The weather is getting chilly on the East Coast and it’s time to get out and enjoy the season.

Some of the best places in the country to see the fall colors are no more than a two- or three-hour drive from the nation’s capital. So if you are planning a trip to Washington soon, make sure to budget time for a memorable hike in the region.

Study up on the Appalachian Trail, especially the section in Northern Virginia - www.appalachiantrail.org. Also visit this site, which offers exact conditions of fall foliage: www.foliagenetwork.com/reports/southeast-us/.

The New York Times is running a piece on soaring in the Hudson Valley. The article, included in the Travel section, covers the experience of a first-time flyer and his observations as a rather willing passenger. Not only is it a good read, but it also includes information on a low cost soaring club in New York State that might be worth a visit if you are from (or in) the area.

>>read the original article on NY Times.com

PIKEVILLE (AP) — The coal-rich seams of Eastern Kentucky’s mountains have long defined the region, but the state is embarking in a million-dollar adventure tourism plan, capitalizing on the notoriously rugged terrain as “nature’s playground.”

State officials planned to roll out their strategy at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park on Tuesday, focusing on the region’s potential to draw in an annual 100,000-plus whitewater paddlers, rock climbers, hikers and horseback riders.