PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Washington may be “The Evergreen State,”‘ but that doesn’t mean we miss out when leafy oaks and maples turn red, gold and orange with the coming of fall.
City streets and mountainsides are blazing with fall colors, now at their peak.
It’s prime time for hiking, biking or Sunday driving.
The turning of the leaves tickles all of your senses. It’s a time of earthy smells, reflection and rediscovery.
It’s a time to be a child again with endless piles of crunchy leaves to romp, skip and drive through.
The area becomes a masterpiece of nature, and the mosaic landscape of red, gold and cinnamon makes up for the fact that cold weather is coming.
Science tells us that leaves are at their prettiest hue in climates that have the right amount of water and light.
Because of this, non-evergreen trees on the Peninsula _ steeped in moisture _ often don’t generate the sparkling colors of their cousins in the Midwest and New England.
But that’s not the case this year.
A lack of moisture combined with cool night temperatures have resulted in a spectacular fall color tour.
Those who want to enjoy the color tour without leaving the city can try the Port Angeles Waterfront Trail, part of Olympic Discovery Trail.
The trail offers a peaceful walk from Port Angeles through the colorful Morse Creek valley.
More color can be witnessed by visiting Olympic National Park.
The park is a playground for all seasons. But in fall and winter, with the crowds of tourists gone, it can present its most wild self to visitors.
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The rest of the story appears in the Friday Peninsula Daily News. Click on SUBSCRIBE to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.