Fall travel to popular destinations (Europe? Disney World?) can be ideal, when the weather's good but crowds are less. Weekend getaways in the country-side are also great: to visit corn mazes or go apple-picking, or see technicolor foliage. October's a full month of Halloween; November, in the US, leads up to Thanksgiving weekend and the start of the holiday season. And right through November, the Caribbean's on sale.
1. Fall Travel: "Leaf-Peeping"
Photo courtesy of Smugglers Notch Resort.
Escaping the city to see autumn leaves can be a fun and affordable getaway. Parents can ooh and aahh over the color show, while kids get good times in The Great Outdoors. Find the peak weeks for color intensity, and great places for leaf-peeping in New England, Ohio, the Rockies, and more.
2. Corn Mazes & Pumpkin Patches
Photo © Teresa Plowright
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.
3. Halloween Events
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World.
Pick anywhere for a getaway 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.
4. Weekend Getaways in New England: Apple-Picking, Hay Bale Art...
Hay bale photo © 2008 Kim Knox Beckius.
Autumn in New England offers great weekend getaways for families: from fall foliage outings to corn mazes, to apple-picking, and something new-- check out "hay bale art". Meanwhile, the whole month of October is Halloween season.
5. White Mountains NH: Appalachian Mountain Club Packages
Take a weekend getaway in the Great Outdoors with all logistics handled: all inclusive packages with lodging, meals, fall foliage hikes, nature activities, and free use of outdoors gear. Look for seasonal weekends such as Thanksgiving Family Fun Fall Harvest.6. Colorado: YMCA of the Rockies Family Weekends
Photo courtesy of YMCA of the Rockies.
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.
7. 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.)8. Late Fall Travel: Thanksgiving Getaways
Photo courtesy of NYC & Co.
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.
9. Fall Travel in the Caribbean
Photo © Teresa Plowright
Bargain "summer rates" for Caribbean resorts continue right into December, and offer a great chance to sample a resort's amenities, fancy swimming pools, and beach at discount prices. Parents of preschoolers can take advantage of resorts that pride themselves on programs for toddlers, or infant care. Meanwhile, by September hurricane season has typically passed its peak.
10. Fall Travel in Hawaii: Aloha Festivals
Starting in late August and running through September, Aloha festivals on all the islands tempt visitors to Hawaii for fall vacations. Honolulu has street festivals and a floral parade.11. Riviera Maya festivities November 1 - "Day of the Dead"
Photo courtesy of Riviera Maya Tourist Board.
Don't let the name fool you: the Days of the Dead are a lively and colorful Mexican tradition, and -- next to Christmas -- the favorite time of year for children. Could be a great fall vacation idea, for those not tied to the school schedule.
This Mexican tradition coincides with our Halloween. Stay at an all-inclusive in the Riviera Maya, and you can watch festivities while enjoying fall promotion rates.
12. Fall Travel - Europe
Photo © Teresa Plowright
Good news comes at the end of every summer: the transatlantic airfare prices drop.
So many things that are fun to do in summer in Europe are fun in September, too. The beaches are still warm and sunny in Greece, the flowers still bloom in Italy. Paris is so lovely that September can be more crowded than summer months.
