From what I am reading, it looks like peak time for north Georgia and Tennessee will be in about ten days or so. That would make the weekend of October 20-22 seem to be the right target. I'm game.
Browsing through again and thought I'd toss up a question. I have a family that want's some outdoor shots in late October. Anyone have any good locations in/around Kennesaw or Dallas we could gain access to? Any thoughts appreciated!
Some of you may remember the old Lakewood Fairgrounds from many years ago. My parents took me there every year for the annual fair. When it closed a friend of mine leased the Fairgrounds from the City of Atlanta and has held an Antique Market there every 2nd weekend for the past 20 years. The City of Atlanta has plans for that area and recently bought back the remainder of this lease. This weekend was the final Antique Market so I wanted to get a few photographs before it closed for good.
Hersch wrote:
Just returned from Unicoi, TN and drove through both Cades Cove and Cataloochee Valley. Leaves will probably peak in another two weeks as there is quite a bit of color there now. November 11 will probably be too late for the leaves and color but okay for wildlife. Have some pictures that I will post later.
Cades Cove was bumper to bumper for the whole 11 miles with stalls that lasted long enough for the Rangers to come in and speed people along. There were numerous Bucks and Does both during the early morning and a Mother Black Bear with three cubs that we saw twice during the drive through. Cataloochee Valley much less crowded and the Elk were very active at 5:00 pm.
I just got back yesterday from the Smoky Mountains, a week after your visit. There's a bunch of color all around, but there's still room for more.
Cades Cove was basically the same for us too. A ranger recommended us to stop by the Primitive Baptist Church as you're almost guaranteed to see bears there. We saw 2 bears walking down the hill behind the church, and 3 cubs with their mother as well. There's Bucks, Does, and even some Wild Turkeys to be found.
The Bears were there during my drive through also. The Church area must be a favorite place for them. My brother is in Maggie Valley this week and says it is beautiful along the Blueridge Parkway and probably near peak time for color. I'm going to be in Florida for a week but plan to be up on the Benton MacKaye trail on the 27th of this month. Hope the color is still good then. Plan to go back to Florida in November and try to catch the last Blue Angels air show in Pensecola Nov. 10 & 11. Haven't had time to go through my Smoky Mountain shots yet.
