7 Fall Trips That Beat Pumpkin Spice Lattes
Big or small: Grab a fall excursion before winter rears it´s chilly head.
If you live in a tourist town, you know the sigh. Not the “ahh, crisp leaves” sigh. I mean the deep, guttural sigh of relief when fall finally muscles summer out of the way. Here in the Algarve, Portugal, the locals swear September 14th is the official “tourists, please go home” day. And right on cue, beach tiki umbrellas were stacked like Lincoln Logs and carted away, wooden boardwalks rolled up like Costco rugs, and cafés started closing earlier.
This immigrant nearly wept with joy. Goodbye to endless festivals, late-night concerts shaking the cobblestones, and sidewalks sticky with gelato drips. Fall, my dear friend, you’ve arrived.
I love everything about this season: the crisp snap in the air, soups bubbling on the stove, the rustle of leaves underfoot, and yes — even raking them into piles so I can stomp through like a six-year-old. Fall is the pause button between summer mayhem and winter gloom, a sweet spot that demands a road trip, a weekend away, or at the very least, an excuse to get out of your own kitchen.
So, where should you go? I’ve got seven fall trips — each better than another Instagram shot of a pumpkin spice latte.
1. National Parks: Where the Wi-Fi is Weak but the Views Don’t Suck
The U.S. has 63 official national parks (and over 400 protected sites). You’ll run out of vacation days before you run out of trails. Fall is the jackpot: cooler weather, fewer crowds, and the chance to actually hear yourself think without a chorus of flip-flops slapping behind you. Take a road trip, rent an RV, or book a tour.
Hike the Grand Canyon without melting into a puddle, or finally tick off that local park you’ve been staring at on your “bucket list.” Bonus: rangers won’t judge if you pack soup in a thermos.
2. Wine Country: Grapes, Giggles, and Questionable Decisions
Fall in wine country is like the Super Bowl for grape lovers, only tastier and with more questionable Uber receipts. Vines explode in gold, red, and orange tones while tractors hum through the vineyards hauling in the harvest.
Sure, Napa gets the glory, but don’t stop there. Oregon’s Willamette Valley will charm your socks off. Upstate New York does a killer ice wine (pair it with falling leaves and regret nothing). And if you’re feeling extra bougie, hop across the pond to Tuscany or France. Stroll, sip, repeat. Pro tip: buy the case or five: you’ll thank yourself in February.
3. Fall Foliage: Nature’s Confetti Party
Confession: living in Portugal, I miss those High Sierra mountain drives and Lake Tahoe hikes where the trees throw down a full-on color riot. Every step crunches, every view glows, and every ounce of stress slides off like a burnt hot dog rolling off the grill.
This year, don’t just take the same old walk. Grab your crew, rent a cozy cabin, or book a quirky B&B in some historic town. You’ll return with cheeks pink from the air and at least one selfie with a maple tree you’ll pretend was spontaneous.
4. Coastal Escapes: Sand, Sweaters, and Zero Tourists
Summer beaches? Overrated. Fall beaches? Perfection. No crowds, no screaming toddlers flinging Cheetos, no sunburn. Just you, a sweater, and the satisfaction of sand between your toes.
Plus, fall is prime whale-watching season. Add in a ridiculous sunset and a feast of crab, oysters, or mussels with obscene amounts of bread, and you’ve got therapy cheaper than your co-pay. (And more delicious.)
5. Cemeteries: Dead Quiet but Crazy Interesting
Yes, cemeteries. Stop rolling your eyes. If you love history, art, or photography, these are like outdoor museums without the entrance fee. The statues! The carvings! From elaborate marble or simple wooden markers to the humorous, you can learn much about a culture from visiting these sacred grounds.
Some of my favorites? Nice, Luxembourg, Sonoma, Croatia, Belgium, Key West, and San Francisco. In the fall, the light has a moody quality where shadows stretch long and dramatic. Last year in Belgium, I even stumbled across a WWII German helmet headstone. Creepy? Yes. Memorable? Absolutely. Especially since the Jewish section was nearby. Cemeteries remind us that history isn’t in a textbook; it’s carved in stone and tucked away behind gates.
6. Train Excursions: Because You Deserve a Slow Ride
Picture this: you’re gliding past mountains streaked with fire-colored leaves, sipping wine in a viewing car, and the only traffic jam is a herd of elk. Tell me that doesn’t sound better than fighting TSA for overhead bin space.
I recently hopped the V&T steam train from Carson Valley to Virginia City, Nevada. Old-school, charming, and just slow enough to reset your brain. Amtrak has fall-specific routes, too, so you don’t even have to be a Wild West fan. A train trip forces you to unplug, lean back, and realize the world looks way better at 30 miles per hour.
Check out all the etiquette and tips for riding a train like a boss.
7. Harvest & Oktoberfest: Pumpkins, Beer, and Lederhosen Regrets
Go small: hit up a local harvest festival. Get lost in a corn maze, hug a goat, eat the caramel apple, and yes, pose for that pumpkin patch picture you’ll secretly love.
Go big: Oktoberfest. Maybe it’s local, maybe it’s Munich. Either way, you’ll clink steins, belt out songs you don’t know, and possibly reconsider lederhosen as an adult fashion choice. (Spoiler: don’t.)
The Strong Close
Here’s the thing: fall is short. Blink, and the leaves are gone, the pumpkin patches are closed, and suddenly it’s all peppermint mocha and shopping mall panic. Don’t waste it.
Pick one of these trips or make your own. Book the flight, grab your friends, or just hop in the car with a thermos of soup. Travel doesn’t always need to be grand or expensive; sometimes it’s just about trading routine for a little adventure.
Because honestly, the leaves don’t care if you’ve answered your emails.
So, go. Before winter steals the spotlight.