Fall is more than a season in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Ashe County, NC offers one of the best displays of color south of the Mason Dixon. Combine the colors with October's crisp air, football, all the aromas of the season; it is a beautiful time of the year.

There are many interesting things to do in and around Ashe County. You may want a quick and easy getaway from the controlled mayhem of the city and begin your journey to the wild and sprawling beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

It would be fun to begin your trip by jumping on America’s road trip adventure, the Blue Ridge Parkway

As many do, take advantage of the mile after mile of scenic vistas and captivating colors along this rustic byway. This simple road way is quiet, leisure driving at its best with slightly curving roads and fabulous overlooks and parks.

If you are more adventurous, leave the Parkway and find the simple pleasures of small townships like Glendale Springs and Laurel Glen. Both areas offer a quaint place to eat and shop amidst sights to see.

Glendale Springs is featuring an October Festival at The Church of the Frescos, Holy Trinity. This church is one of two in Ashe County that features the renowned works of artist Ben Long. Holy Trinity is always open; visitors can enter at any time.

Across the street, you can stop for some country cuisine at Rodie’s Parkway Restaurant and shop for local crafts, pottery, books and all things locally made in the Blue Ridge at Greenhouse Crafts.

Historic Glendale Springs Inn Welcomes Guest since 1895

The Historic Glendale Springs Inn and Restaurant well known for its stately Victorian charm and Mediterranean Cuisine is a welcoming bed & breakfast in the village of Glendale Springs.The Inn boasts of guest from all over the world, including President Clinton and Vice-President, Al Gore.

In Laurel Glen, it would be fun eating at Freeborn’s, a roadhouse restaurant with banging burgers and spicy hot wings. If you like junking, you can pick to your heart’s content through the maze of curiosities at Woody’s next door.

The Towns of Jefferson and West Jefferson, NC

Either route off the Blue Ridge Parkway will take you down into the towns of Jefferson and West Jefferson. You do not want to miss either of these small towns.

As you drive into town, you will find roadside pumpkin patches with ever color, shape and size of the harvest, and a view of colorful mountains akin to an artist’s pallet full of yellow and red hues.

In the town of Jefferson there is a great little boutique called Becky and Company that includes some of the area’s best selection of eclectic fashion and décor from antiques to country refurbished. Around the corner, there is the Little Dipper Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop off Long Street beside a greenery that’s chock full of the multicolored chrysanthemums.

Follow the four lanes back into the town of West Jefferson and bring your appetite with you. Between the great bar-be-que at Smokey Mountain’s to the burgers and craft beer at Boondocks or Americana at The Hotel Tavern, West Jefferson has restaurants for every taste and palate.

Wander down the sidewalks on Jefferson Avenue and visit unique boutiques, antique shops and art galleries. The town is vibrant and better yet, the people are warm and welcoming and the streets are pedestrian friendly. There is free parking on the streets or in the public parking lot beside Ashe High Country Realty.

You are sure to enjoy an afternoon and evening of fun and festivities in this hopping little mountain town. There is a full calendar of events for the balance of the month of October including theater performances at the local civic center and concerts at some of the venues in and about town.

Mount Jefferson State Natural Area is at the edge of West Jefferson and provides a colorful backdrop for the town. The park contains 957 acres of woodland, trails, overlooks, and reaches 4,700 feet elevation. More information on Mount Jefferson State Park.

West Jefferson is 2.5- hours from Charlotte; 2-hours from Greensboro/Winston-Salem; 3-hours from Raleigh/Durham and 2.5-hours from Roanoke, Virginia.

If you are looking for a colorful weekend in the North Carolina Mountains, in a place where the foliage is not the only thing that is breathtaking, look to enjoy this autumn in the Blue Ridge, Ashe County, North Carolina.