HILLS NEWSPAPERS  September 4, 2009

LOTS OF SONGS have been written about September. There was the bouncy little ditty by The Happenings called “See you In September” — and the somber song by Sinatra that likened autumn to the final chapter of a long, fruitful life.

I prefer the bouncy little ditty.

Fall should be a happy time of year. It’s certainly the most colorful — even in California, where our seasons are less pronounced than in the north. But if you want to see spectacular autumn foliage without the long travel time, September is the month to take a drive to the Eastern Sierra.

Mentioned on many lists of the top 10 places to see fall color in America, the Eastern Sierra becomes brilliant in fall. Leaves turn bright yellow in the picturesque passes of the high Sierra — complemented by canyons that flutter with yellow, red, orange, pink, auburn and chartreuse. The palate is so pleasing that people can’t help but celebrate.

And party, they do — with everything from the Millpond Music Festival in Bishop Sept. 18-20, to the Deer Hunter Barbecue in Walker on Oct. 3.

But just as the Eastern Sierra turns brilliant in fall, so do some other California locales. I’ve listed my favorites below: