I like traveling in the Fall! The temperatures have cooled, the air is fresh and fall colors paint the trees. Best of all, prices are often below their peak season heights. So here are some suggestions for some fall trips you may want to consider as you think through your season’s travels. If you see something that inspires you, give us a call wherever you want to travel.
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Vermont, New England
Vermont, New England
Actually, anywhere in New England is a spectacular treat during autumn. Village after village are replete with inns and B&Bs serving the leaf seekers. Do plan in advance, however, because you won’t be the only one looking at the foliage! October is peak season with the maples changing first at the highest elevations and further north, but colors can be seen as early as mid-September. The less rain Vermont has during the fall the longer the viewing season as the leaves remain in the trees.
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Boston, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts
History is thick in Boston, and around every corner is another monument, plaque or famous house. This is Paul Revere country, and the famous Freedom Trail runs through downtown into Charlestown and is easily walked. In the cooler fall months the crowds are less and the walking is a bit more comfortable. The New England Aquarium, the Museum of Science and the Harvard Museum of Natural History are all within easy proximity of each other as is the Faneuil Hall Marketplace filled with food, entertainment and retail shops. Did we mention “lobster”? You can’t leave Boston without having at least one lobster encounter!
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Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
It’s been said if you are too weird for Asheville, then you are too weird period. This compact mountain town is an haven for artists, writers and free thinkers of all types. In the fall, Asheville shares a remarkable foliage season and, being further south, can often be viewed later in the season than in northern states. If you are a beer connoisseur, you are in luck as well as there are many small breweries making Asheville their home and their wares are found in the many wonderful dining establishments downtown. Outdoor life is big here, with whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking and other activities focused on the great outdoors in this remarkable Appalachian setting.
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Paris, France
Paris, France
Fall is “shoulder season” in France meaning the crowds are less, the restaurants and shops more accessible and the prices more agreeable. This is your opportunity to walk along the Seine, to see the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe and to visit some of the best museums in the world. The weather during the fall remains excellent and sunny and cool enough to enjoy a morning cup of coffee or hot chocolate. The colors change here too, and the leaves are resplendent in the many parks. “Off-season” is a terrific time to visit all of Europe!
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Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Here is the gothic South in all its glory. A charming, quirky town where the houses all look as though they have their own ghost stories. There are music festivals and art exhibits throughout the fall, and even a short walk through downtown will bring back memories of the many movies filmed on these streets (think “Garden of Good and Evil”). America’s most haunted city is also home to one of the most fascinating cemeteries in the country, Bonaventure Cemetery, and a visit to its canopied landscaping is highly recommended. Finally, dining in Savannah is an experience you will never forget!
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New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
The fall is an outstanding time to visit this southern city. The heat and the famous humidity have both returned to tolerable levels and the rainfall is typically at a minimum for the year. The crowds have dissipated and the restaurants, streets and shops are all easier to navigate and patronize. The bars are wide open and live music is everywhere. The New Orleans Film Festival is in full swing and the Crescent City Blues and BBQ Fest is well attended. The city tours of the many haunted and voodoo venues are available throughout the fall and side tours to the plantations and bayou are easier to book.
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Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik, Iceland
Fall in Iceland? Absolutely, as this is one of the best times to view the great Northern Lights. The airfares have fallen from their peak season highs, and the downtown Reykjavik hotels accommodate a thinner wallet. Reykjavik looks more like a small Colorado town than a European capital city, and the locals are always friendly and accommodating. Fall is a great time to get out into the countryside to see the famous Golden Circle and to explore what is fast becoming the trip on everyone’s must see and do list.
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New York City
New York City
If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. After the summer season all of the way to the first of December, you can take advantage of the smaller crowds, lower prices and more attractive temperatures to visit New York City. Before the prime Christmas shopping season you can still snag bargains to take back home with you. All of the city’s amenities seem brighter and more accessible in the cool fall air, and Broadway, the big site-seeing attractions and dining opportunities are all available to the autumn visitor.
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Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
With majestic Mt. Hood glowing in the autumn light, Portland is our choice for west coast fall adventures. The cooler weather brings the Portland natives onto the streets for cultural events, many featuring the many wines grown and produced in the area. It’s also apple picking season, and many orchards allow visitors to “pick their own.” Portland is also beer country and each October the Portland Fresh Hops Fest features the local brews. There are many fun outdoor events in the surrounding area, including the Corn Maize on Sauvie Island and the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta. Portland also features the Hoyt Arboretum with more species of shrubs and trees than any other in the United States.