Best weekend for pretty leaves? (Asheville, Boone: credit, hotels, live)

[DanielleNC]

Hi, I am trying to decide to come the weekend of October 8-10 or 15-17? I think last time I was there in '09 it was early October and not very colorful, and last year we were in Linville in late October and everything was gone. Just trying to time it the best I can!

Thanks!

[garth]

I seem to recall a recent article on this issue in the Asheville paper. It might have been on the Channel 13 site. I really don't recall.

In either case, there was some info on this year being better than last year due to the weather. The bottom line was that the colors would be more vibrant, but that later in the month would be best - something like the last of October. However, if there was a change in the weather, the height of the season could be as early as the middle of October according to the report.

For the two weekends you suggested, it appears that October 15-17 would be the best. I hope the leaves cooperate with your "leaf peeping" adventure.

[OMGosh Josh]

It's really hard to pin-point a specific time, as it changes every year.

You may want to keep in correspondence with us through this thread and we can let you know what the foliage is like. Perhaps even upload some pictures to show you and let you judge when you might want to come.

[gigimac]

Dear Danielle,
The later dates of 15-17 would be best, altho I need to add info to that. Since my husband's birthday is on the 13th, all these years I pay attention to when the leaves begin to change in Asheville after that date. Almost always, it comes one week after his birthday. Last year was an exception, the leaf change came a little earlier than I am used to and was gone sooner, plus Linville is a little more north of Asheville, so you had bad luck. In addition, one time a number of years ago, the leaves changed later than usual, and stuck around into early November, another exception. If you come to LINVILLE Oct 15-17, you may catch it just right. If you come to Asheville, then 22-25 might give best results. BUT I think the poster Josh had the best advice, with one slight change...check our Asheville newspaper's website for the Asheville Citizen Times couple times a week beginning in October, they usually have a leaf report that tells you what it's like all the way up in Boone and points south, including of course Asheville, but I cannot remember if it's only in the Sat or Sun edition or every day that they give the report. Hope you catch the leaves!!!!
GG

[motordavid]

It's all about elevation and micro climates...and, very difficult for any organization to predict the
quality of "color", based on our 9 yrs of "looking", here. The leaves turn from high to low, obviously,
"coloring down the mtns". I would suspect that mid to late Oct is "better", even in the higher elevations,
but rainfall and nightly temps will have quite an effect, in the next few weeks.

It will be nice, no matter when, but it never does get to "New England" type color here, imo.
I agree with gigimac: higher elevations earlier, less elevation later in month...some pocket cam pics of our view down the mtn, from previous year.
GL, mD

[garth]

Here's the link to the article I referenced:

WCU ’s fall foliage forecaster predicts colorful autumn in WNC mountains | The Reporter

[Cofga]

The first week of Oct is usually good color for the high elevations whereas late Oct will usually have good color down in the valley here in Asheville. So pick your elevation and adjust your schedule accordingly and enjoy being a leafpeeper

[GuyFriendly]

If it stays this dry, the colors will be duller. It takes moisture to really make them pop. At least in Maine and Michigan where I have lived....

[DanielleNC]

Thanks so much for the responses! I think I was really tired last night, as I meant to say we are going to Asheville, and Asheville is where we went a couple years ago in early October and there wasn't enough color then. So, I think we will plan on going to Asheville the weekend of the 15th-17th. I have a nephew due the 18th, so I plan on seeing him the following weekend in VA! Also, I have to plan at least a month in advance to make sure I get off for work, plus I know how fast places book up during the fall season out there.

Does anyone know much about the Best Western near the Biltmore? I stay at the Best Western when we visit my brother so we have built up credit and should be getting a free night, or close to it at least. We are on a pretty tight budget and if it is anything like the one in Fredericksburg, VA, we will be more than happy with it. The reviews online are pretty good.

Thanks for all the help, including the pics and links. I do get emails from explore asheville and they are predicting mid/late october.

Thanks again!

[gigimac]

Motordavid, your pics are fab, GG

Danielle,
One thing you can do if the leaves in Asheville are still sort of greeny, is to ask directions from your hotel on how to get up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and if you go south/southwest on it (take a right), you'll go up about 15 miles to Mount Pisgah, about 5,000 feet elevation, and maybe you'll catch some leaves having already turned up there, good place for lunch, and also the REAL Cold Mountain is visible from the Pisgah Inn, altho they did not film it becuz helicopters/planes couldn't get good angle on it on account of Pisgah is right next to it. Alternatively, if you get on the Parkway and go north/northeast (left) on it about 30 miles to Mount Mitchell, highest peak east of the Mississippi at about 6,000 feet, leaves might be showing, but the acid rain and bugs have killed a lot of firs up there, don't think they have an Inn like they do at Pisgah. Also, at Pisgah, it snows sooner up there than here, so the higher altitude and generally cooler temps should turn the trees sooner than Asheville, which same thing goes for Mitchell, is what I'm thinking.

As for your hotel, I think there is Best Western Biltmore East and Biltmore West, I cannot remember if there's one in the middle, right on Biltmore Avenue where the Biltmore Estate and Biltmore Village is, altho there are several diff hotels in a row off I-40 there. But the one on Smoky Park Hwy, BW Biltmore West, I am familiar with, stayed in there one time when it was another name, it's an average hotel, and on the way to the rooms there is a very large vaulted lobby area with a pool, fireplace, and sitting places, and the adjacent I-Hop has breakfast all day, and the Cracker Barrell across the street is VERY good, cute little shop in there, fireplace. I don't know anything about BW Biltmore East, I think it's more "motel" than the other one.
GG