Mapping Autumn

Autumn’s vibrant colors have begun to show, replacing summer greens with warm gold and scarlet. Smoky Mountains National Park published its 2017 Fall Foliage Map visualizing the progress of the annual changing of the leaves from late August to mid-November. Travelers chasing the brightest foliage should consider the Rocky Mountains, the lower Great Lakes, and New England, all of which are at or rapidly approaching “peak foliage.” South Florida and south Texas will peak the latest in early November.

With Halloween just two weeks away, the most industrious trick-or-treaters will already be planning their candy-maximizing strategies. Nextdoor’s Treat Map app offers children a head start on conquering their neighborhoods. The app prompts users to mark their homes with candy corn or a haunted house, indicating whether visitors can expect something sweet or scary upon arrival. Parents can also use the app to track the location of their trick-or-treaters as they bounce from house to house.

Halloween isn’t the month’s only holiday; celebrate Germany’s Oktoberfest tradition with National Geographic’s new “Atlas of Beer: A Globetrotting Journey Through the World of Beer.” Written by Mark Patterson and Nancy Hoalst-Pullen, the book explores international craft brewing through 100 detailed maps, 300 photos, tasting notes, trivia, and travel tips. Ale aficionados can learn about regional drinking culture in 45 countries and on six continents, breweries and festivals, and the sudsy future of beer.