Sunday, September 11, 2005
Autumn in New England: Yankee magazine has a comprehensive Web site at www.YankeeFoliage.com listing foliage hot line numbers and reports for the region; interactive maps so you can track peak leaf color; and ideas for fall outings, from chairlift rides to bike trails.
Hang-gliding in the White Mountains: Morningside Flight Park, Charlestown, N.H., www.flymorningside.com, (603) 542-4416. Tandem flights with an instructor are $145.
Mount Pisgah balloon rides: Candler, N.C., www.gomountains.net/balloons.html, (828) 667-9943, $150 a person.
Shawnee Autumn Balloon Festival: Oct. 14 to 16, Shawnee Inn & amp; Golf Resort, Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pa., (near the Delaware Water Gap), (800) 742-9633. Admission, $10. Balloon rides, $190 a person.
Mountain Watch: "Citizen Science" program in which hikers record their observations about air quality and changes in plant buds and fall color, sponsored by the Appalachian Mountain Club. Fall programs at AMC White Mountain locations at Highland Center in Crawford Notch, Pinkham Notch Visitor Center (Joe Dodge Lodge), Zealand Falls Hut and Lonesome Lake Hut. For details, www.outdoors.org or (603) 466-2727.
ATV Historical Color Tour: Four-day ATV rally and festival, Sept. 21 to 24, Buena Vista, Colo., www.coloradoatvtour.org, (719) 395-6612; $70 a person, includes four breakfasts and Saturday night dinner. Proceeds benefit ATV educational organizations.
Agritourism: Check the Web site for your state Department of Agriculture or state tourism office to find corn mazes, pick-your-own orchards and fall festivals in your region. Or, for corn mazes, click on the maps at www.cornfieldmaze.com or www.mazeplay.com. For farms and related attractions open to the public, try www.pickyourown.org and www.farmstop.com. For apple orchards, go to www.applejournal.com.
Keene Pumpkin Fest: Keene, N.H., Oct. 22; www.pumpkinfestival.com or (603) 358-5344.
Rice Lake National Refuge: McGregor, Minn., www.exploreminnesota.com/attractions/8878.html, (218) 768-2402.
Seeley Lake Tamarack Festival: Seeley Lake, Mont., Sept. 24 to 25, www.seeleylakechamber.com or (406) 677-2880.
Verde Canyon Railroad: Clarkdale, Ariz., www.verdecanyonrr.com or (800) 320-0718. Fall color tours in October and November.
Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: Durango, Colo., www.durangotrain.com or (888) 872-4607. Roundtrips daily through Oct. 29. Annual "fall photographer's special" excursion, Sept. 24 to 25.
Pike's Peak Cog Railway: Manitou Springs, Colo., www.cograilway.com or (719) 685-5401. Trains run daily through the fall.