HARRISBURG, Pa. – During a fall excursion, families can discover the autumn splendor of Pennsylvania first-hand or catch a preview via the Web site.
“Pennsylvania’s most valuable resources for fall foliage are at your fingertips with www.fallinpa.com and the fall hotline,” said Barbara Chaffee, deputy secretary for Tourism and Marketing. The hotline is at 800-FALL-IN-PA.
“Not only can families experience autumn scenes live via Web cams, but they can also call the fall hotline for an information packet on festivals and events across the state.
“This year the site has all new features and updated information to make your excursion to Pennsylvania even more memorable.”
Travelers visiting the Web site will discover the newest locations of the fall Web cameras including two user-controlled interactive cameras. The site also features new hiking and biking maps, trail information and a calendar of fall events.
Web cameras. This year the Web site features nine digital Web cameras positioned at viewpoints overlooking state parks and forests for scenic vistas across Pennsylvania. The cameras provide live pictures of the prime color throughout the state’s three fall foliage zones.
There are two interactive cameras that allow online visitors to control the camera’s actions. By using an interactive control panel at the Web site, users will be able to pan, tilt and zoom the camera for a leaf viewing experience like never before.
Camera locations. The interactive cams are located at Lehigh University/Pocono Mountains and the University of Pittsburgh/Schneley Park.
Additional cameras are positioned in seven locations throughout the state, including: Presque Isle State Park, Kinzua Bridge State Park, Penn Nursery, Leonard Harrison State Park (Pennsylvania Grand Canyon), Lackawanna State Park, Kings Gap and Ohiopyle State Park.
Destinations. The destination feature allows potential visitors to obtain more than 30 scenic driving routes that showcase the best of Pennsylvania’s fall foliage.
A visitor can choose between a variety of short day trips or a number of fall getaway overnight trips. By clicking on the designated tour, travelers can gather printable detailed directions, descriptions, mileage and road maps.
Featured tours include: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, Crayola Factory, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, Presque Isle State Park, Delaware Water Gap, Oil Heritage Region and State College.
Hiking section. The fall Web site also offers suggestions for those who want to hit the trail this fall.
Pennsylvania’s changing foliage creates a breathtaking backdrop for hiking. There are thousands of miles of trails throughout the state, ranging from easy to very challenging and from well-traveled trailheads to remote wilderness.
Visitors will find state park trails, long distance trails traversing the countryside, and rails-to-trails, which are trails converted from historic and scenic railways. Updates to this section include additional day hikes, backpacking multi-day hikes, rails-to-trails and online maps.
Time lapse movies. Another interesting feature on the site is the ability to watch a whole Pennsylvania autumn unfold in minutes. Watch Pennsylvania’s verdant hardwood forests transform into a fiery mosaic of crisp yellows, rich golds, brilliant reds and deep oranges.
Hotline callers will receive detailed information about where and how to capture Pennsylvania’s most brilliant colors this autumn. Anyone who calls can receive information on fall events and festivals taking place every week throughout the state.
The fax-on-demand service provides callers with suggested driving tours, additional fall event information and a map of the state’s three fall foliage zones.
Foliage viewing. From early September through mid-November, or until all of the leaves have fallen, the hotline will operate 24 hours a day and update callers on the best routes to travel each week for prime foliage viewing.
Updated each Wednesday, the hotline directs callers to the best places to see the full color spectrum.
Pennsylvania is a great family-oriented destination for travel this fall. Call 1-800-VISIT-PA for a free copy of the 2001 Pennsylvania visitors guide.
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