Although it is already starting to feel and look like the season, fall is officially just a week away. It is a special time here in Lawrence County and the Tri-State.

Nothing quite compares to the crisp air and colors of the leaves changing.

People are quick to pack up their cars and head into the hills of West Virginia or down to Gatlinburg, Tenn. Nothing is wrong with that but we hope no one takes for granted all that our region has to offer.

The Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area and Wayne National Forest are about to explode with color and offer hiking opportunities. The boardwalk makes the great outdoors more accessible to those in wheelchairs or unable to get around that well. The renovated campgrounds offer the perfect combination of seclusion and amenities.

Season-specific events like Chesapeake’s Octoberfest, the Ironton Lions Club’s Haunted Tunnel and the Lawrence County Historical Society’s History Walk are just a few of the unique things to do here in the county.

There are other offerings across the Tri-State.

In Huntington, W.Va., you have the Milton Pumpkin Festival and the house of 1,000 Jack-o-Lanterns in Kenova.

In Kentucky you have Poage Landing Days in Ashland and some great fall events at Greenbo Lake State Resort Park and Carter Caves.

If you have never visited Imel’s Greenhouse on Route 1 in Greenup, you are missing out. The family business offers lots of local produce and plants as well as some great activities for children including wagon rides, a hay-stack maze, goats to feed and an impressive wooden playground area.

These are just a few of the places to visit and things to do right here at home this season. Trips away are great, but we shouldn’t forget about all that we have within just a few minutes drive.

Enjoy the season!