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where fall begins

Southern Living, Sep 2006 by Vanhooser, Cassandra M

The reds and golds of autu-nm are just beginning turn. They come first to the mountains of Virginia and other high points across the South.

Autumn arrives at Mother Nature's whim in this secluded corner of southwest Virginia.

"Most years, you can look for the first frost right after Labor Day, which starts the leaves turning," says print-maker and farmer Evalynn Halsey, who mans the Rooftop of Virginia Craft Shop at Grayson Highlands State Park. "But then again, it might not come until the second week of October. It just depends."

Picture Perfect

Regardless of when fall arrives, Grayson Highlands ranks among the state's most beautiful parks.

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Boasting nearly 5,000 acres, it offers spectacular vistas, incredible hikes, picturesque picnic spots, and challenging fishing."I think it's the most gorgeous state park in Virginia, possibly the whole country," says local musician Wayne C. Henderson, who sponsors an old-time music festival and guitar competition here each June. "I've played all over the world, and I just don't see how it could possibly be beat."

Nature's Playground

The adjacent Mount Rogers Natural Recreation Area adds another 115,000 acres of public land. Named for the state's highest peak, this is the largest recreation area in the East.

Outdoors enthusiasts from around the world come here to camp, hike, and bike. The 33.4-mile Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail traverses the western edge of the recreation area. The Appalachian Trail also crosses the mountains here.

Hikers may spy the wild ponies that make their home in the high country. One herd grazes at Grayson Highlands, while the other roams the Crest Zone of the recreation area.

The area is within driving distance of one-third of the U.S. population. It's little more than two hours from Roanoke, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Charleston, West Virginia. You won't regret the trip. These winding roads provide some of the best scenic drives in the South.

where fall begins

Southern Living, Sep 2006 by Vanhooser, Cassandra M

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