Americans seeking a view of dramatic fall colors travel to Tennessee and Pennsylvania more than any other states, according to a recent survey of leisure travelers AAA conducted with Ypartnership.
Tennessee and Pennsylvania each capture 13 percent of fall foliage travelers, followed by Massachusetts and New York, which both draw 10 percent. Virginia, North Carolina and Wisconsin round out the group, each with nine percent.
The survey also revealed that “mature” leisure travelers (born before 1946) are more likely than Gen Xers (those born 1965 to 1978) to have taken leisure trips to see leaves in their fall colors during the past 12 months. On their most recent fall foliage trip, mature travelers were more likely than Boomers (Americans born from 1946 to 1964) to have taken an organized group tour and to have traveled without kids.
Interestingly, travelers who live in the West or Northeast are less likely to have taken a trip to see fall foliage than those who live in the Midwest or South. For Westerners, the distance required to visit top fall foliage destinations may be an inhibiting factor, while for Northeasterners, easy access to the most famous fall colors may diminish the likelihood to plan viewing trips, according to AAA’s travel experts.
Travelers considering an autumn “leaf-peeping” trip should plan ahead as much as possible. AAA’s TourBook guides, available in print and online, as well as the do-it-yourself TripTik Travel Planner and the pre-planned AAA Drive Trips itineraries on AAA.com provide valuable information for vacationers. Travelers who want the convenience of having their “leaf-peeping” vacations arranged for them should contact their nearest AAA office to ask about group tours. Trafalgar Tours and Tauck World Discovery have a selection of escorted autumn tours available.
Virginians have long known the joys of exploring the fall foliage of the Commonwealth starting in October through late November. Some of the most popular spots during the 2007 season included: Pocahontas State Park right outside of Richmond, Hungry Mother State Park in Marion and Natural Tunnel State Park in Duffield. Caledon Natural Area in King George County is also excellent for viewing the changing colors of autumn.
In Virginia one of the most popular locations is the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina. It is a picturesque 469-mile route that is best seen in October. It connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. The parkway shows off over 100 species of trees.
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