[September 16, 2011] Business owners hope for vibrant fall colors Tweet Sep 16, 2011 (The Leader-Telegram - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Recent sunny days and cool nights in the Chippewa Valley will help bring fall's colors out in full during the coming weeks. By the first or second week of October, leaves will be turning yellow, orange and red in earnest, said Ed Culhane, state Department of Natural Resources regional spokesman. "That's when you want to take a nice long walk or take a drive in the country," Culhane said. Culhane said cool nights are especially important in bringing out red hues in leaves. Local tourism officials are hoping area trees look as vibrant as possible, as it would help draw visitors to wineries, bed and breakfasts, and country restaurants. Tourists from the Twin Cities and Chicago who are booking rooms at Pleasant View Bed and Breakfast already are asking about the fall foliage, said Missy Ojibway, general manager of the establishment on Lake Wissota near Chippewa Falls. Ojibway said there are many attractions for tourists in the Chippewa Valley but the fall colors certainly help lure out-of-towners. "It only adds to the experience," she said. Autumn is the second most popular season for tourism in the Chippewa Valley, behind summer, according to the Eau Claire Visitors & Convention Bureau. TravelWisconsin.com is tracking the fall colors this autumn in its Fall Color Report, which provides updates on when peak times are expected in areas around the state. The Tourism Department also has launched a mobile version of the report, making it accessible by smartphone. Swedien can be reached at 715-833-9214, 800-236-7077 or [email protected]. ___ (c)2011 the Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wis.) Visit the Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wis.) at www.leadertelegram.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]