Fall travel can be terrific, with lower prices and fewer crowds; and in many places, weather in early fall is as nice as summer.
Those with kids in school can do weekend getaways; those with preschoolers can have it all, including special events in September for families with tots.
October brings a full month of Halloween fun, everywhere from theme parks to country inns; in November, Thanksgiving weekend packages launch the holiday season. And throughout the fall, Caribbean and Hawaii holidays are at bargain rates.
Autumn is a fine time for weekend getaways --or longer trips, for families not tied to school schedules-- and fall foliage vacations can be fun and affordable. Parents can ooh and aahh over the color show, while kids get some good times in The Great Outdoors. Read about finding the best weeks, fall foliage in New England, Ohio, the Rockies, and more.
A number of big players in the family travel scene have decided: 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.
Get the family into the Great Outdoors, with logistics handled. Enjoy New Hampshire's White Mountains at the Appalachian Mountain Club's Highland Center, at Crawford Notch. All-inclusive packages include lodging, meals, fall foliage hikes, nature activities, and free use of outdoors gear. Look for special seasonal fun such as Thanksgiving Family Fun Fall Harvest.
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.
The period between Labor Day and Thanksgiving is one of the best times to visit the Disney Parks, in terms of crowds and temperature. Another plus, for gourmet-type parents, is the International Food and Wine Festival in the Epcot theme park, in October and early November. (If you need a couple of hours away from the kids to imbibe, the luxury Disney World resorts have kids' clubs.)
Two other big events take place in early September: both are Christian music bashes. Disney World has an annual "Night of Joy" (actually two nights), and Universal Orlando has "Rock the World."
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.) If you're hankering after a fall getaway, include a visit to a corn maze. Often, corn mazes will have extra fun on-site, such as a pumpkin patch -- another fun outing.
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.
The whole month of October has become a new holiday season: every year brings more Halloween events, from Boos at Zoos, to Haunted Houses, to creepy fun staged everywhere from science museums to corn mazes. In the theme parks, Disney has "not so scary" parties; Universal Studios gets seriously spooky; Legoland, Sesame Place, Hersheypark all have their fun...
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.
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 bargain rates. 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.
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
| 