Holiday weekend brings out leaf peepers

AUGUSTA, Maine --Despite Monday's soggy start to Columbus Day, the early-October holiday weekend has turned into one of the busiest times of the year for Maine's tourism industry as travelers come to the state to see the foliage.

Columbus Day has surpassed Labor Day as the second-busiest holiday weekend of the year, behind the July 4th weekend, tourism officials say. Through the Columbus Day weekend, more than 700,000 cars were expected to use the Maine Turnpike.

The weekend started off with warm temperatures and excellent conditions for viewing the foliage. As the colder weather works its way into Maine, the best fall color can be found in Aroostook county, where the foliage is at its peak.

With temperatures in the 70s on Saturday, Lisa Hain and her daughter Casie toured Acadia National Park where the leaves have begun to turn.

"We wanted to see the leaves but also do some hiking, you know, see the nature scenery. It's a good spot because everything is right here," said Lisa Hain, a tourist from Pennsylvania.