Autumn Highways Beckon: Revel in North Carolina's Colorful Charms

As summer draws its last sultry breath and the days wane shorter, there comes a time when we are called upon to drift through the rapidly transforming landscapes of North Carolina. A state filled with indomitable spirit, tradition, innovation and let us not forget, the symphony of colors our beloved Mother Nature splashes across her canvas during autumn.

Let us embark on a journey where whispers of Jack Kerouac's On The Road intertwine with inhales of crisp air and the scent of crunchy leaves underfoot. We shall meander through highways colored by vivid foliage, unveiling corners alive in cultural delights pulling back curtains into local enclaves richer than moonshine coursing through veins.

First stop knock your boots together at Pumpkinville Junction (420 Pumpkintown Rd., Sylva), where harvest season collides with whimsy. View an empire built from their eponymous fruit as you navigate corn mazes la Jackson Pollock's infamous creations but in topiary form! Grinning pumpkins mingle beneath banners heralding bizarre tales; sample pumpkininfused elixirs that would give Dylan Thomas pause for another sip.

Next up is Blowing Rock (101 Lipes Branch Rd., Linville), standing defiant against winds while embracing panoramic views worthy of Ansel Adams' lens. Teeter on balconies suspended amidst fierytinged trees before joining outdoor celebrations echoing Fellini epics. Embrace folks who hail from Appalachian roots deeper than Charles Frazier's prose entwined with newcomers seeking fresh chapters underneath glorious maples contemplating their fading brilliance.

Taste Eden within zeBorddeMer Orchards (85 Harvest Ln., Waynesboro). Trees groaning under ripe treasures drop gifts among meandering pathways reminiscent of Eschers winding realms ensnared within a Boschinspired dream. Delight in the sensations of biting into earth's bounty feel your teeth sink through sweet etchings, as thoughts wander to Sylvia Plath and orchard memories.

For enchanting small town charm la Mayberry, we suggest exploring Hawthorne Heights (10 Main St., Saxapahaw). Our attention turns inward here as glimpses into simpler times rekindle youthful summer anecdotes penned by Eudora Welty. Relish in milltowns revitalized as a microcosm of artisans, craft breweries, and soulful Southern cuisine that warms even Faulkners heart.

As our journey concludes beneath the twilight canopy of Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest (30 Slickrock Creek Rd., Robbinsville), soak yourself in the poetic embrace offered only by ancient giants who have witnessed countless cycles turn from gold to barren bone. Tread softly amongst fallen leaves; their whispers entwine with those now long departed yet immortalized in ink.

List Of Websites And Twitter Handles:

Pumpkinville Junction: pumpkinville.com / @pumpkinvillenc

Blowing Rock Tourism: blowingrock.com / @blowingrocknc

zeBorddeMer Orchards: ezeorchardsnc.com / @ezeorchardsnc

Hawthorne Heights: hawthorneheights.saxapahaw.org / @@hawthornesaxapahaw

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest: joycekilmerforest.gov / @joycekilmermemorialforest