Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-11
BY JACQUES FUTRELLE. Jr
Ths stars Travel Editor

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The recent abundance Of rain
probably will make the fall color
show Of the East's forests the
best In several years. and already
the dates Of peak hues have
been estimated for the noun
tain regions Of Virginia and
North Carolina.
Those who look forward to
motoring's flaming foliage expe-
ditions each year are being
advised that the display win be
at its brilliant best the two
middle weeks of October. The
end Of this month, however, viii
bring the curtain-raiser with the
reds Of the Virginia creeper.
sumac and dogwood, and the
yellow OF the birches.
In early October. the march
of color across the countryside
is expected to accelerate, as
naples, hickories. sassafras and
other trees sweep into the pa
rade. Oaks. with their variety
of reds. yellows and orange.
generally are the last to change.
Oaks make UP the greater part
of the deciduous forests in the
Shenandoah Park area of Vir-
ginia.
Best Routes
North Carolina, through which
runs the greater part of the Blue
Ridge Parkway, likes to keep the
motoring public informed on the
prospects of fall color, and the
States forestry experts agree
with Virginia on the peak dates
October 9 through the 22d.
The color show is expected to
continue in q WORTHWHILE dis
play, however. into November.
Recommended vantage points
In western North Carolina are at
Blowing Rock. Chimney Rock.
Heintooga Overlook. Mile High
Overlook and Newfound Gap;
also Wagon Road Gap. on U. s.
Highway 276 leading to Mount
Pisgah.
Among the best scenic routes
over the mountains are U. s. AL.
through the Great Smokes
Park: U. s. 81 through the Wa
terfall Country and Cullasaja
Gorge, west of Hendersonyille;
U. S. "a through Hickory Nut
Gorge, near Asheville: U. S. 10
up the Blue Ridge Divide; U. s.
276 through Pisgah National
Forest, between Brevard and
Waynesville. and the new loop
route leading from U. S. 10 to
Fontana. Lake Santeelah and
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.
Byways Recommended
A reminder from New York
State on the approaching colo
rama season suggests that motor
lists turn OF the heavily travelled
highways onto obscure byways
to view the display Of autumn
magic. Meandering to nowhere
In particular, automobile parties
can become reacquainted with
the charm Of quiet countryside
and discover for themselves the
forested vistas of reds gold and
bronze. There is safety in such
advice too. The driver can make
stops or poke along with less
danger Of creating a trafiic
hazard for himself and those
who crowd the speed limit on
fast highways,
In New York State the color
creeps down from the st. Law
renee River and from the tops
of the Adirondacks. The change
from summers monotone green
win come, 1t is expected, about
the last week Of this month. The
tide creeps slowly towards the
Catskills and then flows through
the valleys Of the Hudson and
the Mohawk. The color peak in
the southern and western areas
of New York comes about mid
October.
Michigan, with 10 million
acres of forests and 1000 inland
lakes, makes quite a point OF its
traditional color tours" from
the upper peninsula,s Copper
Country to the Irish Hills in the
south. New this year is a per-
sonalized service that. according
TO the Michigan Tourist Council,
viii take the guesswork out of
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