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Among Pennsylvania's many beauties is the annual fall foliage, when summer heat gives way to the extensive autumn pallet.
Worldwide, eastern North America is one of only three regions with forests that put on such a majestic show, with the others being the British Isles and parts of northwestern Europe, and northeastern China and northern Japan, according to the state Department of Conservation and National Resources.
"The outlook is very good this year," says Ryan Reed, natural resource program specialist, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
"We started off not so promising with a very dry May, but fortunately, through the bulk of summer, we received some timely and sufficient rainfall. And that helped to provide the nourishment necessary for the canopy to really green up."
Determining peak colors for the area is difficult because topography affects each species of tree very differently.
"In your neck of the woods, there's a lot of elevation," Reed explains, "and a lot of those areas are dominated by oak trees, which tend to peak later."
"That part of the state has that diversity of topography and species, so it can lead to a lot of diversity in terms of the colors that you see, as well as the peak time," Reed says.
"The great part about that is if it's not really nice in a particular area, you can just take a short drive and find some nice color."
The process of the change in color is a long, scientific one, but Reed says it really comes down to a change in the length of the day.
"As fall progresses, the daylight availability is just not what it was, and it stimulates the trees to produce less chlorophyll, which is the green pigment found in leaves, so it leaves those more persistent pigments to take over. As that chlorophyll degrades the green starts to disappear and you end up with the yellows, reds and oranges that we know and love."
"It's really a beacon," Reed says, "we're so blessed with 2.2 million acres of state forest lands."
"It's no wonder we're called Penn's Woods," Reed says, "the name Pennsylvania translates perfectly to Penn's Woods."
"I hope that when people look around and enjoy it, that it also comes with a measure of understanding of our responsibility to protect our forests."
"Once you're an appreciator of Penn's woods, it's also time to be a defender. It's time to become an advocate," Reed stresses "I don't think anyone would say that our forests are expendable, I think most Pennsylvanians would agree that our forests are essential."
While Lycoming County is roughly a week away from peak color conditions, to the north in Tioga County, the trees have begun putting on their annual show.
"The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon is a huge destination for people looking for fall color," says Colleen Hanson, Executive Director at Visit Potter-Tioga.
"We have two state parks on either side of the Grand Canyon, Leonard Harrison State Park in the east, and Colton Point State Park in the west."
"Here at the visitors bureau, we provide two self-guided driving tours," Hanson offers.
"Many people who come to see the fall foliage will stay overnight and use the opportunity to go to Cherry Springs State Park, which is famous for having some of the darkest skies on the east coast, and it draws thousands of people to check out the Milky Way in the night sky."
"Fall is the perfect time to experience the outdoors for those who are looking for a little bit of the cooler weather," says Jason Fink, President and CEO of the Williamsport Chamber of Commerce.
Among the best areas for fall foliage sightseeing are the Pine Creek Rail Trail, Little Pine State Park, and the property surrounding the Williamsport Water Authority.
"We've got great hiking trails, biking trails, and waterways. There's pretty much anything for the outdoor enthusiasts to be able to engage in here in Lycoming County."
Recently, the area has seen summer-like temperatures, but cooler weather will arrive late this week, according to National Weather Service meteorologist, Michael Colbert.
"It's going to feel a lot more like fall," Colbert says.
"We will see temperatures that are well above average for today and Thursday."
"But that's all going to change when a pretty strong cold front comes through," Colbert says.
"Starting Friday, there's a chance of showers in the afternoon and evening into Saturday."
"We'll go from temperatures that are 15 to 20 degrees above normal to temperatures that are about five to ten degrees below normal for Sunday," Colbert explains.
"Winds will also increase behind the front as they start ushering in the colder air," Colbert says, "with gusts strongest on Sunday with gusts up to about 30 miles per hour."
"So, it'll certainly look a lot more like fall by this weekend with scattered showers sticking around for Sunday," Colbert says.
For great fall locations and upcoming events, those interested can check out www.visitlycomingcounty.com/ and www.visitpottertioga.com.