Fall is the best season to travel; prices have dropped, crowds have dwindled, and outdoor activities are more comfortable. The coziness fall brings, unmatched by any other season, ignites the wanderlust inside. With endless festivals, foliage views, and harvest activities the list of places I want to visit in the Fall is extensive. Some of the best ones are listed below in hopes it will spark your own Fall travel bucket list.
Munich, Germany
Fall means Oktoberfest! Home to the original Oktoberfest celebration making it a coveted Autumn destination. You can find all the information needed here. The largest folk festival in the world where millions of people wearing their dirndls and lederhosen consume millions of gallons of beer and tons of pretzels. Germany is also home to some of the best Fall foliage in the world however it typically doesn’t hit until Oktoberfest is over (typically mid to late October).
Perfect Dates to Go: Between September 16-October 3
Why: Contrary to popular belief Oktoberfest is mainly in September. These are the official days Oktoberfest starts to the day it ends in 2017.
California Wine Country
Autumn is harvest time making it the perfect time to visit California wine country! Not to mention the summer crowds have dwindled. With all of the extra events to celebrate the season it can be argued that there is no other time to visit than Fall. Find a comprehensive list of events here and here. You do not have to look too far to find harvest parties, concerts, pig roasts, etc. Also, making sure to get in some grape stomping is a must when traveling there in the Fall!
Perfect Dates to Go: Weekend of Sonoma Valley Crush (2017 dates are still TBD however last year they were September 16-18)
Why: The most hands on and comprehensive way to experience harvest in California Wine Country. Do everything from tasting grapes straight off the vine, to stomping your own, as well as even learning to read a Refractometer.
Kentucky Bourbon Country
What is better on a crisp fall day than a glass of bourbon? The gently rolling ridges of horse farms make it a cozy place to spend a long weekend taking in the foliage. Drive the bourbon trail from Louisville to Lexington, take time for tasting tours, and explore the towns along the way. With so many added events and decorations for the season, fall is truly the perfect time for a trip to central Kentucky. Find out more info about the trail here. Also, read our perfect weekend itinerary here.
Perfect Dates to Go: September 11-17 or October 12-November 5
Why: If you are going because you love bourbon, go in September because the Kentucky Bourbon Festival makes the experience that much more enjoyable with all the added events. If you are going because you love Fall and just like bourbon go in October for the Louisville Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular and to catch foliage at its peak.
Helen, Georgia
Quaint Bavarian alpine town nestled in the lush mountain region of Georgia only 75 miles outside Atlanta. The Blue Ridge Mountains are known for their foliage views and Helen is known for its Oktoberfest celebration! One of the best and longest running Oktoberfest celebrations; the smell of beer and sausages fill the village during the Fall. With a plethora of German style bakeries, bistros, and candy shops it’s the perfect destination when Germany is out of the question. More info can be found here.
Perfect Time to Go: Middle to end of October
Why: By going mid to late October, Oktoberfest will still be running but it will be late enough that the fall colors should start intensifying.
Western Coast of Sweden
The start of West Sweden’s lobster season on 27 September which is right when the popular New England season is wrapping up for the year. You can spend your time exploring the quaint fishing villages that fill the Bohuslän coast. Go on a lobster safari in which you can join a crew to catch, cook, and eat your own lobster. The rest of the seafood is to die for that time of year as well, making it a perfect destination for foodies. Explore what all the region has to offer here.
Perfect Time to Go: After September 25
Why: Lobster season starts on that day.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Home to the largest Oktoberfest celebration outside of Munich, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati! A complete takeover of downtown, the festival is full of amazing street food and of course tons of beer. Cincinnati has a large German heritage; even the downtown fountain is modeled after the original Oktoberfest fountain in Munich. You can even enjoy a baseball game that evening at Great American Ball Park after spending your day at the festival. Packages can be found on the website linked above.
Perfect Time to Go: September 15-17
Why: The official dates for Oktoberfest Zinzinnati 2017!
New England
The intensely colored foliage, apple orchards, pumpkin festivals, and Halloween celebrations make New England, as a whole, the perfect place to sum up all Fall is made of. You can follow along with the weekly updated foliage maps published by each state or you can plan a trip to hit them all. Each small town throughout New England has a way of making sure you take time to enjoy the little things like an apple cider doughnut, a good cup of coffee, or pumpkin carving. That alone with the crisp, leaf filled air will make you want to go back every single year
Perfect Time to Go: Weekend of October 14
Why: If you are there during that time you will be able to hit the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival which is one of the, if not the, biggest pumpkin celebration in the country. You will also be there during Salem Haunted Happenings and The Wellfleet Oysterfest.
Leavenwoth, Washington
At the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, the charming Bavarian village creates the theme of Oktoberfest year round. Endless German beer, brats, lederhosen, and polka performances can be found all year long. However, the town does hold one of the largest and best Oktoberfest celebrations in the US which spans three weekends and four venues.
Perfect Dates to Go: September 29-30, October 6-7, October 13-14
Why: The official dates for the 2017 Leavenworth Oktoberfest!
Salzburg, Austria
Easily recognizable from the Sound of Music and also the birthplace of Motzart, this charming city will make you fall in love anytime of year. However, it can be particularly enticing in the Fall. The crisp chill in the air bring the foliage colors alive in the hills against a backdrop of the alps. Try Austrian sturm (a fizzy wine), that is only available in the fall due to the grape harvest in nearby areas. You also must have apple strudel paired with a cafe melange, both traditional Austrian favorites, that taste even better in the Fall.
Perfect Dates to Go: Early October
Why: By going in early October you will hit grape harvest, the colors will be vibrant, and you should get there before the frigged winter sets in.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Perhaps one of the best things about visiting the smokies in the Fall is the weather. The days are still warm and the sunshine is plentiful. The blue October sky stretches over mountains filled with the brightly colored foliage that appears to be endless. Not many other places have temperatures that allow for camping and hiking comfortably once the leaves have peaked. Drive the winding mountain roads that stretch through the park from Tennessee to North Carolina, stay in a mountain side cabin, and explore what each town has to offer.
Perfect Time to Go: Late October
Why: Peak foliage is late here so planning a trip in late October will allow you to catch the leaves at their best as well as the extra events that surround Halloween.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
A place with warmer year round temperatures doesn’t seem to belong on a fall travel list but Albuquerque will quickly change that for its Autumn visitors. And it has tons of them. The balloon fiesta alone is enough to make anyone want to visit and should be on every American’s bucket list. However, it has a lot more than that to offer. Great hiking, golden foliage, and peak green chile season to name a few things.
Perfect Time to Go:October 7-15
Why: The official dates for the 2017 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Paris, France
You cannot go wrong with a visit to Paris anytime of the year, however Fall is particularly nice due to the decreased number of tourists and the increase in temperature compared to the winter. Also since it is low season the prices are a bargain! The city turns yellow and orange with the foliage and there are very few rainy days (like in the Spring). Explore museums, visit Versailles, enjoy a cider and a crepe, and just take it all in.
Perfect Dates to Go: Mid to late October
Why: Mid to late October is peak time for foliage in Paris
Do you have a favorite Fall destination? I would love to hear where it is!
Vagary Travel is happy to help design and book your adventures this Fall and I am happy to answer any questions you have about any destination. Contact me anytime!
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