests, to the cities like Detroit (the hub of American automobile manufacturing), and to places like Mackinac Island where visitors take a step back in time when there were no motorized vehicles.

Transportation on Mackinac Island is via horse, bicycle, or your own two feet (no noxious gas fumes found there!). While I admit Mackinac Island has gotten “touristy” it’s still a great place to visit. To get away from the crowds so that you can enjoy the beauty of the island, get away from town and onto the state park land trails (80% of the island is park land).

And, if you’re a history buff and enjoy getting a glimpse back into days gone by, check out this video from YouTube that I found while researching this article. It’s a circa 1949 documentary about Michigan (a short one - less than 9 minutes long). It’s a neat trip back in time (check out the hairstyles and the don’t miss the segment on the “bear man of Michigan”).

For a more modern day look at Michigan and its beauty check out this video from a former Michiganite who misses it (snow and all).

And one last picture (taken at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore)