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Autumn’s crisp days and sunny skies make for fantastic travel opportunities and you'll be getting out of town in no time with our ten easy fall weekend getaways. Our list runs the gamut from crowd-free cities and autumn harvest bounties (think pumpkins and grape vines) to island beaches and theme-park thrills – and, of course, sublime seasonal scenery.
1. Aruba
Visitors to this 20-mile-long southern island can expect iridescent waters full of sunken wrecks and an unspoiled desert-like coast. Come nightfall, renowned casinos, bars, and clubs, spring to life, and can keep you out till dawn. Add on the frequent nonstop flights from the United States, and it's little wonder why Aruba reigns among the Caribbean’s most popular getaways.
2. Black Hills
Bursting with enough autumnal color to brighten up the four stone-faced presidents chiseled into Mount Rushmore, South Dakota’s heavily forested Black Hills region also entices fall visitors with plenty of family-friendly diversions, like its giant two-level wooden maze, and grown-up pastimes, like saloon-style gambling in Deadwood – the famously untamed Old West gold-mining town where Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane once roamed.
3. Boston
The pride of New England, historic Boston really comes into its own in autumn, as students return to their university classrooms (and the local pubs), baseball fans head to Fenway for the last games of the season, and brilliant foliage frames the city’s historic buildings, parks, and gardens. Dubbed “the walking city,” much of Beantown’s rich colonial character is easily explored on foot, while the crisp fall air and picturesque Charles River encourage water-based outings.
4. Durango
Brimming with charming Victorian buildings, lodge-style bed-and-breakfasts, and sumptuous Southwestern eateries, this easy-going Colorado mountain town proposes the perfect autumnal escape. Nature enthusiasts can admire the distinctly seasonal sight of golden-leafed aspens while soaking in natural hot springs, cruising the scenic San Juan Skyway, or riding a steam locomotive through Cascade Canyon on special “Pumpkin Patch Express” trains.
5. Lancaster County
Old-fashioned activities like buggy rides and harvest festivals abound under the brilliant foliage of Lancaster County. Getting to know the resident Amish is a highlight of any visit here; you may well be invited to share in family-style meals finished off with shoofly pie (a local treat of sweet dough and molasses).
6. Monterey
The town of Monterey and its celebrated bay, part of the 5,322-square-mile Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, shimmer most brilliantly, especially after summer’s cool fog rolls away and the peninsula’s sunny autumn weather takes hold. Enjoy kayaking alongside frisky seals, navigating the famously twisting “17-mile Drive” past cypress groves and the world-renowned Pebble Beach golf course, and marveling at over 345 species of fish at the town’s first-rate aquarium.
7. Orlando
Sure, the “happiest place on earth” is a kid magnet, but even grown ups know this Florida destination isn’t just for the little ones. And with fall ushering the younger set back into the classrooms, you won’t have to share the adrenaline-pumping rides at Walt Disney World, the marine life magic of SeaWorld, or special autumnal events like Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights.
8. San Antonio
The "Fiesta City" of South Texas gets travelers fixin’ for a fall fling, thanks to its reputation for fun, festivals, and fantastic attractions like the Alamo, Franciscan and Spanish missions, and Mexican marketplaces. Enjoy the city's bustling shop-and-café-lined River Walk, top-rated museums, and atmospheric historic districts with Native American, Spanish colonial, German, and Mexican influences.
9. Vancouver
British Columbia’s largest city is heralded for its culture, cuisine, and proximity to the region’s spectacular natural surroundings. Surrounded by water on three sides and boasting nearly 200 parks, fall is optimum time for nature lovers in Vancouver, when the great outdoors are met by lovely foliage and mild temperatures.
10. Walla Walla
Head to Washington’s Walla Walla region, where 1,200 acres of rolling vineyards host over 60 wineries replete with quality Syrahs, Merlots, Sauvignon Blancs, and Chardonnays. This happening viticultural area, with its tasting rooms, restaurants, boutiques, and deluxe inns, makes a great alternative to popular Napa, at a fraction of the cost, to boot.
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