desert dweller needs advice on fall foliage in the DC area
 

My hubby just found out that he can attend a class in either Rockville MD, Sept 24-30th, or in Reston VA, Oct 29-Nov 4th. We live in a NM desert and have always dreamed of seeing fall foliage. Which place or time would best render us a chance of seeing it? We will have a rental car! I have been searching and am not finding much help. I was hoping some locals might have opinions on this. We would just be happy to see any color at all. It isn't like we'd know the peak season, since our leaves just fall off when they dry up and die of thirst. HA HA!
Also, any advice of which city is a better place to stay would also be appreciated. We have no knowledge of the DC area at all! We will be traveling with a 2 & 5 year old. We were thinking the Halloween time might be pretty neat if a town had something going on near by. but we were afraid that the leaves would fall by then. Well...any advice would be great. Thank you!

Definitely Reston in late October. I doubt you'd really see any foliage at all in late September. I think Reston is the better choice anyway. Reston Town Center is really cute with shops and restaurants and a Square area where they often have things going on. It's also very close to DC if you drive in. There's a bus stop in Town Center that takes you to the Metro and from there just a few short stops to DC.

Thank you! See, that is why I love this site. If you haven't been there, you just don't know.

I agree with Reston, VA for the location. Its a nice area, there are lots of fall type things to do if you go just a little west of there and it is about 30 minutes from where you can start to see the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park is only about 90 minutes away which is gorgeous in fall. As far as the timing, mid October is usually peak but I've seen it later in October. It just depends on how much rain the area gets between now and then. A very dry summer will cause the leaves to go from green to brown quickly while a more average season will allow the leaves to slowly turn many different shades of gold, red, orange & brown. It is too early to know which time would be best for the leaves but in late October you will definitely get an "autumn" feel but if you go in September the season is still stuck in between summer and autumn.

I just wanted to say that I really like your creative thread title. Informative yet original. Good job! :)

Thanks for all the advice. Anyone know of something special to do for Halloween with the kids in a town near Reston?

Absolutely not to be missed in nearby Centreville is Cox Farms Fall Festival which will be perfect for your kids (hayrides, hay tunnels & mountains, baby farm animals, swings, face painting, pumpkin patch). My daughter loved this place when she was younger.

More info her, including directions from Reston.

www.coxfarms.com