(Dirt Toys ED-If
you're headed to the outdoors on your ATV or side-by-side for a scenic ride,
here's is some information that might be of interest.)
Washington - Fall colors are about to burst all over the country
and the U.S. Forest Service wants you to get outdoors and enjoy one
of nature's most spectacular seasons in your national forests.
"Autumn is a wonderful time of
the year to plan a trip to see the beauty of your national forests," Tom
Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, said. "As tree experts, we have
incredible resources on our website to help you plan a great adventure this fall season."
From coast to coast, state and local economies are boosted
because of the fall season and for many rural communities, fall color tourism is a major source of revenue.
Hotels, restaurants and local shops rely on the influx of dollars generated by fall visitors. For example, the New England area receives an estimated $8 billion in
local revenues annually due to fall activities. Throughout the Midwest, millions of visitors hit the road to enjoy the
sights. In the West, the mountains provide destinations filled with tourists
seeking a glimpse of shimmering gold aspens.
Weather conditions in all areas
impact peak viewing dates, so information provided on the Forest Service
website and phone hotline will help visitors best plan their trips.
The Forest Service's Fall Colors 2012 website includes
clickable maps that link to forest-by-forest fall color information and to state tourism and fall color websites. Some of its most popular
family friendly features include locations of scenic drives and trails,
coloring pages for kids, the science behind the season and links to a tree
database. Photographs from visitors nationwide will be added to the
site.
Following tradition, the Forest
Service has turned on its Fall Colors Hotline - 1-800-354-4595. The
hotline provides audio updates on the best places, dates and routes to take for
peak viewing of fall colors on national forests.
The mission of the Forest
Service is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's
forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The
agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state
and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research
organization in the world. Forest Service lands contribute more than $13
billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same
lands provide 20 percent of the nation's clean water supply, a value estimated
at $27 billion per year.
Audio: Fall colors, and why the change starts when it does.
