Tech Talk: Get Ready For Some Leaf Peeping

Leaf peeping is a popular autumn activity in areas where the foliage changes colors. Leaf peepers, leafers, or peepers (never call them peeps, that's an Easter thing) are those who participate in photographing and viewing fall foliage. Leaf peeping reports categorize leaf color conditions in stages, which can be generally defined as follows:

Patchy: Scattered areas of color. (0 - 10% color) Early: Some clearly defined areas of color starting to appear. Most foliage still green. (10 - 40% color) Mid: Colors are bright in earlier changing trees, while late-changing trees remain primarily green. (40 - 60% color) Near peak: Abundant color in most trees. Some early changing trees at or near peak. (60 - 90% color) Peak: Full, vivid color. (100% color) Past peak: Some leaves have begun to fade, generally colorful. Isolated: Spotty color conditions.

General Leaf US Peeping Resources

The Weather Channel (tinyurl.comWCFall)
Foliage Network (www.foliagenetwork.com)
USDA Forest Service( tinyurl.comUSFedleafpeeping)
Leaf Peepers (www.leafpeepers.com)
Farmers Almanac (www.farmersalmanac.com)

US State Specific Peeping Resources

ARKANSAS 1-800-628-8725 www.arkansas.comcalendarfall_foliage.asp www.ozarkmtns.comfoliageindex.asp
CALIFORNIA www.calphoto.comfall.htm
COLORADO parks.state.co.usfall
CONNECTICUT 800-282-6863 www.dep.state.ct.usupdatesfoliagefoliage.htm
INDIANA 317-232-4002
IOWA 515-233-4110 www.traveliowa.com
KENTUCKY 800-225-8747
MAINE 800-777-0317 www.state.me.usdocfoliage
MARYLAND 800-532-8371 www.dnr.state.md.usoutdoorsfallfoliage
MASSACHUSETTS 800-227-6277 www.massvacation.com
MICHIGAN 888-784-7328 travel.michigan.org www.usaring.comtravelcolor.htm MINNESOTA 800-657-3700 ww.exploreminnesota.com www.dnr.state.mn.uscurrent_conditionsindex.html
MISSOURI www.ozarkmtns.comfoliageindex.asp
NEW HAMPSHIRE 800-258-3608 foliage.visitnh.govindex-flash.html
NEW JERSEY 800-843-6420 www.state.nj.ustravelfoliage_report.shtml
NEW YORK 800-225-5697 www.iloveny.com
NORTH CAROLINA 800-847-4862 or 800-921-9698 www.visitnc.com
OHIO 800-282-5393 www.dnr.state.oh.ustabid9584default.aspx
PENNSYLVANIA 800-325-5467 www.fallinpa.com www.poconos.orgpoconofoliage.htm RHODE ISLAND www.visitri.com
TENNESSEE 800-697-4200 fall.tnvacation.com
TEXAS 800-792-1112 www.tpwd.state.tx.usspdestfindadestparkslost_maplesfoliage.phtml VERMONT 800-837-6668 www.vermontfallfoliage.com
VIRGINIA 800-434-5323 climate.virginia.edufoliage.htm
WEST VIRGINIA 800-225-5982 www.wvtourism.com
WISCONSIN www.travelwisconsin.comfallcolor_report.aspx

Road Less Traveled Resources

Roadside America - A travel guide to unique and unusual attractions, tourist traps, weird vacations, and road trips. Do you know which Wisconsin town has a troll infestation problem? (www.roadsideamerica.com)

Roadside Peek - A tour of 1950s roadside signage and buildings. Includes sections on the futuristic Googie style and its Polynesian-influenced cousin - the Tiki look. (www.roadsidepeek.com)

Roadside - This site explores the back roads and main streets of America and celebrates the great American diner. (www.roadsideonline.com)

Preservation Directory - The online resource for historic preservation, building restoration and cultural resource management. (www.preservationdirectory.com)

Strange USA - Haunted buildings, places, Urban legends, cemeteries, weird places, cool places, ghost towns, and anything else that is worth your time to visit. (www.strangeusa.com)