West Michigan Will Delight Visitors With Its Fall Color Show

PR Log (Press Release) – Sep 11, 2009 – Development of West Michigan’s Fall Colors
Generally, the annual seasonal show peaks in stages, beginning at the top of the state in the Upper Peninsula (where it gets cooler first) then moving southward. Peak color is usually found in the U.P. between mid-September and early October; in the northern Lower Peninsula between late September and mid-October; in mid-Michigan from early to mid-October, and in southern Lower Michigan from mid- to late October. Color patterns, however, depend greatly on the weather as well as other factors including lake effect warming, which delays color changes near the Great Lakes and inland water shorelines.
Keep track of the most current fall color conditions by logging onto “All Things Autumn” at wmta.org, or calling the West Michigan Tourist Association conditions hotline at 800-442-2084, ext. 304. The recorded line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week with fall color updates. Conditions are updated each Thursday starting mid - September. Color Tour updates provided by the Michigan Audubon Society.

Color Tours in West Michigan
There is no single best way to enjoy the fall color display. West Michigan travelers have a plethora of ways to enjoy the show, either by car, train, boat, bicycle, horseback, at festivals, hiking, on golf courses and luxury resorts, or historic highways. Many of these “old roads” cut through great forests of hardwood and pines and make perfect color tours, and some are state-designated scenic routes.

Color seekers can find these 26 scenic driving tours on WMTA’s online feature “All Things Autumn” at wmta.org and print detailed directions for each route. From 40 miles to 140 miles, there’s a day trip perfect for everyone. To aid in planning their fall color tour adventure, visitors can request a free copy of the West Michigan Carefree Travel Guide by calling 800-442-2084.

Many West Michigan areas & resorts offer special color tour packages during the fall! Benzie County Visitors Bureau “Passport to Fun” is available through October 31 and provides many fun options to accompany your fall vacation. Visitors who book two or more consecutive nights at one of the 25 participating lodging locations will receive a passport worth over $175 in free food, entertainment and recreation opportunities. This includes a free ticket on the new Sleeping Bear Dunes Boat Cruise, free cherry pie slice from the Cherry Hut, free root beer float from A&W, free one-hour bike rental at Pedal Perfection, free tour of Point Betsie Lighthouse, free package of gift cards from legendary Gwen Frostic, two-for-one kayak rental at Hanmers Riverside Resort & Livery, two-for-one golf at Crystal Mountain and more! One Passport Package per room per minimum required stay. (800-882-5801, visitbenzie.com)
Traverse City brightens autumn vacations with their “Fab Fall” Packages. From Sept. 11 through Dec. 19, the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau will offer new “Fab Fall” Getaway Packages available at 26 participating resorts and hotels. Packages start as low as $30 per person/per night midweek and $42.50 per person/per night on weekends, plus tax, based on double occupancy. In addition, they include extras like discounts to downtown shops, dining discounts at North Peak Brewery, Kilkenney’s Irish Pub, the Blue Tractor Cook Shop, Café Habana, Bowers Harbor Inn, The Jolly Pumpkin Brewery, Tuscan Bistro, CW’s Bluewater Bistro, House of Doggs, La Senorita, Camp Critter at Great Wolf Lodge, Lakeview at Shanty Creek Resorts, Shimmers Night Club and Wingers Sports Bar at the Holiday Inn West Bay. They also include a coupon for $10 per adult in free e-credits at the Turtle Creek or Leelanau Sands casinos, discounts on spa treatments, wine purchases at Chateau Chantal and Black Star Farms wineries, and more.
Packages must be directly booked through hotels. For specific information, check out the Bureau’s web site at visitTraverseCity.com or call 800-TRAVERSE (872-8377).

Harvest Festivals Celebrate the Season
“All Things Autumn” also highlights the many Harvest Festivals happening around West Michigan. September and October are two months jam-packed with events focused on pumpkins, fall foliage, and Michigan’s seasonal bounty. The Paw Paw Wine & Harvest Festival (September 11 – 13) and the PumpkinFest In Zeeland (October 1 – 3) are just two ways to spend a day celebrating the season. An extensive listing of harvest festivals and fall-fun events throughout the region can be found online at “All Things Autumn”.

Apple Time in West Michigan
And how can we mention fall without giving credit to Michigan’s largest agricultural commodity – apples!
The West Michigan Tourist Association’s “All Things Autumn” portal includes a list of fascinating Michigan Apple Facts and Apple Driving Tours, courtesy of the Michigan Apple Committee.

For more information about “All Things Autumn” in West Michigan, log onto West Michigan Tourist Association’s website at wmta.org and access Great Ideas.