Fall foliage

Riding a bike along one of the area's plentiful trails is a good way to see fall's brilliant colors.

Manistee County offers stunning fall foliage

BY SCOTT FRALEY VENTURE STAFF WRITER

and Maine’s Historic Route 1. As the days grow shorter

Michigan boasts two distinct and the nights become colder, upper Michigan’s 19 million acres of forests transform into the brilliant gold and crimson of autumn.

There's so much to love — from the crisp breezes, warm spices and the warm rainbow of foliage which promises breathtaking beauty year-afteryear.

Manistee County is no secret to dedicated “leaf peepers,” whose travel centers around fall color viewing. From mid-September through late October, thousands of these tourists will flock to northern Michigan to enjoy the area’s colorful foliage.

In 2015, USA Today ranked M-22 as “America’s Favorite Scenic Autumn Drive.” The 116-mile stretch of highway competed against 19 other scenic locations, including Hocking Hills Byway in Ohio

According to Kathryn Kenny, executive director of Visit Manistee County, the area may have had a leg up in this competition: Northern about fall in Manistee County

color seasons.

“The fall season is a key draw to our beautiful part of the state, and we are so fortunate to have two distinct phases that extend our season,” said Kathryn Kenny, executive director of Visit Manistee County. “Our inland region shows earlier signs of fall color, and our Lake Michigan coastline stays green longer with warmth from the lake.”

Visit Manistee County has introduced a series of fall color planning tools, designed to help tourists and locals plan their autumn activities for prime colors during both coastal or inland peaks. Their tools denote color change as the season

The Thompsonville Trail in is a popular spot any time of the year. progresses. into consideration for the fall “We want to make it easy for visitors to find everything they need to have a wonderful autumn getaway, while enjoying the longer color season here,” Kenny said. forecast is the development of La Niña conditions. This phenomenon results in cooler than normal conditions near the equator of the Pacific Ocean which can influence the global weather pattern. The autumnal equinox will mark the official changing of the seasons with fall kicking off on Sept. 22. The inland tour has traditionally showcased earlier signs of color, while coastal

One factor to be taken Continued on page. 21