The first week of fall has passed and the weather has cooled off a bit. The leaves are beginning to show a little fall color with the yellows showing first. This is the time of the year to get outside. This month we have three destinations for you. First, it is Virginia Wine Month. Our road trip this month will take you to some of the best wineries in Northern Fauquier County. The trip begins at Pearmund Cellars and the town of Warrenton and then I take you across the mountain on Leeds Manor Road to the beautiful wine country.

If oysters are one of your favorites, don’t miss the 50^th annual St. Mary’s Oyster Festival in St. Mary’s County Maryland on October 15 and 16. See their back cover ad for all the details. If your taste for seafood goes beyond oysters, check out the Harvest of Solomons on October 22. See their ad in the Calvert Page for details.

This month doesn’t have Julie Reardon’s To the Blue Ridge column. She made the trek across country with four of her beloved Chesapeake Bay Retrievers to compete in trials in Big Sky Country Montana. I am sure she will fill us in when she gets back. Also taking a break is Open Space writer Lori Welch Brown. Lori turned the big 5-0 in September and she celebrated with a two week trek to Italy with XXL. Filling in for her is the witty and fun Bonnie Browning.

This may be the last month for any descent warm air sailing so I am going to get out on the water. I hope that you have a chance to visit our waterways or the beautiful Shenandoah this month.

Have a safe and fun Halloween and enjoy the fruits of this fall weather!!