An early fall vacation can be a great time to visit popular places (Europe? Disney World?) when the weather's good but crowds are less. Fall vacations are also great in the country-side: weekend getaways to see technicolor foliage, or go to corn mazes or apple-picking... October's a full month of Halloween, everywhere from theme parks to country inns. in November, Thanksgiving weekend packages start the holiday season. And right through to November, the Caribbean's on sale.
1. Fall Vacations: "Leaf-Peeping"
Heading out of the city to see trees change color can be a fun and affordable getaway. Parents can ooh and aahh over the color show, while kids get some good times in The Great Outdoors. Read about finding the peak weeks for color intensity, and great places to stay in New England, Ohio, the Rockies, and more.
Photo courtesy of Smugglers Notch.
2. Special Travel Season for Babies & Preschoolers
A number of big players in the family travel scene have decided that after the "big kids" go back to school, September should be the month when the babies, toddlers, and preschoolers come to play. Disney, Beaches, Great Wolf Lodge, and others have special events and packages for families with wee kids, starting as early as late August.
Photo © Teresa Plowright
3. White Mountains NH: Appalachian Mountain Club- All-inclusive Packages
Take a fall vacation in the Great Outdoors with all logistics handled. Enjoy New The Appalachian Mountain Club has all-inclusive packages that include lodging, meals, fall foliage hikes, nature activities, and free use of outdoors gear. Look for seasonal fun such as Thanksgiving Family Fun Fall Harvest.4. Colorado: YMCA of the Rockies Family Weekends
YMCA of the Rockies is a "Y" like no other, with thousands of acres and two huge centers: Both Snow Mountain Ranch and Estes Park Center have a Fall Fest in October, with activities such as pumpkin throwing contest, mini-golf tournament, crafts, family campfire, costume parade, and more. Sample rates: $75 adult/ $55 child, including two nights lodging, five meals, many activities.
Photo courtesy of YMCA of the Rockies.
5. Orlando: Christian Music and other Special Events
A fall vacation to theme park mecca, Orlando, is a smart move in terms of crowds and temperature. Two big events Christian music bashes take place in early September. Disney World has an annual "Night of Joy" (actually two nights), and Universal Orlando stages "Rock the World." Later , in October and early November, gourmet-type parents will love the International Food and Wine Festival in the Epcot theme park. (If you need some hours away from the kids to imbibe, the luxury Disney World resorts have kids' clubs.)6. Corn Mazes & Pumpkin Patches
In the last decade, a new type of outing has sprung up all over the continent: visiting a corn maze is lots of fun for kids, and even for teens (especially at night, with flashlights.) Often, corn mazes will have extra fun on-site, such as a pumpkin patch -- another fun outing.
Photo © Teresa Plowright
7. New England: Pick Your Own Apples
Another fun activity, to enjoy on a weekend getaway in New England: About.com's Guide for New England for visitors lists apple-picking spots in every state. You can also find lodgings ideas, at her site.8. See Hay Bale Art!
Hay bale photo © 2008 Kim Knox Beckius.
The town of Killington Vermont has a new thing going on: hay bale creations that can be spotted in fields along certain roads. They'll last at least until the first snowfall in December. Our Guide for New England Travel has photos.
9. Halloween Events
TPick anywhere for a fall vacation in October, and you're sure to find some Halloween fun. Every year brings more Boos at Zoos, Haunted Houses, and creepy fun staged everywhere from science museums to corn mazes. In the theme parks, Disney has "not so scary" parties; Universal Studios gets seriously scary; Legoland, Sesame Place, Hersheypark all have their fun.
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World.
10. Late Fall Vacations: Thanksgiving Getaways
Catch the last chance for a fall travel: ideas for wonderful Thanksgiving weekends, from country getaways to beach resorts, to the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, in NYC.
Photo courtesy of NYC & Co.
