Autumn in Virginia

[Guest Ruben]

I am planning to visit Virginia in the fall, especially the Charlottesville area, and I would like my visit to coincide with the peak of fall colors. Problem is, I'm from "up north" and know our pattern of fall colors, but I don't know Virginia and when fall colors are likely to peak in the state. I'm guessing mid-October will be too earlier, but I really don't know.

 

So can you Virginia boys help me out with some advice about Charlottsville and the likely peak of fall colors?

 

Ruben

[+ ArVaGuy]

Ruben,

 

Here's a web site from the Commonwealth's tourism board about Autumn in Virginia.

 

http://www.virginia.org/fall/home.asp

 

From my experience the peak seems to arrive around the late October early November time period. Probably only a week or two after the New England peak period. You've picked a great place to visit with Charlottesville. Be sure to stop off at Monticello and visit Jefferson's mansion.

 

I just got back from a weekend in Rappahannock County and visited Shenandoah National Park. We are considering another trip in early November as well.

 

I hope this is helpful.

[buckguy]

Actually, I'd go to Monongahela National Forest, in WVA instead--another hour or so West. It draws many fewer visitors, esp. many fewer members of the Winnebago tribe doing the Skyline Drive and its tributaries and fewer DCers. The city folks will be from Cleveland and Pittsburgh and far less intense. Lost River, WV (in the middle of this area) has a gay friendly B&B and a gay friendly community of weekenders and might be worth considering. Seneca Rocks is one of the most beautiful spots in this part of the country and there are nice hikes along the ridge that forms the stateline in George Washington National Forest, further east. Late October would work and you will be rewarded with great foliage

[+ Lucky]

I also like to plan my travels to see the peak fall foliage, and it sure can be a challenge. So much depends on the weather and the rain. Good luck, and send us some pix!

[+ Travis69]

Has anyone been to Swannonoa outside of Charlottesville on Afton Mountain? Went there as a kid in the 60's.

[+ purplekow]

Is that Ma Ma Ma My Swannonoa? Never been there but loved the song

[Guest Ruben]

ArVaGuy and buckguy,

 

Thank you for the information and especially the web page about Virginia in the fall and the the national forests.I have been to Jefferson's home in the past, three times in fact, but each time I was pulled away from the estate long before I was ready to go--"Time to go back to the bus" and so forth. I am now rertired, will have a car with GPS and am planning to spend a day each at the Jefferson estate, the Monroe estate and the newly redone Madison estate. I only travel for three reasons: history, geography and, of course, the boys, and my ideal is a combination of all three.

 

Last October I spent eight days in the Hudson River Valley and hit peak color. The place was beautiful, and I did eight historic mansions--a particular interest of mine--includng FDR's place and the magnificent Bascobel. I want to return to New York again in 2010 and try to combine peak autumn colors with the Lake Champlain rerion.

 

Thanks again for the information.

 

Ruben

[Guest Wetnwildbear]

Why Spend Where the Govt is Consistently Anti-Gay?

 

Virginia is amongst the most virulently anti-gay and repressive states in the nation.

 

Why not consider leaf watching in Vermont, Mass, New York or along the Delaware Water Gap in NJ - I take my Gay Dollars where they support my right to equality.

 

VA; forbids gays from adopting, serving as foster parents, have a state DOMA, have laws which prevent even contractual agreements between partners which would mimick any sort of rights granted to married couples, allows discrimination in housing, employment and public accomodation, provides public money to Liberty University - Jerry Falwell's (and now his sons) University and Law School which churn out anti-gay professionals, attorneys and ministers and supports a large legal lobying organization, etc.

 

 

I am planning to visit Virginia in the fall, especially the Charlottesville area, and I would like my visit to coincide with the peak of fall colors. Problem is, I'm from "up north" and know our pattern of fall colors, but I don't know Virginia and when fall colors are likely to peak in the state. I'm guessing mid-October will be too earlier, but I really don't know.

 

So can you Virginia boys help me out with some advice about Charlottsville and the likely peak of fall colors?

 

Ruben

 

 

Instead why not write to the Tourism agency and tell them you were planning to spend lots of money in their state - Until you

learned how homophobic, repressive and regressive Virginia was and aggressive in denying Gay Americans their equal rights.

 

 

VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION

901 E. Byrd Street, Floor 19 / Richmond, VA 23219-4068

P.O. Box 798 / Richmond, VA 23218-0798

General Information 804-545-5500

Receptionist 804-545-5600

Toll-free 800-Visit-VA

Facsimile 804-545-5501

_______________________________

EXECUTIVE OFFICE

President and CEO 804-545-5510

Facsimile 804-545-5501

[KMEM]

Some of the things that you write about are certainly correct but VA does have universities that are very gay friendly. I would like to hear from others who are also knowledgeable about this issue for informative information.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[AdamSmith]

Some of the things that you write about are certainly correct but VA does have universities that are very gay friendly.

 

When you drive thru VA, you frequently hear one of the big radio stations declare itself "the voice of northern Virginia." Hilarious how much that area wants to distance itself from what it clearly sees as the inbred hicks who infest the rest of the Commonwealth.

[+ ArVaGuy]

Now I'm confused. I thought this was a thread about a tourism question regarding the Commonwealth of Virginia rather than its politics. Perhaps the moderators should move this to the Politics Forum if such discussions are going to continue?

[KMEM]

Sorry, ArVaGuy, I sometimes tend to reply to the post rather than the thread. I didn't mean to hijack the thread.

 

I think VA is very beautiful and I always enjoy being there.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[MsGuy]

Is this a case of AdamSmith cloaking his own opinion by attributing it to others?