7 Ways to Fall for Autumn

For the more independent-minded, both parks have boat launches that are open all year. An extensive list of additional area launch sites can be found on the Chesapeake Paddlers Association Web site at http://www.cpakayaker.com/launchsites.html .

POHICK BAY REGIONAL PARK -- 6501 Pohick Bay Dr., Lorton. 703-339-6104.http://www.nvrpa.org/pohickbay.html. Fall color paddles Oct. 29 and 30 and Nov. 5. $25 per person. Park admission: $7 per vehicle; annual pass $25. Free for residents of Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties; and Alexandria, Fairfax City and Falls Church; no fee after Oct. 31. Boat rentals available through Oct. 30; car-top boat launch open year-round, $3.50.

PATUXENT RIVER PARK -- 16000 Croom Airport Rd., Upper Marlboro. 301-627-6074.http://www.pgparks.com/places/parks/patuxent.html. Annual park pass $2.50 for residents of Prince George's and Montgomery counties, $5 for nonresidents; good through Dec. 31. No launch fees. Kayak Kaper for ages 12 and older Saturday from 9 to noon. $15 for residents, $18 nonresidents.

Sleep Under the Stars

While the days are still warm but the nights are growing cooler, it's prime camping season, and if there's anything better than snuggling down in your sleeping bag as the falling leaves brush softly against your tent roof, it's snuggling down in your sleeping bag and knowing that if you wake up to a driving rain hammering down overhead, you're only a half-hour from home, a hot shower and a dry bed.

The family campground at Prince William Forest Park, which borders the Quantico Marine Corps Reservation in Prince William County, is open all year for tent-camping and recreational vehicles 32 feet and smaller, set among what the park's Web site notes is "the largest example of eastern piedmont forest in the National Park System."

Typically peaking in the last two weeks of October, "the fall colors are beautiful," says the park's assistant superintendent, George Liffert. More than 36 miles of hiking trails, a nine-mile paved loop road open to bicycles and vehicles, nine-plus miles of fire roads for mountain biking, several small lakes, and both Quantico Creek and South Fork Quantico Creek invite you to explore a range of habitats and natural areas.

"It's a great place for bird watching, and there's a diversity of wildlife," says Liffert, including the familiar squirrels and white-tail deer, wild turkey, fox, bald eagles and even the occasional coyote and black bear.

PRINCE WILLIAM FOREST PARK -- Triangle, Route 619 west. 703-221-7181.http://www.nps.gov/prwi. $5 daily entry fee; $20 annual pass. Family campground, $15 per night. Back-country primitive camping by permit.

Put the Top Down

Want the wind in your hair? If you're going to blow three bucks a gallon driving to see the leaves, you might as well do it in style, and nothing says "carefree Sunday drive" like a 1957 Austin Healey convertible. Or a 1960 Triumph TR-3. These and a variety of other classic sports cars can be yours for an afternoon or a weekend, courtesy of Sports Car Rentals in Batesville, Va.

A bit farther afield than other destinations in this story, Sports Car Rentals is a short distance southwest of Charlottesville in Albemarle County. Nevertheless, if you've ever dreamed of hugging the curves of a country lane at the wheel of a vintage sports car as the brilliant colors of autumn swirl in your wake, this one could well be worth the trip.

"This area is really uncrowded, so people can hit the back roads and really have a ball driving the cars," says owner John Pollock, who offers customers a map of his favorite local driving roads. Many people choose to head for Skyline Drive or take a tour of the many local wineries (with a designated driver along, of course).

Closer to home, you can take in the fall scenery from an entirely different point of view -- about 4,000 feet up, from the open cockpit of a jaunty, red and white 1942 WACO (pronounced "wah-ko") ZPF-7 biplane.