Yes, summer is coming to an end but that doesn’t mean it is the end of your amazing travels. Fall is a great time to get away for a week or even a long weekend and you may even find better deals then you did over the summer. Plus, with more kids and families busy with going back to school, you will get the benefit of fewer crowds, lines, and standing room only (and doing all that in 100-degree heat.) Check out these great fall getaways and start booking now!
Chill out in San Diego
Like the beach? Like shopping? Like delicious food? Then take a trip to San Diego where there is always a laid-back summer vibe. It’s a quick plane ride from Los Angeles but it is worth it if you are coming from a farther destination. You can start your trip with a nice, relaxing walk along Waterfront Park at Embarcadero and then consider the Brothel, Bites and Booze Tour if you’re a foodie or drinker. You could also take a whale watching Hornblower Cruise and then wrap up the trip with a climb up the California Tower which was only reopened a few years ago after being closed for 80 years. It is 125 steps but you will get some stunning views at the top. And don’t forget the famous San Diego Zoo!
As for where to stay there is the newly opened InterContinental San Diego which is located on the historic grounds of Lane Field – the former baseball stadium of the San Diego Padres from 1936 through 1957. It is just steps away from the Embarcadero, which docks both the famed USS Midway and Maritime Museum of San Diego. Plus you will be near all of the downtown hot spots, including Little Italy, the San Diego Convention Center, Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, and more.
Glamping in the Catskills
The Catskills are back, in case you hadn’t heard. This was the happening spot for East Coasters, especially New Yorkers, from the 1900s to the 1970s, but then for the last 30 years, it has been in a rut. However, now The Catskills is experiencing an economic and cultural Renaissance (thanks in large part to young New Yorkers getting sick of city life and costs.) “There’s a sense of discovery in visiting this area. It’s out of the way. And it’s not the Hamptons, lined with stores you see on Fifth Avenue,” Mike Cioffi, a Brooklyn native and owner of the Phoenicia Diner, which he bought and reopened in 2012, told CNN. And if you are ambitious enough you can just make it a day trip for a nice hike to see waterfalls or visit a funky brewery like West Kill Brewing (try the Doodlebug Pilsner or the Earn Your Keep if you want something a bit more hoppy.)
If you can stay for a night there are plenty of newly renovated boutique hotels like the Eastwind Hotel & Bar. Originally a bunkhouse for hunters, fly fisherman and other outdoor enthusiasts dating back to the 1920’s the hotel is now an Instagrammer’s dream with its funky decor as well as a sauna, barrel hot tub, fire pit and the cute town of Windham to explore. If you are a bit more adventurous you can try glamping (if camping is just way too much) as Eastwind has three Lushna cabins (A-frame wooden and secluded in the woods) with queen beds in Frette linens, along with wildlife journals, and most importantly access to a private bathroom.
Explore the desert and art scene in Scottsdale
The weather is about to turn on the East Coast so you should definitely go to the desert, but you don’t have to go as far as The Sahara. Just head to Scottsdale and the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. You can check out the Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa named on Conde Nast Traveler’s 2017 Hot List for its incredible designs inspired by artists including Frank Lloyd Wright. Then only five minutes from there you can check out the adobe structures housing a historic artists’ compound and galleries. This place is rich in history as it has been a sanctuary for artists and creatives since the 1930s. Current residents include painters, photographers, ceramicists and a blacksmith. And speaking of Frank Lloyd Wright you can also tour his famous home, studio, and architectural lab, Taliesin West.
See the fall foliage in St. Louis
New England may be best known for its fall foliage but that doesn’t mean other parts of the country aren’t gorgeous during this season. Consider a getaway to St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to the leaves, you can head to the top of the Gateway Arch, check out the Missouri Botanical Garden, and take long leaf walks in Forest Park. There is also the Saint Louis Art Museum and then finish the day at Baileys’ Chocolate Bar for a little dessert. If you’re looking for a classic St. Louis place to stay the Park Avenue Mansion is a fun B&B right near Lafayette Park.
Take an adventure in Los Cabos, Mexico
Who says you need to see foliage to have fun? It’s one way. Another fun way is to go to the beautiful, pristine resort town of Los Cabos, Mexico. Umm do you like Sea Turtles? Because they have them. Each year from August to early December, sea turtles come home to lay their eggs in the Sea of Cortes. How magical is that? In addition to the wild life, this area is bustling with action. This fall Los Cabos debuts the Inaugural San Jose del Cabo Restaurant Week, hosted in October and then in November there is the 7th Annual Los Cabos International Film Festival. You could see a sea turtle and Nicole Kidman (a recent attendee)! The historical town of San Jose del Cabo’s annual Art Walk kicks off again in early November as well, opening up the Gallery District’s numerous Mexican and internal artists’ galleries and workshops to the public every Thursday evening. Plus two luxury resorts just opened for you to book including Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort (opens in September) and Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Los Cabos (opens in November).
Eat your way through Charleston
Why wouldn’t you take a trip to Travel + Leisure’s No. 1 City in the World? In addition to its incredible history, the restaurant scene is off the charts. Before the food start with a historic walking tour or a carriage ride of the city to experience its rich past. But now it is time for the food. Hit up 167 Raw, Poe’s Tavern and then grab a bucket of beer at Reds Ice House. Great brunch places include Macintosh or Cannon Green. With so many AirBNB and hotel options, you honestly can’t go wrong in Charleston.
Hike The Tetons in Wyoming
For those who like an active expedition there is no better place than Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Fall is the perfect time to experience Jackson Hole at Spring Creek Ranch, the mountain resort just minutes from Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Fall is the ideal time to experience the bugle of the bull elk. At the peak of bull elk breeding season in September and October, the characteristic call or “bugle” can be heard from just before dusk to dawn. Now that’s a story you will tell when you get back to the office! You can book a Late Season Adventure Package, which gives you a 5-night Late Season Adventure Package at Spring Creek Ranch. It is available September 23rd through October 13th and you will get to stay on a wildlife sanctuary almost 1,000 feet above the town of Jackson, with great views of the Teton Mountain Range. If it’s warm enough you can still do white water rafting, hiking, fishing and horseback riding.
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