Fall, or autumn, is a season of breathtaking beauty, offering a unique travel experience distinct from the summer rush and winter chill. As the leaves turn vibrant shades of red, gold, and orange, and the air becomes crisp and cool, it’s the perfect time to explore destinations around the globe. Whether you’re seeking scenic hikes amidst stunning foliage, cultural experiences in charming towns, or thrilling outdoor adventures, fall provides an idyllic backdrop for your travels. Here are some of the best travel destinations to consider this fall:
1. Yosemite National Park, California
Half Dome reflected in the Merced River in Yosemite National Park during fall
Why Now: October in Yosemite, often dubbed “Rocktober” by climbers, offers a sweet spot of mild weather ideal for outdoor pursuits. Say goodbye to summer’s scorching heat and embrace comfortable temperatures, ranging from the high sixties to low eighties during the day, perfect for hiking and exploration, and cooling down to the fifties to low thirties at night, creating cozy camping conditions. Beyond the weather, fall transforms Yosemite into a photographer’s paradise. While much of the park is evergreen, the aspens along Tioga Road and in Tuolumne Meadows burst into golden hues, and the maples near Yosemite Chapel radiate a brilliant red. The softer light of fall, thanks to cloud formations, is perfect for capturing stunning photos throughout the day, not just at dawn or dusk. While waterfalls might be gentler than in spring, fall offers excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting, including iconic black bears, mule deer, coyotes, and bighorn sheep.
Adventure Intel: For rock climbing enthusiasts, the Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service, established in the 1960s, operates until October 27th, providing lessons and guided climbs for all skill levels. Anglers can enjoy trout fishing in Yosemite’s lakes and rivers until November 15th. Consider hiring Yosemite Fly Fishing Guide for a guided half-day trip on the Merced River. Don’t forget to secure a California fishing license beforehand. For a unique experience, Yosemite E-Biking founder Chris Van Leuven recommends an e-bike ride on Foresta Road, also highlighting it as a fantastic hiking spot for families seeking Foresta Falls and swimming holes.
Pro Tip: Camp 4 is a legendary campground favored by climbers, known for its historical significance and proximity to El Capitan and world-class bouldering routes.
Where to Stay: Securing a campsite in Yosemite’s 13 campgrounds becomes easier in the fall, but reservations, made at least a week in advance, are still recommended. For a glamping experience, Wildhaven Yosemite, located in Mariposa, offers safari-style tents and cabins with amenities like live music and yoga classes, about 34 miles from the park’s Arch Rock entrance.
2. Puglia, Italy
Why Now: Autumn unveils Puglia, Italy’s heel, in a unique light. Visiting in early November, you might be surprised by late-summer temperatures, perfect for enjoying the region’s rocky beaches. Fall in Puglia offers the charm of Tuscany – rich food, exquisite wine, and deep culture – but with fewer tourists and more affordable prices. Discover outdoor adventures in two national parks, 16 state reserves, and three marine protected areas. Cycling routes abound, alongside a fascinating network of limestone caves. Fall is harvest time in Puglia, with Susumaniello grapes picked in early autumn and olives harvested later in the season. Popular attractions like Ostuni are less crowded, and restaurant waits are shorter. Indulge in the region’s burrata cheese, a culinary experience you won’t forget.
Adventure Intel: Explore Puglia by bike with Puglia Cycling, offering rentals from carbon-fiber road bikes to e-bikes, and guided or self-guided tours ranging from one to ten days. For an unforgettable adventure, take a night tour of the Caves of Castellana, exploring restricted areas with helmets and headlamps.
Pro Tip: Antonello Losito of Southern Visions suggests a tandem paragliding flight over Alberobello, famous for its UNESCO-listed trulli, for a breathtaking view.
Where to Stay: Masseria Montenapoleone, a family-run eco-hotel in Pezze di Greco, offers 15 rooms in an ancient cave settlement near Torre Canne beach. Alternatively, experience unique accommodation at Leonardo Trulli, just outside Locorotondo, where you can stay in 18th-century conical-roofed stone huts, known as trulli.
3. Mad River Valley, Vermont
Why Now: Vermont in the fall is the quintessential foliage destination. Its diverse hardwood forests create a stunning autumnal palette. While leaf peepers flock to southern Vermont, Mad River Valley, nestled in the Green Mountains, offers a more secluded and equally spectacular experience. Drive or cycle the 36.5-mile Mad River Byway, a picturesque route showcasing vibrant maple, ash, and birch trees, along with covered bridges and charming towns like Warren and Waitsfield. Mountain biking enthusiasts will find paradise in the valley, with singletrack trails at Sugarbush Resort and networks like Eurich Pond. For a relaxing day, ride the Mad River Glen ski area’s single chair for foliage views in September and October, or enjoy local brews at celebrated microbreweries.
Adventure Intel: Hikers seeking a challenge can tackle the Monroe Skyline, an 11.6-mile section of the Long Trail, offering 8,000 feet of elevation change and rewarding views.
Pro Tip: Sean Lawson, founder of Lawson’s Finest Liquids, recommends hiking the trails of Stark Mountain, accessible from Mad River Glen base area, leading to summit views and Stark’s Pub for post-hike refreshments.
Where to Stay: Madbush Falls, a new base camp with 24 rooms and on-site bike shop, offers creekside tents (available through October) and sauna huts for relaxation after outdoor adventures.
4. Northern Michigan
Why Now: Northern Michigan transforms into a fall haven after summer crowds depart. With the longest freshwater shoreline in the world, its beaches transition from summer hotspots to serene autumn escapes, perfect for hiking, biking, and paddling in Petoskey State Park and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The 20.3-mile Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route, from Harbor Springs to Cross Village, bursts into spectacular color, best explored by bike. Harvest season brings pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and corn mazes at local farms like Friske Farm Market. Plan your visit around Traverse City Beer Week in early November or participate in the Iceman Cometh Challenge, a 30-mile mountain bike race in early November.
Adventure Intel: Crystal River Outfitters in Glen Arbor offers bike, kayak, and paddleboard rentals, with delivery services available.
Pro Tip: Bike the flat, paved Traverse Area Recreation Trail from downtown Traverse City to Farm Club, a unique venue housing a bakery, market, restaurant, and brewery.
Where to Stay: The recently renovated Otis Harbor Springs, located along the Tunnel of Trees, offers mid-century modern rooms with lake views and a general store. For a rustic option, D.H. Day Campground in Sleeping Bear Dunes offers tent sites until late November, with reservations required until mid-October.
5. Hokkaido, Japan
Why Now: Hokkaido, Japan’s northern island, is gaining popularity beyond its famed “Japow” snow. Fall reveals a different charm, ideal for cycling. Mountain bikers can explore trails and lifts in resort towns like Niseko. Road cyclists can enjoy spacious roads with courteous Japanese drivers amidst landscapes of lakes, farmland, coastlines, and mountain passes. Hokkaido’s six national parks offer numerous trails, with fall foliage rivaling cherry blossoms in beauty. Unwind in steamy onsens and savor seasonal cuisine featuring salmon, yams, and pumpkin.
Adventure Intel: Adventure Hokkaido organizes hiking trips in Daisetsuzan National Park, exploring caldera lakes and alpine wetlands. Cycling Japan guides offer scenic and culinary four-day tours from Lake Toya to the Sea of Japan.
Pro Tip: Cyclists in Japan must stop at intersections with stop signs, with penalties for violations.
Where to Stay: Niseko Konbu Onsen, at the foot of Mount Yotei (Hokkaido’s Mount Fuji), offers both Western and Japanese-style rooms, some with private onsens and saunas, plus communal baths and dining options.
6. Churchill, Canada
Why Now: Churchill, Manitoba, the “polar bear capital of the world,” attracts a large polar bear population each fall. From mid-October to November, around 1,000 bears gather along Hudson Bay, awaiting ice formation for seal hunting. The tundra transforms with crimson and gold hues, creating a stunning backdrop for wildlife photography, including Arctic foxes and snowy owls. Churchill also offers high chances of witnessing the aurora borealis, with over 300 nights of auroral activity annually.
Adventure Intel: Natural Habitat Adventures, a carbon-neutral travel company, offers polar bear viewing tours in custom Polar Rover vehicles with expert guides. Frontiers North Adventures provides day tours in Tundra Buggies.
Pro Tip: Polar bears are highly active onshore in the fall, engaging in interactions rarely seen elsewhere.
Where to Stay: Tundra Inn, located in Churchill, offers simple accommodations and a pub with a notable menu.
7. Grand Valley, Colorado
Why Now: Grand Valley, Colorado, on the Rocky Mountains’ Western Slope, is an ultimate autumn playground. It blends agriculture and geology, reminiscent of Sonoma with vineyards and farmland, Moab with singletrack trails, and Arches National Park with natural arches (second largest concentration). It’s also home to Colorado National Monument, a “mini Grand Canyon.” Fall brings golden vistas, cooler temperatures after summer heat, and fewer crowds on trails. Explore funky towns like Fruita, Palisade, and Grand Junction for locavore dining. The region is also the epicenter of Colorado’s legit wine scene, with harvest in September and the Colorado Mountain Winefest.
Adventure Intel: Downhill mountain bikers can ride the challenging Palisade Plunge, a 32-mile trail with over 6,000 feet of descent. Palisade Cycle and Shuttle offers drop-offs and bike rentals. For a milder option, the East Orchard Mesa Loop cycling path passes wineries and farm stands with Grand Mesa views.
Pro Tip: Sauvage Spectrum Estate Winery’s winemaker recommends the carrot margarita at Fidel’s Cocina and Bar in Palisade.
Where to Stay: Spoke and Vine Motel in Palisade, owned by biking and food enthusiasts, offers recommendations for trails, wineries, and restaurants. Camp Eddy in Grand Junction provides tiny homes, Airstreams, and RV hookups near the Colorado River.
8. Costa Rica’s Southern Caribbean Coast
Why Now: Fall is Costa Rica’s greenest season, despite being considered rainy season. Rains lessen on the Caribbean coast in September and October, the driest months, offering lush jungles and fewer crowds. Travelers can find hotel deals. Explore the Afro-Caribbean culture and protected areas of Limón province, including Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge with diverse wildlife. Cahuita National Park boasts Costa Rica’s largest coral reef, with calm, clear waters for diving and snorkeling in the fall. By November, surf picks up, attracting skilled surfers to Salsa Brava wave.
Adventure Intel: Surf the Jungle offers surf lessons, camps, SUP and kayak trips on Punta Uva River, and snorkeling boat trips to Cahuita National Park reef.
Pro Tip: Visit AmaSer yoga studio in Puerto Viejo, offering various yoga styles and a vegetarian restaurant.
Where to Stay: Hotel Aguas Claras in Puerto Viejo, owned by a mother-daughter duo, offers boho-chic rooms on a beach, with free bikes and snorkel gear, and a commitment to local sourcing.
9. Tasmania, Australia
Why Now: Spring arrives in Tasmania, Australia, in September, revealing blooming daffodils, cherry blossoms, and tulips. Wildlife like wombats and pademelons become active. With half the island protected land, explore over 1,700 miles of trails in national parks and a UNESCO wilderness. Longer daylight and milder temperatures are perfect for coastal hikes like the Bay of Fires. Australian spring is also whale migration season for southern right and humpback whales.
Adventure Intel: Maria Island, nicknamed “Tasmania’s Noah’s Ark,” offers diverse wildlife. Maria Island Walk provides four-day treks with wildlife sightings and private bush camps by the beach.
Pro Tip: Hobart’s Sunday Farm Gate Market is a must-visit, with street food vendors offering diverse cuisines.
Where to Stay: Pumphouse Point, a converted hydroelectricity station at Cradle Mountain–Lake St. Clair National Park, offers unique lodging near the Overland Track. Bay of Fires Bush Retreat provides stylish bell tents and bunk rooms near surf breaks and bike trails.
10. The Scottish Highlands
Why Now: Fall in the Scottish Highlands offers solitude and lodging deals after summer crowds. September hillsides are covered in heather, and midges disappear. October brings russet moors, stag calls, and antler clatter. Cairngorms National Park, similar to Alaska and Norway in latitude, increases aurora viewing chances in late September and October due to longer nights and clear skies. Pubs feature seasonal menus with lamb, venison, plums, and oysters. Enjoy local whisky by a fireplace.
Adventure Intel: Wilderness Scotland offers ten-day hiking trips in September and early October, exploring Glencoe and Cairngorms National Park, with comfortable accommodations.
Pro Tip: Nethy House Café in Cairngorms National Park is a local favorite with seasonal menus and homestyle baking.
Where to Stay: Mountain Bothies Association maintains traditional basic lodgings (bothies) for adventurous hikers. Check for closures during hunting season (typically ends mid-October).
11. Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Why Now: Shenandoah National Park in fall becomes a hiker’s paradise after summer humidity fades. Explore over 500 miles of trails, including 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Fall foliage is mesmerizing along Skyline Drive, a 105-mile road from Front Royal to Waynesboro with 75 overlooks, ideal for driving or biking (expect traffic). Gravel bike-friendly fire roads in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and farm roads around Luray and Stanley offer treetop views. Farms offer pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and fresh apple cider.
Adventure Intel: Trek Travel offers a five-day gravel tour of the valley, based in Hotel Madison in Harrisonburg, including a climb to Reddish Knob for panoramic foliage views. Shenandoah Mountain Guides and Outdoor School provides climbing for beginners on crags with valley views.
Pro Tip: Shenandoah Mountain Guides and School recommends Blackrock Summit trail in the park’s South District for sunset hikes.
Where to Stay: Page Valley, “cabin capital of Virginia,” offers Airbnb gems like Whispering Woods near Luray and Bearloga in Stanley, both near Skyline Drive.
