Fall and Visiting NC

With the arrival of fall, the leaves are beginning to shade North Carolina in hues of burgundy, burnt orange and golden yellow. Starting with the lofty peaks in the north, color spreads to the south and east in a painterly wash before slowly fading into winter.  It’s an orderly progression, yet the timing is tricky. In any given area, the weather can rush or delay the peak, prolong the glory or cut it short. To help travelers map the season’s trips, regional experts report on the foliage from the mountains to the Piedmont in weekly postings at VisitNC.com. And if your idea of fall color is red drum and bluefish, you’ll find weekly reports on coastal fishing with photos to back the boasts of a big catch.  Many enjoy gazing at the vistas along the Blue Ridge Parkway, some travel to Asheville, N.C., for a tour of Biltmore, and others will look to the sky during the Carolina Balloon Fest  October 19-21 in Statesville, N.C.  Again for more information go to www.VisitNC.com .