GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – As the calendar officially turns to fall, people are looking to take advantage of everything the season brings in Wisconsin before the snow flies.
The temperatures will soon begin to slide, leaves are already changing color, and fall tourism is set to begin across Wisconsin. Travel Wisconsin Communications Director Craig Trost says it’s a very popular time to get outside.
“We see a lot of folks get out and go during the fall season. It might seem fleeting, but if you use the Fall Color Report, you can actually extend your local fall color season by a few weeks,” Trost told WTAQ News. “Travelers are looking for that change of pace. The air is crisp and cool, pumpkin spice and cider and things like that are in the air. People love to go to those farms and go pumpkin picking and [tour] corn mazes and all those sorts of things.”
Despite the pandemic, Trost says tourism was a $17.2 billion industry in the state last year. Especially with the natural fall attractions, he doesn’t expect that to change.
“I think that the reason it has such a big impact is that people love to discover the magic of fall,” Trost said. “From an economic impact perspective, when we travel, we need our dollars in those local communities. For the fall color report, it’ll give us a three-day weather forecast, it’ll give us an idea of the lodging, dining and entertainment.”
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to fall tourism, check out nearby state parks or look for farms that offer pumpkin picking and corn mazes. Trost says you don’t have to go far, but heading out to the western part of the state is also a great option.
“Nearly half of Wisconsin is actually covered by forests, so there’s thousands of miles of trails you can enjoy all throughout Wisconsin. Just head to TravelWisconsin.com, find a trail, and go hiking,” Trost said. “The Great River Road was recently named an all-American road. So you can make your way from La Crosse and follow the Mississippi River north, or you can start north and work your way south. Whichever way you want to go, there are lots of really cool small towns along the way.”
You can check out the 2021 Fall Color Report right here.
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