List of 10 "spookiest cemeteries in the U.S." includes three from Carolinas

A list of  10 "Spookiest cemeteries in the U.S." published at foxnews.com may have three from Louisiana at the top -- that's to be expected -- but also includes three from the Carolinas:

 1. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans. This famous graveyard was established in 1789 and is on the northern end of the city's ever-popular French Quarter. Visit on your own or on a guided tour. Because the land is so close to sea level, people are buried in above-ground tombs.

2. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, also in New Orleans. It's small but also packed with above-ground graves.

3. American Cemetery, Natchitoches, La. This is another oldie and it shows up in scenes from "Steel Magnolias."

4. Woodpecker Hill, Colorado Springs, Co. Citizens were buried in the town's Greenwood Cemetery, Woodpecker Hill, on a bluff above it, is where convicts were laid to rest.

The next four are notable for holding the remains of many Civil  War soldiers.

5. Elmwood Cemetery and Gardens, Columbia (shown in the photo at the top of this post).

6. Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond Va.

7. Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.

8. Woodland Cemetery, Bethel, Maine.

9. Bellevue Cemetery, Wilmington. It's spooky enough to be a site location for the  modern-gothic TV series "Sleepy Hollow," which is filmed in the area.

10. St. James Parish Cemetery, Wilmington. Founded in 1729, with many old headstones sheathed in moss, it looks the part.

Top scenic roadways include N.C. 12 on Outer Banks

Country magazine, a leisure travel publication that  specializes in drive vacations in America, released its 2014 list of "The Nation's Best Scenic Roads."

First on the annual top 10 is Outer Banks National Scenic Byway. Besides being pure eye candy, it's also the only highway on the list that's on a seacoast and the only one that's not overly far from civilization.

Here's the road roundup:

1. U.S. 12, Outer Banks National Scenic Byway. It begins in Nags Head and heads south along the Outer Banks to Ocracoke Island (shown above) and continues via ferry to Cedar Island. ( It also includes a ferry ride between Hatteras and Ocracoke islands).

2. Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway. It's U.S. 395 and follows the mountain range and deserts in eastern California from Topaz Lake, near the Nevada border, south to the China Lake area east of Bakersfield, Calif.

3. Monument Valley Scenic Drive. The Monument Valley area, in northeast Arizona and southeast Utah, is where westerns have been filmed for many decades.

4. Mount Hood Scenic Byway. It's the rugged northern edge of Oregon.

5. Kancamagus Scenic Byway. It's cut through the White Mountain National Forest, in New Hampshire.

6. Mich. 41, Keweenaw Peninsula. It's the rugged northern spur of Upper Michigan and extends into Lake Superior.

7. U.S. 195: "Heart of the Palouse." You'll find U.S. 195 on the eastern edge of Washington State, from Spokane south to the Snake River area.

8. Mount Evans ScenicByway. The "Road into the Sky" is the Colorado mountains.

 9. Grand Teton Loop. Another high-ground drive. This one's in Grand Teton National Park, south of Yellowstone National Park, in Wyoming.

10. Badlands Loop Road. It goes through part of Badlands National Park, in South Dakota.

Looking for more ideas? Check the website for My Scenic Drives.

Major craft event this weekend in Dillsboro

Seagrove isn't the only town in North Carolina that touts and salutes artisan pottery, and Asheville's Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands isn't the only notable clay-focused fall event.

The Western North Carolina Pottery Festival celebrates its 10th year on Nov. 1 with more than 40 master potters from across the eastern United States.

The event, staged in Dillsboro, has grown in attendance  as well as recognition: It's on the November list of attractions compiled by the Southeast Tourism Society.

The festival usually spotlights one featured potter, but this year they're pointing up two: Richard Aerni of Rochester, N.Y. and Nick Joerling of Penland. Both will join other exhibiting potters at the Saturday event in demonstrating their techniques throughout the day.

Joerling has maintained his studio in Penland, since the mid-1980s. He holds a master of fine arts in ceramics from Louisiana State University and has taught in craft programs in the United States and abroad. His work can be found in numerous public and private collections.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Admission: $5; 11 and younger, free. Attendees will each get a ticket for a day-long raffle; there will also be a silent auction that  benefits a local charity that provides meals to families.

Dillsboro is a picturesque town near the Tuckaseegee River, south of Cherokee, just under three hours west of Charlotte and off U.S. 23/74.

Be aware that a  preliminary event takes place Friday. The sixth annual WNC Clay Olympics competition is 1 to 5 p.m. Friday: It pits 20 potters against one another to see who can make the largest cylinder, widest bowl, etc.

Friday, of course, is also Halloween, and there's downtown Dillsboro trick-or-treating from 5 to 7 p.m. You'll also find hayrides and more. 

National kudos for Wilmington's waterfront

Readers of USA Today had the chance to do a "10 Best Readers' Choice" vote for the city with the best American riverfront, and when the results were released Wednesday, Wilmington won.

As USA Today correctly noted, "Because Wilmington is associated with the many barrier island destinations for which it serves as a gateway -- Wrightsville Beach chief among them -- the public often forgets it's actually a river city."

Along the Cape Fear River at Wilmington, you'll find the Henrietta III excursion boat (shown above), Battleship North Carolina and a 1.75-mile wood-plank Riverwalk, where a weekly farmers market and other outdoor events are staged throughout the year.

Which of the winners are within easy striking distance?

Wilmington is a  3 1/2-hour straight-shot drive from Charlotte via U.S. 74.

Savannah is four hours south of Charlotte, Interstate all the way.

Richmond, Va., is 4 1/2 hours northeast, Interstate all the way.

Also on the list is Chattanooga, Tenn., a 5 1/2-hour drive to the west, via any of several routes.

Here's the full list:

1. Wilmington

2. Spokane, Wash.

3. Davenport, Iowa

4. Dubuque, Iowa

5. Pittsburgh

6. Louisville, Ky.

7. Chattanooga, Tenn.

8. Savannah, Ga.

9. Detroit

10. Richmond, Va.

Beaufort, N.C.: A well-deserved "Favorite Place"

Another day, another best-places list.

Travel + Leisure magazine just released the results of its 2014 "America's Favorite Places" survey. As usual with best-of lists, the methodology of this virtual beauty contest is up for grabs.

But the list does make sense: They're all wonderful places -- starting with Beaufort, N.C., a charming and good-eating town that offers visitors a mix of nature and history. (Its waterfront is shown in the AP file photo above.)

Here's the full top-25 list:

1. Beaufort, N.C.

2. Ogunquit, Maine

3. Lewisburg, W.Va.

4. Aspen, Colo.

5. Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.

6. Charlottesville, Va.

7. Breckenridge, Colo.

8. Myrtle Beach

9. Paso Robles, Calif.

10. Tybee Island, Ga.

11. Bayfield, Wis.

12. Traverse City, Mich.

13. Portsmouth, N.H.

14. Pawleys Island, S.C.

15. Glenwood Springs, Colo.

16. Lake Placid, N.Y.

17. San Luis Obispo, Calif.

18. Bar Harbor, Maine

19. Gulf Shores, Ala.

20. Sonoma, Calif.

21. Hood River, Ore.

22. Estes Park, Colo.

23. Park City, Utah

24. La Jolla, Calif.

25. St. Augustine, Fla.

See any patterns?

Of these, 14 are on an ocean or one of the Great Lakes; six others are in mountain areas famed as skiing destinations.

And the five exceptions?

Lewisburg, W.Va. is an hour or more from the state's ski slopes, but is in a high-profile resort area (the famous Greenbrier resort is nearby) that has a lot of history  and culture. Lewisburg was featured this spring in a travel article in The Charlotte Observer.

Charlottesville, Va., is home to the University of Virginia and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello estate, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

San Luis Obispo is about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco; it is one of California's oldest towns. Paso Robles is just to the north, is in an area with more than 30 wineries and tasting rooms.

Hood River, Ore., is a tourist magnet on the Columbia River Gorge area.

There's an after-result link where you can select your own favorite -- up to a point: Click the "Select a state" option and you'll see what towns you can vote on.

There are 32 in North Carolina; 17 in South Carolina.

Glad to see Charleston on the Conde Nast Traveler lists... but take a closer look

The Charlotte Observer today reported that Charleston again was voted the No. 1 city in the United States  to visit in the annual  Readers' Choice Awards by Conde Nast Traveler -- for the fourth year.

Also, Charleston finished in second place in the Readers' Choice Awards for Top 25 Cities in the World.

But a closer look at the other cities in both lists may be informative.

Top 5 Cities in the United States

1. Charleston

2. Santa Fe, N.M.

3. New Orleans

4. San Francisco

5. Chicago

Top Cities in the World

1. Florence, Italy

2. Charleston

3. Budapest, Hungary

4. Cape Town, South Africa

5. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

6. Prague, Czech Republic

7. Rome

8. Siem Reap, Cambodia

9. Barcelona, Spain

10. Santa Fe, N.M.

11. Krakow, Poland

12. Luang Prabang, Laos

13. Bangkok, Thailand

14. Beirut, Lebanon

15. Vienna, Austria

16. Siena, Italy

17. New Orleans

18. Quebec City, Canada

19. Sydney, Australia

20. San Francisco

21. Chiang Mai, Thailand

22. Salzburg, Austria

23. Chicago

24. Bruges, Belgium

25. Kyoto, Japan

Why is "Top Cities in the United States" limited to only five destinations? While a good bit of the contents of the magazine (these and other best-of lists are in the November issue, on the shelves Oct. 26) is usually geared toward luxury and exotic travel, the five-city limit seems restrictive for a magazine based in America and written for American readers. 

With the exception of Santa Fe, N.M., the other winners in the United States list also appear on the  world list.

And with the exception of Santa Fe, the domestic destinations chosen are not surprising. In fact, they could qualify for been-there-done-that honors for most travelers.

But look at some of the international selections, like exotic Luang Prabang, Laos, or  Beirut, Lebanon -- a fascinating place that was a jet-set destination before decades of civil war. Who would have imagined those places (or even rustic Siena, Italy) on the top 25 list?

Think it through: Could fabled Florence, Italy -- shown at the top of this post -- really be the only city in the world more worth visiting than Charleston?

Be aware that anyone could take any of the Conde Nast Traveler's online polls.

It' ain't just readers, folks. 

Maybe  Conde Nast Traveler poll-takers aren't overly curious about trying different or unusual destinations in the United States  -- or are poll-takers on a mission. Or just don't get out much. And perhaps poll-takers' international choices are more of a wish list than anything.

Weekend for fine color -- and fine crafts -- in Asheville area

This may be a better weekend than you thought for heading up to the Asheville area.

The color report at www.exploreasheville.com says leaf coloration is moving down the mountains, and notes that foliage is getting prime at Biltmore Estate and in such nearby areas as  Cullasaja Gorge, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Cradle of Forestry.

Moreover, this weekend the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands is going on at the U.S. Cellular Center, 87 Haywood St., in downtown Asheville.

The event is staged twice a year -- four days in July, four in mid-October. It is regarded as one of the best craft shows in the country.

You'll see the fine work of members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, a nonprofit formed during the Great Depression; the craft fairs started in 1948 as a way for members to show and sell their creations.

Work at the juried show includes jewelry, wood, leather, fiber, clay, metal and more.

The  Southern Highlands Craft Guild photo at the top of this page shows jewelry by metal smith Linda Azar, a guild member working in Asheville.

Any time of the year, you can see the work of guild members at the Allanstand Craft Shop at the Folk Art Center on the BRP, on Asheville's outskirts; at the Southern Highland Craft Gallery at Asheville's Biltmore Village; the Parkway Craft Center at Moses Cone Manor, on the Parkway near Blowing Rock.

The guild includes more than 900 members in the mountain regions of nine states in the Southeast. You can additionally see work by guild artisans at Cumberland Crafts, at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, near Middleboro, Ky.; and Arrowcraft, in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

What makes the Craft Fair of  the Southern Highlands go-worthy is this: You have the chance to see more than 200 artisans in a juried show that also features craft demonstrations and live regional music.

It's also in a large, indoor venue.

If  you have an affection for Appalachian folk art -- or are doing your holiday shopping early - this is a don't-miss event.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday (Oct. 16-18); 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 19).

Admission is $8; free for 11 and younger.

Details: www.southernhighlandguild.org. 

Like B&Bs? Try a room with a BOO

BnBFinder.com, an online bed and breakfast directory, has compiled a list of what it considers the most haunted places where you can park your hat this Halloween season - and at other times. 

And three on the eight-inn short list aren't that far away:  Two are in Savannah, Ga. (about a four-hour drive) and one is in Mountain City, Tenn. (2 1/2 hours from Charlotte,  north of Boone via U.S. 421). That would be Prospect Hill Bed and Breakfast, shown above.

Featured on the list:

The 17Hundred90 Inn and  Restaurant, Savannah, Ga. 

"While being a popular accommodation for the living, the inn is also frequented by many of Savannah’s most infamous spirits. One in particular, Anna has claimed a room of her own, often being seen and heard in room 204."

Ballastone Inn, Savannah, Ga. 

"Sitting on top of a former cemetery, the four-story antebellum mansion has had its fair share of mysterious happenings since being built in 1838... (including) a ghost cat as well as a little girl appearing to be lost and looking for her mother."

St. Francis Inn, St. Augustine, Fla.

"No roommate needed if you decide to stay in 'Lily's Room.' A servant at the inn during the mid-19th century, she and her masters son carried on a secret affair.  Discovered, Lily was released from her duties causing the nephew, who was told to never see her again, to take his life.  ... Guests have reported makeup bags being filled with water, mysterious figures dressed in white roaming the halls, unexplained noises and chilling touches in the room."

Burn Brae Mansion, Glen Spey, N.Y. 

"Ghost hunters are stunned by the amount of paranormal activity found at this Catskill woodland retreat. Guests and innkeepers report hearing voices, feeling swift movements, witness objects moving or experiencing extreme temperature changes." 

Old Stagecoach Inn, Waterbury, Vt.

"This historic home is still watched over by one of its former owners. After tales of strange occurrences and a series of 'happenings', a local ghost hunter confirmed that there was an otherworldly presence residing at the Old Stagecoach Inn, especially in Room 2. "

Houmas House Plantation and  Gardens, Darrow, La.

"When renovations began on the plantation in 2003, it is believed that the construction disturbed the spirit of a young girl between the ages of 7 and 10. Guests frequently report sightings of the mysterious girl wearing a blue dress and standing on the staircase. "

Featherbed Railroad Bed andBreakfast Resort, Nice, Calif. 

The B&B features nine individual railroad cabooses. "Once a part of the Southern Pacific rail line, the Celebration caboose is frequented by a man in striped pajamas that sits on the bed."

Prospect Hill Bed and Breakfast, Mountain City, Tenn. 

"The man is believed to be Union Army veteran Joseph Wagner, the builder of the Victorian home. Guests ... are awoken by the smell of fresh baked peanut butter cookies and muffins that some say the previous innkeepers used to bake. The smell of spilled bourbon and rose scented perfume have also been known to fill the rooms at random times of the day."

For  BnBfinder.com's  complete list of haunted getaways, visit www.BnBFinder.com/HauntedInns.

That full roster also includes three in North Carolina: The 1898 WhiteGate Inn & Cottage (Asheville), the 1906 Pine Crest Inn and Restaurant (Tryon) and The Pack House Inn, (Edenton).

Wilmington, for 'Sleepy' headless fans

"When Ichabod Crane goes missing, his wife, Katrina, appears to Lt. Abbie Mills in a vision warning her that the Headless Horseman will return to Sleepy Hollow by nightfall. ..."

Welcome to "Sleepy  Hollow" -- not the 1999 Johnny Depp movie, not the 1980 TV movie with Jeff Goldblum nor the Disney cartoon from the 1940s.

We're talking about the current  Fox TV show (cast photo shown above) that pushes Revolutionary War soldier Ichabod Crane -- and the dread Headless Horseman -- into our modern times.

And into the Carolinas: While the pilot was filmed in Charlotte, Gastonia and Salisbury, the horror-driven show is shot in the Wilmington area, and filming of the second season is underway.

The EUE Screen Gems studio is a closed set, but exteriors are filmed throughout the area.

And if you're a real fan, the Wilmington and Beaches CVB  has put together a show fact sheet that includes the ingredients for a self-guided tour where you can see locations you've already viewed on TV.

Among them:

The Bellamy Mansion Museum (503 Market St.), which holds the kitchen in the first season's "Sin Eater" episode. 

The Kenan Memorial Fountain, where Ichabod and Abbie encounter the lost boy in the “John Doe” episode.

 St. James Parish (25 S. Third  St.; exterior view only) where Ichabod sees Katrina in purgatory in the Season 1 finale.

 The dining room of the Graystone Inn (100 S. Third St.; inside access only for overnight guests) where the Headless Horseman beheads the four Masons and where exterior horse scenes took place in the "Midnight Ride" episode.

The CVB's sheet lists 15 scene sites in Wilmington's historic district and nine off-studio locations in the Wilmington area.

Not a show devotee? Use the fact sheet to pry your family's fans from the idiot box for a fun weekend in the Cape Fear area exploring parks, museums and other attractions.

Example? Purgatory in the first-season finale is in Brunswick Town, the intriguing state-owned Colonial history site in nearby Winnabow. 

What does 'America's Favorite Place' have that Charlotte doesn't? A statue of a gigantic termite, for starters

Want to have a good time? Head to Providence, R.I.

That city topped the list of "America's Favorite Places," a survey of readers of Travel + Leisure magazine.

The rest of the top five? Houston, Kansas City, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Los Angeles.

People could vote for 38 cities in six categories -- culture, shopping, quality of life, people, nightlife and food and drink -- that were in turn broken out into 67 subcategories.

Travel + Leisure said the results are based on more than 50,000 votes that ranked  cities. The results will be featured in the magazine's November issue, which will be on newsstands Oct. 17.

Don't get your hopes up. Charlotte has no bragging rights here.

 In fact, no cities in North Carolina made any top-five "best of," though the link at the bottom of the online roster has a link to a page where you can type in an N.C.  metro area -- from Boone and Asheville all the way to Wilmington -- and vote if you disagree with the survey results.

However you vote (choices run from Anchorage, Alaska, to Key West, Fla.), your completing the online do-you-disagree  survey enters you for a chance at a vacation getaway.

But it doesn't change the published overall results.

The only place in the two-state area to win any nods was Charleston:

No. 1 for architecture/cool buildings

No. 1 for romantic escape

No. 2 for shopping at antiques stores

No. 2 for relaxing weekend

No. 3 for historical sites

No. 4 for cleanliness

No. 4 for public parks/gardens

No. 4 for public safety

No. 4 for notable restaurants

No. 4 for girlfriend getaway

No. 3 for attractive people

No. 5 for stylish people

No. 5 for brunch places

If it makes you feel any better, New York City cane in first for people who were rude and also for people who were snobby.

Providence, an old New England city, was the hometown of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft.

Perhaps more relevant, Bank of America is the city's third-largest employer; naming rights extend there to the Bank of America Skating Center -- which Wikipedia lists among Providence's "Sites of Interest."

Another attraction of interest: Nibbles Woodaway, a roadside sculpture belonging to a pest-extermination company. Nibbles Woodaway, also known as the "Big Blue Bug," is billed as "the world's largest termite."

You'll see an AP photo of it at the top of this post; you may have also spied it in scenes from the movie "Dumb and Dumber."

I wouldn't be surprised at all if  you'll be seeing it eventually in uptown Charlotte after it is shipped here and the price tag is removed.

Creepiest Halloween attractions of 2014

Travel Channel has announced its picks for "Travel’s Best: Halloween Attractions" - haunted house attractions and a few other scares. Among them:

* The Queen Mary attraction, in the Los Angeles area.

* A festival in Salem, Mass., that cashes in on the town's historical reputation with events that have nothing to do with that history.

* A scarefest at Florida's Universal Orlando theme park that has a tip of the hat (well, maybe not) to North Carolina's Roanoke Island. 

* The attraction that makes the closest stab at reality? It's at a former mental institution in West Virginia.

Here's the Travel Channel list:

Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor– Long Beach, Calif.

The Queen Mary was built in the early 1930s as a luxury trans-Atlantic ocean liner, but for decades has been permanently moored in Southern California. It's a tourist attraction with restaurants, a museum and a hotel. Through Nov. 2, it operates an elaborate haunted house that has a nautical flair. 

13th Floor HauntedHouse – Denver, Colo.

What's billed as "the largest and longest indoor haunted attraction in Colorado" is staged through Nov. 9. Besides ghouls and monsters jumping out, expect high-tech monsters and other tricks.

Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights – Orlando, Fla.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando plays off  hit horror  programs ("The Walking Dead") and blockbuster movies ("From Dusk Till Dawn," Halloween") Other attractions include a haunted house titled "Roanoke – Cannibal Colony."

Here's how that is described: "The inhabitants of this lost Virginia colony have resorted to cannibalism to survive. Take a trip back in time and explore the remains of this settlement where you’ll get a history lesson you’ll never forget."

The theme park photo at the top of this post relates to Universal Orlando's "From Dusk Till Dawn" haunted house -- not to something apparently connected to the Los Colony... which their storyline places in Virginia.

Netherworld – Atlanta

This haunted house, open through Nov. 8,  has more than  200 animated monsters and 100 live actors. Travel Channel says, "... ,unlike other Halloween attractions, Netherworld’s creepy characters greet patrons in the parking lot before they purchase tickets." 

13th Gate – Baton Rouge, La.

The elaborate haunted house, open through Nov. 8,  offers live animals ‑ including snakes and gators ‑ in addition to 100  jump-out actors and special effects. It has  13 themed indoor and outdoor areas. 

Festival of the Dead – Salem, Mass.

This is a multi-venue festival (Oct. 18-31)  staged in the town made infamous for its 1692 witch trials. The two weeks of events include a Psychic Fair and Witchcraft Expo, and  a Witches' Halloween Ball."

Bennett’s Curse – Jessup, Md.

This haunted spectacle outside of Baltimore - one of horrormeister Edgar Allen Poe's, um, haunts - has three haunted houses: Medieval Underworld, Inferno 3D and Sanctuary of Insanity. It continues through Oct. 31.

Fright Dome – Las Vegas

The  Circus Circus’ Adventuredome is temporarily retooled to hold  haunted houses in a darkened venue illuminated with special lighting and fog effects. The 5-acre attraction on the Strip includes 25 rides and attractions live shows at night and four scare zones. Dates: Oct. 10-31.

ScareHouse – Pittsburgh

ScareHouse - running through Nov. 1 in suburban Etna, Pa. -  is staged in a bank building built in 1915, and produced in part by Legendary Entertainment, a film production company that had a hand in "The Dark Knight," "Pacific Rim" and "Godzilla."

Trans-AlleghenyLunatic Asylum Haunted House – Weston, W.Va.

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is actually staged in the former Weston State Hospital, which functioned as an asylum until 1994. Historic tours are offered at other times of the year. Tours - called "Ghost Hunts" - are offered at various dates.

Black Mountain singled out as prime fall destination

Staffers at National Geographic's online Beyond the Guidebook page  have released a list of their  individual picks for best fall trips -- and Black Mountain, in eastern Buncombe County,  is among them.

Their list, in the order places were mentioned: 

Shenandoah National Park/Skyline Drive, Virginia

Bermuda

Albuquerque, N.M., International Balloon Fiesta

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sonoma County, Calif.

Black Mountain

Austin, Texas

Bhutan

Pittsburgh

Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, Jasper, Ark.

Grenada

In picking Black Mountain, National Geographic Travel production assistant Becky Davis writes, "Growing up in Florida, my parents took us here every year to experience a taste of changing seasons and cooler weather—and what an amazing taste! The hiking trails that yield awe-inspiring views of multi-colored landscapes are myriad. We would take walks around Lake Tomahawk and watch the geese swim by, surrounded by mountains. Warming up with a hot concoction from downtown’s Dripolator Coffeehouse is a must, as is partaking in one of Black Mountain’s seasonal festivities, which include ghost tours, art festival and a harvest fair.”

Black Mountain was on National Geographic Travel's list of best fall trips last year.

On their 2014 list of best fall trips:

Enchanted Circle Scenic Drive, Taos, N.M.

Lake Maggiore, Italy

Cincinnati (for its Oktoberfest)

Hot Air Balloon Festival, Taunggyi, Myanmar

Diwali (a Hindu festival), Agra, India

Pirates Week National Festival, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Buenos Aires, Argentina (spring walks)

Snorkeling in cenotes (caves) in Quintana Roo, Mexico

The photo at the top of this post shows Black Mountain in autumn. The image is from www.exploreblackmountain.com -- that area's Chamber of Commerce website -- which has visitor information.

See the leaves? Or watch your nickels?

The website TripAdvisor  last week released results of a survey comparing prices for a twosome visiting 15 popular U.S. leaf-peeping destinations for a two-night weekend stay.

And Asheville came close to being most expensive.

Their TripIndex Fall Foliage report combines the costs of a B&B, a tank of gas, a meal, and apple picking to arrive at the results.

The results:

Lenox, Mass -- $684.75

Asheville  -- $638.75

Camden, Maine -- $570.22

Gatlinburg, Tenn. -- $568.35

Columbus, Ohio -- $504.51

North Conway, N.H. -- $501.33

Stowe, Vt. -- $486.16

Lake Placid, N.Y. -- $486.11

Leavenworth, Wash. -- $476.89

Luray, Va. -- $469.71

Gettysburg, Pa. -- $459.28

Traverse City, Mich. -- $448.88

Lake Geneva, Wis. -- $422.07

Lake Tahoe, Calif. -- $399.31

Ashland, Ore. -- $391.15

The results are interesting... but ultimately with little meaning.

One problem is in the details: What B&Bs and eateries were included? When was the data collected? In other words, how authoritative are these findings?

More important is actionability: How likely you are to go somewhere else on this list based on these price differences?

The bottom line is this: How much driving do you really want to do to get to a place you want to see?

And if you have enough cash to fly somewhere for a leaf-peeping weekend, the cash differences listed in these rankings are pretty much pocket change.