Washington, D.C. - October 26, 2009

Tree's Company

Road Trips to Fall Foliage

Your landlord isn’t the only one going through the change of life. The leaves are turning, and they’re at their most vibrant n-o-w. Try seeing the forest for the trees in Virginia, wild West Virginia, and Maryland.

Valley Girl in VA
Hitch a ride into Shenandoah with North Mountain Outfitter. The family-run adventure company hosts Western-style horse rides (half-day, full-day, and overnight packages) into George Washington National Forest through pristine autumnal patches at their peak. Spend the night in the rustic bunkhouse complete with a fireplace and cowboy dinner, and then get your sore muscles back in shape at Staunton’s Breezy Hill Day Spa (set in a Victorian mansion). Pick up boxed lunches of gourmet sandwiches or salads from Byers Street Bistro for the road.

Waterways in WV
Set at the confluence of two rivers surrounded by protected parklands, Harpers Ferry scores vantage points from land and liquid. Rent bikes from River Riders to tackle the C&O Canal path (for anywhere from four hours to four days) or adjacent Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Warm up in Shepherdstown with Shaharazade’s Restaurant & Tea Room’s ethical brews, scones, clotted cream, and jam. Or try Mellow Moods Cafe and Juice Bar’s hippie throwbacks (fresh-squeezed juices, coconut water, and sammies served on sunflower seed bread). Work it off at the new community yoga classes upstairs.

Making Hay in MD
Just below Camp David, Cunningham Falls State Park bursts with leafy trees. While you probably won’t spot a president, you might see black bears and plenty of other natural inhabitants of the densely wooded 5000-acre park. On the way home, hit the corn maze at Crumland Farms. The family-owned farm operates the eight-acre maze along with haunted woods, a hayride, a pumpkin patch, and fresh produce.

About time you had a treesome.

Keep on truckin’. For more road trip ideas, go to dailycandy.com/guides.

Photos: Courtesy of North Mountain Outfitter; Courtesy of Mellow Moods Cafe and Juice Bar; Courtesy of Crumland Farms

  Cute Small Towns, Road Trip