Fall Colors Continue to Head South, Says AAA

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 24, 2007 -- Michigan's annual fall color show continues to migrate south reports AAA Michigan, with red, yellow and orange hues in "peak" condition in the west and east portions of the Lower Peninsula. The Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula are now past peak.

AAA's weekly survey of state parks and regional visitor's bureaus shows vivid tones in many areas of the west and east, as well as the southwest and southeast. Naturalists at Muskegon State Park report that hues are 100 percent developed there. Bay City, Caseville and Grand Rapids also report color development at 100 percent.

On the Southwest side of the state, color is filling in fast. Prime viewing conditions are expected by the end of the month at Holland, Hastings and St. Joseph, with 60-70 percent color development reported there.

In the Southeast, peak color is still a week away. At Kensington Metro Park color development is reported at 80 percent, with 60-70 percent color development reported at Jackson, Shelby Township and Tipton.

Fall color watchers looking for the best viewing opportunities can call Travel Michigan at (888) 78-GREAT (784-7328) for color updates provided by AAA Michigan each Wednesday through October. Updates also will be posted at AAA.com (enter ZIP code, click ABOUT AAA tab), or visit www.michigan.org.

AAA Michigan offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 1.6 million members in Michigan. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with approximately 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization with more than 50 million members in the United States and Canada.