Summer vacations have come to an end, but that doesn’t mean all work and no play. With cooler weather, beautiful scenery and an array of local festivals, fall is the perfect time of year for weekend getaways close to home. For travel ideas, activity suggestions and trip planning, visit www.Recreation.gov. A partnership of 12 federal agencies, including the Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Archives, Recreation.gov offers advance reservations at 2,500 federal areas for more than 60,000 facilities and activities.
The website’s interactive maps and searchable database make it easy to discover parks, forests, lakes, museums and other recreation opportunities close to home. The website also features volunteer opportunities, contests and lotteries for special events.
Uwharrie National Forest
Home to the continent’s oldest mountains, the Uwharrie National Forest is about a three and a half hour’s drive from Merry Hill NC.
This area has numerous miles of trails, out of which the 9.5-mile Dutchman’s Creek Trail and the 20.5-mile Uwharrie Trail are great for some picturesque and colorful fall backpacking trips. Aside from outdoor adventures, the national forest also has campsites at the Badin Lake Campground, which are amazing for some scenic lakeside adventures and grant the chance to spend more than one day in the forest.
Little Switzerland
Little Switzerland of North Carolina got its unique name from the resemblance of the area to the mountains of Switzerland.
If you’re familiar with the unimaginably beautiful nature (and fall!) in Switzerland, you will quickly understand why this is one of North Carolina’s most coveted spots during autumn! This destination is about a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Merry Hill.
Mostly toward the end of October, the NC fall colors reach their peak here.
Get inspired to get outdoors and explore your local attractions. From day hikes to car camping, historical exhibits to fishing, Recreation.gov has lots of ideas for sparking your spirit of adventure.
Not the outdoorsy type, here are some North Carolina Destinations for you to peak the fall foliage.
Biltmore Estate
The 8,000-acres of Blue Ridge Mountain grandeur at Biltmore is without a doubt one of the best spots to see and enjoy fall in North Carolina.
The spots are just indescribably good for taking the very best fall foliage photos. It’s advised to take a trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway or visit the grounds of Biltmore to experience it at its best.
(The Blue Ridge Parkway is, of course, one of the most beautiful drives in the US and it really shines during the fall).
Asheville, NC is almost always associated with the Biltmore Estate. The house is absolutely stunning, surrounded by vivid autumn hues, and picturesque vistas.
Don’t miss checking out the Biltmore Winery for a taste of some delicious local wines while you’re there – it is a great place for a date or a romantic evening.
Asheville
When it comes to finding a base for seeing the mountains of Western North Carolina, Asheville is the place to go. There are countless attractions in Asheville to take some really good, Instagram-worthy photos of the magnificent fall colors.
And there is SO much to do in Asheville (including some top-notch restaurants).
Another popular thing to do in Asheville is to enjoy the craft beer scene. You can also take day trips to the waterfalls near Asheville which offer some of the best fall foliage in North Carolina.