Labor Day has come and gone, and so summer is unofficially over! And with the sun slipping down over the horizon earlier and earlier each night, it's feeling more like fall. Nothing says fall, though, like the changing of the leaves.

Chances are you may have noticed some leaves already beginning to change - hues of yellow, even some reds mixed in. And of course, this is just the start of things to come.

As the days continue getting shorter, and the nights colder, deciduous trees will continue to produce less chlorophyll. And since chlorophyll is what keeps the leaves green, having less allows the leaves to change color...into the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows that make autumn in the Northwest so amazing.

Typically the show starts right around this time of year, and doesn't peak until mid-October! So we have plenty of time to enjoy the sights.

Once the show really gets going, taking a drive to soak it all in could be a great way to spend a weekend. The Historic Columbia River Highway is one great route that will surely reveal some amazing scenery. Heading into the Cascades on Highway 26 is another way to go. Or you can always take Highway 2 outside of Seattle, and check out some of the fall colors up in Washington State.

If you have any good routes you want to share, feel free to post a comment here on the blog!

Also, if you've got kids, hope their school year is off to a great start. And hope everyone's September is going well so far, too. Personally, I'm getting excited...winter - my favorite season - is right around the corner! =)

Joe M.

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