"This year's fall foliage show is a little different, in that its splash has been steady, rather than an explosion of color we've seen in other years,"

(TRAVPR.COM) USA - October 5th, 2011 - Just as Christopher Columbus set out to explore a New World in 1492, waves of brightly colored foliage across the New Hampshire landscape perennially draw autumn travelers to the White Mountains.

"This year's fall foliage show is a little different, in that its splash has been steady, rather than an explosion of color we've seen in other years," said Jayne O'Connor, president of White Mountains Attractions, the marketing association for 16 tourism venues in the region. "What this means for visitors is that there will be a long patchwork of yellows, oranges and, of course, the bright reds that are the signature of the season."

Columbus Day has long been the high point of fall, especially in the White Mountains, where peak colors typically coincide with the three-day holiday. For businesses and attractions, the fine weather predicted will be a final boost of the season that saw a few challenges over the summer.

"For many of our attractions, the summer of 2011 was on track to be above what it was in 2010," O'Connor said. "July and August were very strong, but that momentum was sidetracked when tropical storm Irene paid a visit. It took us a couple weeks to repair roads and replace bridges, but everything is open and we are back on track welcoming visitors for the foliage season.

Falling gas prices are also helping to get visitors back on the road, although O'Connor said one industry was hit hard by the economic storm earlier this summer.

"Domestic bus tour business was a bit soft due to cancellations" which came about because of the national debt debate, said O'Connor. People who normally would have booked bus tours were uncertain about the future, and we saw our bus tour business fall about 15 percent this year."

In a typical foliage season, about 3,000 buses ply the roads through the White Mountains.

"Nonetheless, European travel is very strong and while domestic bus passengers may be down, bus tours of travelers from abroad have not been affected," O'Connor said.

Visitors to the White Mountains this weekend will be able to follow the fall colors, seeing some of the brightest hues in the western White Mountains around Franconia and Crawford Notches and the east side of the Kancamagus Highway, while the colors continue to turn in the Mount Washington Valley area.

Those planning a holiday excursion should have lodging reservations before leaving their driveways and have an itinerary that follows less traveled roadways.

"Knowing where they will sleep at night means peace of mind for visitors.

Fun itineraries for visitors include following the color along what used to be called 'shun-pikes,' like Route 153 through Madison, Route 112 through Kinsman Notch, or Route 117 over Sugar Hill," O'Connor said. "We highly recommend spending a few minutes talking with local chambers of commerce or
lodging bureaus to make that lodging reservation."

White Mountains Attractions, founded in 1958, is the marketing association for the White Mountains region and its 16 major attractions, including Attitash, Cannon Mountain, Clark's Trading Post, the Mount Washington Cog Railroad, the Conway Scenic Railroad, Flume Gorge, the Hobo Railroad, Loon Mountain, Lost River Gorge, Mount Washington Auto Road, Polar Caves, Santa's Village, Six Gun City, Story Land, Whale's Tale and Wildcat Mountain.

For information about the White Mountains, the visitors' center is located off exit 32 on Interstate 93 in North Woodstock; visit www.visitwhitemountains.com or call 800-FIND-MTS.

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