This year's autumn in Minnesota promises to hold a bursting mélange of color. Some say this will be the best fall display in a decade, but the firewords won't last long. The best time to check out the fall colors is typically late-September through mid-October, and take your smart phone with you.

Thanks to a new website by the DNR, there is now a mobile application that downloads the locations of peaking fall colors information right to my iPhone. The application works with Android phones too.

The DNR has also compiled a list of outdoors activity dates on their website where prime color viewing can be seized at state parks all over MN.

One outdoor weekend event not listed on DNR's page list but not too miss is the Park Rapids Legacy Weekend September 23-25. The trees should be turning around that time. One of the many activities from which to enjoy the beauty in Park Rapids is the 31st annual Headwaters bike ride on Saturday, September 24th. There are 45 mile, 75 mile, and 100 mile ride options to choose from. The ride will be well-marked and routed along Legacy-funded project areas. That's a little far for me, so we'll be checking out the leaves during Art Leap-the driving tour of art studios in the area on Saturday or Sunday. For more information, check out the page on Explore Minnesota's website.