Best Fair Weather Fall Getaways

Is there a better season than fall in the States? Summer temperatures have transformed into fair weather days, the leaves change colors, and festivals and farms are full of pumpkins, wine, and apple cider. Keep reading to see where to go for a fall getaway with amazing temperatures. 

Dallas stays warm well into winter, so much so that you could do two rounds of golf at the Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas and follow it up with some time at the resort’s pool – and get sunburnt while doing so. Enjoy fall’s football season by catching a game with America’s Team, the Dallas Cowboys.

Take the family to Autumn at the Arboretum which features 150,000 blooming fall plants and 100,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash in a Pumpkin Village designed like Texas pioneer life. Spend your day relaxing in the 46 mineral springs at WorldSprings, the largest outdoor mineral springs experience in the U.S., and have a great meal and a drink on the patio of a restaurant on the popular street of Lower Greenville (we suggest Rye!).

If you’re looking for big entertainment, don’t forget that the original Six Flags is in the Dallas area and has Fright Fest every fall. Otherwise, visit the longest running (and one of the biggest) state fairs in the U.S., the Texas State Fair. It’s famous for its phenomenal fair foods, live concerts, and fair rides.

If leaf peeping is your travel jam, turn your attention to Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This area is full of small towns with historic covered bridges, small shops, and fall farms. Make your way to the Allegheny and Pocono Mountains for hikes full of fall colors or see the leaves on a drive on Route 6 or the Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway.

For something very special, you’ll want to book the 20-mile roundtrip train excursion on the Pocono Foliage Express. Apple cider anyone? Check out Peddler’s Village Apple Festival at the beginning of November. To see 70 giant carved pumpkins, attend the Great Pumpkin Carve in Chadds Ford in the middle of October. If you can’t make it to a festival, don’t worry. There are so many family-friendly farms with Halloween events, corn mazes, and hayrides in Bucks County. 

What’s a more fair-weather fall getaway than California? SLO CAL, or San Luis Obispo County, covers 82 miles of California’s central coast and is a great autumnal getaway. You can absolutely find fall fun in SLO CAL be it pumpkin patches, apple picking, and even festivals like the Cambria Scarecrow Festival and Octoberfest in Madonna.

Not to mention, the wine harvest season in October in Paso Robles is a darn delight. Between your fall adventures, explore the beautiful outdoor areas this region has to offer like kayaking through the Dinosaur Cakes, paddle boarding at Avila Beach, surfing in Morro Bay, and hiking the trails along one of the Seven Sisters. Don’t overlook attractions like Hearst Castle and Sensorio, a multi-acre outdoor light exhibit at night.

You may need a medium jacket in Spokane in the fall, but you can still expect some lovely days. Seasonal brews are on tap at Spokane’s popular breweries and the Finch Arboretum is a leaf peeper’s paradise. You can even fly fish in the city limits of Spokane! October in Spokane is filled with events like Oktoberfest and National Arts Month.

Halloween fun comes in the form of a Zombie Crawl and a haunted zipline in the woods of Liberty Lake. Spend your days hiking through gold and red trees and evergreens on Mount Spokane. Trek to Vista House for beautiful views of the Selkirk Mountain Range and the lakes in nearby Idaho. Don’t forget to visit Green Bluff, home to family-owned farms with apple and pumpkin picking, cider, and pumpkin donuts at Beck’s Harvest House.

Want a big city fall getaway that has the charm of a small town? Consider St. Louis Missouri. Walk through Forest Park – home to free attractions like the Saint Louis Zoo, Missouri History Museum, and Saint Louis Art Museum – to see vibrant fall foliage. You could also take a two-hour walking tour at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum to admire the autumn colors on the grounds.

Enjoy great German food and good beer at Soulard Oktoberfest and attend the Best of Missouri Market festival for gourmet food and local artisans. The Great Forest Park Balloon Race is a great hot air balloon event just outside of St. Louis.  There are quite a few apple farms near St. Louis that are worth a visit, and when you return to the city, check out Delmar Loop for trendy shops, live music, and yummy restaurants.

If you want an exclusive fall vacation, consider Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. This 1800s-era mining town has been revitalized into a resort like experience with 14 luxury log cabins and a luxury tent. You’ll be surrounded by mountain peaks with beautiful fall colors and Aspen trees that turn gold in the fall.

When you’re not hiking, you can go horseback riding, do outdoor yoga, and relax in healing hot springs in a restored 19th century bathhouse. Another great perk? It’s only a 1.5-hour drive from Telluride, which is worth a day visit especially during the Telluride Autumn Classic, a car show, or the Telluride Horror Show, a horror film festival.

It’s no secret that North Carolina is a hot spot for fall travel and our fall fair weather pick is Bryson City. This small mountain town is set next to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, making it the perfect gateway to autumnal outdoors experiences. Hike or bike to Clingmans Dome, a 54-foot observation tower and the highest peak in the Smokies, for the best views.

Deep Creek Recreation Area is a more laid-back hike with waterfalls and great fall color sights. Otherwise zipline through the canopies or book a whitewater rafting trip on the Nantahala. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is a must for leaf looker rides – and it even includes onboard dining. If you’ve got a car, a sunset drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway is sure to result in some spectacular photos.

The evenings might be cool, but you’ll enjoy lovely weather during the day in Eureka Springs this fall. Set in the Ozark Mountains, you won’t be at a loss for mountain biking and leaf peeping hikes when you travel here. Ziplining in Eureka Springs through the foliage is a must as is a stay in a treehouse (to soak up all the fall beauty!). For some spooky fun, join the Zombie Crawl through downtown, visit the Macabre Market, and check out the Nightmare in the Ozarks Film Festival. As the name suggests, Eureka Springs has natural springs and a long history of health and wellness. In fact, the city has over two dozen spas, and after all the hiking you’ll do in Lake Leatherwood City Park, you deserve a massage or treatment.

The weather doesn’t quite dip to the 60s until November in Vicksburg, offering a truly fair fall getaway. Set on the Mississippi River, it’s the perfect place to stay in a cozy bed and breakfast and take a 20-person canoe or kayak on a fun excursion with Quapaw Canoeing Company Vicksburg Outpost.

Any trip to Vicksburg requires a visit to the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum and Catfish Row Museum, chomping down fried green tomato BLTs at The Tomato Place, and stopping on The Blues Trail. For spooky vibes, visit The McRaven House, Mississippi’s most haunted mansion. And if you’re in Vicksburg in early November, attend Vicksburg PorchFest, where live musical performances are held from the porches of the city’s historic neighborhoods.

Delaware County, New York, in the fall is, in a word: charming. Imagine apple and pumpkin picking, and quirky festivals like the Cauliflower Festival and the Maple Shade Hootenanny, a self-proclaimed “rural party” with music, dancing, and more. It might be a bit crisp in autumn, but you’ll warm up quickly with a hike in Catskill Park.

The fall foliage is expected to be great this year in Delhi and Colchester, so prepare yourself for leaf peeping! There are so many farmers markets and farms to visit in the region, and we challenge you to find the freshest and most delicious apple cider at them.