we wii be in the DC area (olney,md.) the last week in october and first week in november. are there opportunities to still see color in shenandoah (skyline drive) or further south along the blue ridge pkwy? if not, in any other area of virginia?

It will be pretty much over by then. Everywhere.

It is still beautiful at the end of October and early November further south depending on whatever it is that keeps the leaves on! I have been to Smith Mt. Lake in November (for Veterans Day ... 11/11 and while not peak, the color was still there. It is near Roanoke.

The last week of October and first week of November is usually peak color in most of VA and DC area.

In DC itself, Rock Creek Park and the Zoo are at peak color then.

About that time of year, we used to take a picnic/cookout breakfast up to Skyline Drive early in the morning and have our bacon, potatoes, onions, eggs, biscuits and fruit (yeah, the fruit was the only healthy part) over an open fire as the change in light changed the colors of the view. Great memories.

Check out this website: www.virginia.org/fall

You will basically be here during peak foliage season; I advise going the first weekend you are here to be on the safe side - I hear it may peak earlier this year because of the dry summer.

We came through WV and Va today on I-64. Leaves were starting to turn slightly between the New River area and Covington, Va. With the severe draught Virginia has had this summer, the colors may not be that great.

I agree with Gretchen, that's late for peak color. Because of the drought ( hard to say that with a straight face these last few rainy days), the leaves are supposed to turn early. (at least that's what i heard). We are headed to the ashenandoahs this weekend. I'll let you know.

Colors are lame this year due to dry weather all summer. boo! I live in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley so I have a daily glimpse into how the leaves are going.

Bummer, schlegal1.

This just in feom the good people at the Va tourism office :

Foliage Report for Shenandoah National Park
As you make your way along Skyline Drive, you'll see that Fall color in Shenandoah National Park is currently at about 35% with peak color now predicted to occur into the third week of October. This is later than the earlier prediction of peak color occurring this coming weekend -- Columbus Day weekend -- but that’s how predictions go when you’re talking about Mother Nature; you never know when it’s peaked until the peak has passed!

So, it looks like you are going to luck out. (And I'll enjoy the 35% color this weekend.) Have a great time here. Make sure to get some apples while you're here.

I brought this back up to mention that the colors in Williamsburg are gorgeous right now. Peak might have been at the end of last week but only a few trees look bare. I thought it would be a dull fall but it's fabulous. This is much later than it normally is.

Wow. That's terrific Birdie! Things haven't been that great in my area or along I-64 between Staunton and Charlottesville.

>>I thought it would be a dull fall but it's fabulous. This is much later than it normally is.

We were in Sperryville, Little Washington area this past weekend and the colors were absolutely gorgeous...much better than they were a few weeks ago.

I just came back from the Shenandoah area yesterday. The colours are still good-seems they were much later this year than other years. Even further south towards the coast, the colours are still good.