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Maryland Fall Foliage Hotline Reactivated
09-17-2009Toll-free Recording Tracks Peak Foliage Color and Lists Fall Events
BALTIMORE (September 17, 2009) – As autumn arrives and leaves begin to change color, travelers planning to tour Maryland’s scenic countryside can call the toll-free Maryland Fall Foliage Hotline to discover when and where the leaves will be at their peak and to learn about fall festivals happening throughout the state.
The foliage hotline is a joint project of the Maryland Office of Tourism (OTD) and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “This hotline is an excellent example of State agencies working together to provide services to Maryland’s working families and visitors,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “OTD provides information on fairs and festivals from the Maryland Calendar of Events while DNR tracks the progression of color changes in foliage from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore and updates the hotline on a weekly basis.”
Beginning September 18, callers can dial 1-800-LEAVES-1 (1-800-532-8371) to hear a five-minute recorded summary of where the brightest red, orange, scarlet and gold foliage will be in Maryland.
” Autumn in Maryland is simply spectacular with nature providing a crisp and colorful backdrop for all kinds of outdoor activities and events – hayrides, harvest fairs, arts and crafts festivals, bike tours, wine festivals and even ghost tours,” said Margot Amelia, executive director of the Maryland Office of Tourism.
In addition to the 19 designated Maryland Scenic Byways meandering through Maryland’s five regions, “There is at least one State Park or Forest within an easy 30-minute drive of most Maryland residents,” said Nita Settina, superintendent of the Maryland Park Service. “Each park in our system provides an excellent opportunity for quality leaf-peeping.”
To receive a free Maryland travel kit (which includes Destination Maryland, 2009 Maryland Calendar of Events and a state highway map) by mail, call 800-719-5900. The Outdoors Maryland section of Destination Maryland lists all state parks, forest and natural resources management areas. Tourism information and order forms for a Maryland Scenic Byways Map may also be found at www.visitmaryland.org. Natural Resources information is available at www.dnr.maryland.gov.
The Maryland Office of Tourism is an agency of the Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts within the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. Maryland’s latest visitor data confirms that in 2007, the State welcomed more than 27 million visitors who generated more than $13.6 billion in visitor spending. That figure is up from $13.2 billion the previous calendar year. During 2007, the Maryland tourism industry generated more than $1.7 billion in state and local taxes and provided more than 140,000 jobs to Maryland residents.
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