Gov Gab: Your U.S. Government Blog

My Favorite Colors of Fall

By: Sommer | October 12, 2007 | Category: Fun

My friends and family would probably tell you the only reason I like autumn so much is because the leaves turn my favorite color – orange! While that’s partly true (I won’t lie), I also love the crispness of the weather, getting to wear warm sweaters, picking apples, and campfires. To see the leaves change from bright, vibrant greens to all shades of orange, yellow, red, and brown is just a bonus.

I have to wait a little longer for the orange of autumn here in the Washington, DC area, though, than in South Dakota where I grew up. There, we’d almost always experience our autumn leaves first frost and sometimes even our first snow by early October. Usually in mid to late September, before settling in for the long winter, our family would pile into the car for a ride up to Spearfish Canyon. Once there, we hiked back into the woods about a mile to Roughlock Falls where the stunning waterfalls, colorful leaves and fresh air make one want to stay forever! I’ll never forget the fall foliage in the Black Hills.

Now, since I'm a city dweller, I’d like to get back out into the country and find a way to enjoy the fall leaves and festivities once again. Jake’s post this week inspired me to go apple and pumpkin picking. And, who doesn’t love a hayride? I also checked the U.S. Forest Service’s Fall Colors site (you can also call 1-800-354-4595) to see when the leaves will be at peak color in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. (We can drive to all four states in less than 3 hours.) It looks like our best bets for early October include PA’s Allegheny National Forest and Shenandoah National Park in VA. We might just have to make a weekend trip out of it.