Released on: September 9, 2008, 6:36 am

Press Release Author: West Michigan Tourist Association

Industry:

Press Release Summary: The West Michigan Tourist Association celebrates “All Things
Autumn” by offering visitors a online comprehensive way to plan their fall color
tour trips.


Press Release Body: Autumn is here in Michigan and the West Michigan Tourist
Association (WMTA) has created a
resource for visitors planning their fall color trips. In a campaign to celebrate
this colorful season in West Michigan, WMTA’s “All Things Autumn” is a
comprehensive, online portal of color tour routes, fall-season FAQ’s, harvest
festivals, and weekly color updates.

“All Things Autumn” can be found by logging onto www.wmta.org and access the Travel
Maps section at the top of the homepage.

“During September and October, visitors have a chance to see splices of color in
various regions of West Michigan, depending when and where they travel,” stated
Sarah Hayes, Director of Marketing for the West Michigan Tourist Association. She
stressed that just because summer is over, it doesn’t bring West Michigan tourism to
an end. “In fact,” emphasized Hayes, “the autumn fireworks create their very own
travel itinerary in West Michigan and WMTA has established an ‘All Things Autumn’ to
guide color-seekers along the way.”

Development of West Michigan’s Fall Colors
Generally, the annual seasonal show peaks in stages, beginning at the top of the
state in the Upper Peninsula (where it gets cooler first) then moving southward.
Peak color is usually found in the U.P. between mid-September and early October; in
the northern Lower Peninsula between late September and mid-October; in mid-Michigan
from early to mid-October, and in southern Lower Michigan from mid- to late October.
Color patterns, however, depend greatly on the weather as well as other factors
including lake effect warming, which delays color changes near the Great Lakes and
inland water shorelines.
Keep track of the most current fall color conditions by logging onto “All Things
Autumn” at www.wmta.org, or calling the West Michigan Tourist Association conditions
hotline at 800-442-2084, ext. 304. The recorded line operates 24 hours a day, seven
days a week with AAA Michigan’s statewide fall color updates. Conditions are updated
each Thursday starting at the beginning of September.

Color Tours in West Michigan
There is no single best way to enjoy the fall color display. West Michigan travelers
have a plethora of ways to enjoy the show, either by car, train, boat, bicycle,
horseback, at festivals, hiking, on golf courses and luxury resorts, or historic
highways. Many of these “old roads” cut through great forests of hardwood and pines
and make perfect color tours, and some are state-designated scenic routes.

Color seekers can find these 26 scenic driving tours on WMTA’s online feature “All
Things Autumn” at www.wmta.org and print detailed directions for each route. From 40
miles to 140 miles, there’s a day trip perfect for everyone. To aid in planning
their fall color tour adventure, visitors can request a free copy of the West
Michigan Carefree Travel Guide by calling 800-442-2084.

Many West Michigan areas & resorts offer special color tour packages during the
fall! Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort , Traverse City, will host a Special
“Microbrew” Color Tour Package September 26-28.(231-947-2770,
www.timberridgeresort.net)

Harvest Festivals Celebrate the Season
“All Things Autumn” also highlights the many Harvest Festivals happening around West
Michigan. September and October are two months jam-packed with events focused on
pumpkins, fall foliage, and Michigan’s seasonal bounty. The Bangor Apple & Harvest
Festival (September 20) and the PumpkinFest In Zeeland (October 2 – 4) are just two
ways to spend a day celebrating the season. An extensive listing of harvest
festivals and fall-fun events throughout the region can be found online at “All
Things
Autumn”.

Apple Time in West Michigan
And how can we mention fall without giving credit to Michigan’s largest agricultural
commodity – apples! Visitors will be reminded of the taste of autumn when they
“Check into Michigan Apples” at one of nearly 250 Michigan lodging properties – from
NewBuffalo to Detroit to Mackinaw City and the Upper Peninsula.

In a promotion organized by the Michigan Apple Committee (MAC), each of the
participating lodging properties will receive a ¼-peck basket filled with Michigan
apples and a display rack full of Michigan Farm Market & U-Pick Directories to
distribute to guests.

In support of this campaign, the West Michigan Tourist Association’s “All Things
Autumn” portal includes a list of fascinating Michigan Apple Facts and Apple Driving
Tours, courtesy of the Michigan Apple Committee.

For more information about “All Things Autumn” in West Michigan, log onto West
Michigan Tourist Association’s website at www.wmta.org, or contact WMTA toll-free at
800-442-2084.

Founded in 1917, WMTA is the oldest continually operated regional tourist
association in the nation. Representing 41 counties from the Michigan-Indiana state
line to Mackinac Island and covering the entire west half of the Lower Peninsula,
WMTA is dedicated to proving that “We Know West Michigan!”





Web Site: http://www.wmta.org

Contact Details: Sarah Hayes
741 Kenmoor
Ste E
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
616-245-2217 phone
616-954-3924 fax
sarah@wmta.org