OT-How far south do the leaves change color?

[Tawnya]

I know this is off topic...but I thought maybe someone could give me some ideas...my father was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease about two years ago. Before this diagnosis he was a cross country and long distance bike rider. He biked across the US several times and one of his favorite rides was the Blue Ridge mountains. I was visiting him yesterday and he sadly said how much he would love to see some leaves change for the fall. We live about 30 minutes north of New Orleans. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how far south they are seeing leaves change.
He has often been on rides on the Natchez Trace beginning in Kosiocso (Spelling?) which is an 8 hour round trip from here...I am not sure he could sit that long.
If you know of any parks, highways etc. within driving distance of New Orleans, could you please share them with me?
Thanks so much!

 

[ilovejack02]

Hey I really cant help with the leaves changing thing, maybe call the Louisiana tourism board and ask them, prob wont be open till Monday of course but its worth a shot. As for a really nice are to go for a visit St. Francisville about 45 mins out of B.R. is gorgeous!!!! Very hilly with wonderful trees and plantation homes etc.. great for a visit, tons of bed and breakfast places and im pretty sure a Best Western. Haunted tours of plantation homes going on now for Halloween. http://www.stfrancisville.net/town_new/index.html

this looks like a great site too..http://www.stfrancisville.us/
Oh and Hemingbough is on the list of lodgings... used to be a fabulous place, but really kinda dumpy the last time i was there in Feb. '06

Ps as you can see im from B.R. (actually Denham Springs lol)
Where are you from?

 

[Tawnya]

I live in Abita Springs. We have neighbors who love St. Francisville! I will try to the site. Thanks so much.

 

[Sammie]

It depends on what type of trees you can find. Decidious trees are what you are looking for, as they are type that change colors.

You might find some on the campus of LSU.

 

[NotUrsula]

I grew up in S. Louisiana, and we had trees that changed color; it just depends on what kind of trees. It does tend to happen much later in the year than it does up north, usually close to the middle of November. There used to be trees in NOLA City Park that changed, but they are probably all dead now. There are some trees on the LSU campus that change, but they are not too impressive because they are interplanted with pine and live oaks: there are some in the quadrangle, and also some in the Enchanted Forest (the area behind the Greek theatre stage.)

Can your Dad fly? If you watch for a good sale or Ding! you could probably get a cheap SWA flight to Dallas. On a n/s flight the trip is less than 2 hrs., and there is some good leaf-peeping in the hills around there. http://www.easttexasguide.com/fallfoliage/foliage.html