The main stretch, Warren Street, is lined with great restaurants (don’t miss Lil Deb’s Oasis and Cafe Mutton), antique shops, galleries, vintage boutiques, and home decor stores. From Hudson, you can also explore the hiking trails, farms, and great outdoors of the Catskills. It’s also the best time for hiking Kejimkujik National Park, visiting Cape Breton Island for stunning fall foliage, exploring the Bay of Fundy with its unique fossils and geology, wandering around Peggy’s Cove, and surfing the quiet Eastern Shore. The weather cools down from the summer, but it won’t be cold enough to keep you off the water, and the fall golf opportunities are endless. Explore Ha Ha Tonka State Park and all of its hiking trails or even try spelunking in one of the many caves along the lake like Bridal Cave or Stark Caverns. It’s the perfect time to take in the stunning desert scenery and hike some of the many trails. You can easily pair your park visit with a stay in nearby, stylish Palm Springs. Go gallery hopping among the warehouses in the River Arts District, admire the Biltmore Estate, go on a beer crawl, hike in the Pisgah National Forest, Mount Mitchell State Park, or Looking Glass Rock. If the weather holds up, raft or picnic along the banks of the French Broad River or drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping at some of the many scenic overlooks to take in the ultimate fall vistas.
You can make it a short trip, thanks to its location right outside of Portland, or spend a long weekend. Drive the Historic Columbia River Highway past waterfalls for epic, panoramic views of the gorge in all its autumn glory, and be sure to pick one of the many trails for hiking. Bike-ride along the Fruit Loop, a 35-mile stretch of farms and orchards. Go wine tasting in Columbia River AVA, home to some awesome wineries like Hiyu Wine Farm and The Grateful Vineyard.
Stop by the Harwood Museum of Art and then tour the Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for traditional adobe-style buildings. Drive the entire Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, which showcases the state’s most impressive scenery lit up for fall. Hike some trails in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument or Carson National Forest. If you visit during October, try to time your trip around the Taos Mountain Balloon Rally, when colorful hot-air balloons fill the sky. Eat lobster to your heart’s content, take a coastal hike to the Portland Head Light, stroll around the old port, visit the Portland Museum of Art, or drive along the coast exploring nearby towns like Kennebunkport, Bath, Freeport, Brunswick, and Ogunquit, all complete with seafood shacks and cute shops. For foodies, Charleston is a haven for incredible eats (from seafood to barbecue and everything in between), complete with a vibrant cocktail and beer scene. The picturesque city is just begging to be explored by foot, but if you want to escape city life for the coast, drive to nearby Sullivan’s Island for a beach day. Compared to the busy summer months, you’ll find fewer tourists in Traverse City and Mackinac Island, and you’ll be able to enjoy the great outdoors without the crowds in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and all along the shores of the Great Lakes. This artsy town has attracted artists from around the world and there is no shortage of museums, but San Miguel is also gaining a reputation as a serious city for food and wine. Bariloche in Argentina’s northern Patagonia is famous for wildflowers that blossom during the springtime, and Peninsula Valdes is a great spot for whale watching. Whichever side you choose, you’re guaranteed to find some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, complete with jagged glaciers, snow-kissed mountain peaks, and glistening lakes. With temperatures in the mid-70s, fall is as good a time as any to visit this unique destination. Split your time between Furnas and Ponta Delgada and you’ll be able to explore all the nearby waterfalls, craters, and hiking trails. Spend a day exploring the city of Turin at the foot of the Italian Alps, relax at Lago d’Orta (a quieter alternative to Lake Como), taste hearty red wines in the Langhe, and treat yourself to delicious Piemontese food (think: pasta with local truffles and rich meat-filled agnolotti. And as an added bonus: fall is when you’ll find the world-famous Alba White Truffle Fair. Visit the National Museum of Contemporary Art Αthens (the EMST), go shopping for antiques and tchotchkes in the Monastiraki neighborhood, walk around the charming narrow streets of Plaka, and sample Athens’ excellent restaurants and world-class cocktail bars. If you’re craving some sunshine, take a day trip to the Athenian Riviera or a weekend trip to one of the nearby islands like Hydra or Spetses, which stay warm and delightful until the end of October.
