United States Travel: The Safest Destinations To Visit This Fall

The busy summer travel period has come to a close but the start of fall signals the arrival of shoulder season, an opportune time when travelers with flexibility can find excellent deals on autumn getaways. While the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to complicate matters, the vast majority of destinations across the country remain open with no or limited restrictions. Nonetheless, some places may be safer than others. Here's a look at some of the safest domestic destinations you can visit this fall.

New York City is the safest U.S. city in 2021, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's Safe Cities Index (SCI,) which ranks 60 international destinations based on a range of factors, including digital security, health security, infrastructure, personal security and environmental security. NYC tied Barcelona for the 11th-safest worldwide. The city just recently began requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for visitors entering restaurants, bars, concert venues and other businesses in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as cooler temperatures send more tourists indoors this fall.

Vermont has embraced the COVID-19 vaccine, with nearly 80 percent of residents over the age of 12 having completed a full series of shots. The state also consistently boasts one of the lowest COVID-19 test positivity rates in the country, prompting the lifting of travel restrictions. Fall visitors to Vermont have no shortage of safe ways to explore the state, whether touring charming downtown Burlington, diving into history in Woodstock or seeking outdoor adventures in other scenic places like Stowe.

One of the least-visited national parks in America, Congaree National Park is conveniently located just a half-hour outside of Columbia, South Carolina. Featuring incredible biodiversity, including the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the Southeast, this destination is ideal for canoeing, hiking, fishing, camping and, of course, viewing fall colors, which typically peak between late-October and early November.

According to the latest SCI, Washington, D.C. is the world's 14th-safest city. As of September 20, nearly two-thirds of the city's population over the age of 12 has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while nearly eight out of 10 have received at least one dose. The nation's capital dropped capacity restrictions and fully reopened in June but is still requiring that masks be worn indoors regardless of vaccination status. As the weather cools, visitors will be more inclined to tour some of the city's unique neighborhoods-including Georgetown, Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle and Navy Yard-by foot. There are also countless landmarks and free-entry museums to explore as you make your way through the capital.

Massachusetts also has one of the nation's lowest COVID-19 test positivity rates heading into autumn and the inviting Berkshires in the western part of the state far from the hustle and bustle of Boston provide fall travelers with a chance to practice social distancing while taking part in leaf-peeping, apple-picking and live concerts. Visitors can book a stay at a cozy cabin, inn or bed and breakfast, tour local wineries and breweries and even sample some of the very best farm-to-table food in all of New England.

San Francisco is the world's 15th-safest city for 2021, tying London, according to the latest SCI. Heading into the fall, more than 80 percent of residents age 12 and older have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus while 87 percent have received at least one dose. In addition to mitigating the effects of the pandemic, the Bay Area boasts a favorable fall climate with an average high temperature of 70 degrees in October as well as numerous outdoor activities in places like Golden Gate Park, Muir Woods National Monument, Angel Island and the unmistakable Fisherman's Wharf.

Another of the nation's least-visited national parks, Nevada's Great Basin National Park offers visitors plenty of room to spread out outdoors. While park-goers will be amazed by Wheeler Peak and the park's sprawling limestone caves, the dark night skies are the ultimate reward, offering overnight visitors the rare opportunity to see planets, meteors, satellites and so much more. "On a clear, moonless night in Great Basin National Park, thousands of stars, numerous planets, star clusters, meteors, man-made satellites, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Milky Way can be seen with the naked eye," the National Park Service states. "The area boasts some of the darkest night skies left in the United States."

Escaping to the great outdoors is one way to limit your exposure to COVID-19 this season. For a quiet, calm and quintessential fall getaway in the Midwest, head to Wisconsin's Door County where you'll be met with crisp temperatures, gorgeous fall colors and charming landmarks from picturesque lighthouses to Belgian chapels. The 66-mile Door County Coastal Byway is one of the best road trips in America and is a great starting point as you can tour this overlooked region at your preferred pace. Perhaps take it slow and stop into some of the quaint villages and make time for a few of the scenic viewpoints along the way.

The Southwest offers plenty of spacious landscapes to explore while keeping a safe distance from others. The Grand Canyon may be the marquee attraction in northern Arizona but visitors to this region would be remiss to head home without experiencing Antelope Canyon and the jaw-dropping Horseshoe Bend near Page, Arizona. It's kind of remarkable, honestly, that two such photogenic natural wonders are located so close to each other. Keep in mind that guided tours are required to explore Antelope Canyon but visitors to Horseshoe Bend can experience its beauty in a myriad of ways, including hiking, helicopter tours and rafting excursions.

Truly want to venture off of the beaten path? Less than an hour outside of Chicago along the Des Plaines River is where you'll find the charming and historic city of Lockport, which is home to the number one pumpkin field in the country, according to the Travel Channel and several other outlets, in Siegel's Cottonwood Farm. Fall marks the start of the farm's annual Pumpkin Fest featuring a 10-acre corn maze, dozens of attractions including slides, straw mountains and games and a plethora of mouthwatering fall eats like freshly made apple cider donuts. Passionate pumpkin pickers can't go wrong in this underrated Midwest locale.

The Lake of the Ozarks is a premier summertime destination for many travelers to the Midwest but the fall can see the thinning of large crowds and transition to beautiful fall colors. What's more, this destination offers an abundance of outdoor activities thanks to more than 1,000 miles of shoreline. Visitors can also warm up at several wineries, explore caves and scenic trails and celebrate the season in festival fashion at The Cave Pumpkin Patch.