Many people associate the summer with travel, but there are many reasons fall is an even better time to travel. Fall may be the best time since the pandemic to travel with fewer people travel to avoid crowds. If you are working remotely, a workcation to work in another location might be a great way to break the monotony for some creative inspiration and a productivity boost. Schoolcations are also popular if parents are working remotely and can travel with their children attending school remotely. Many destinations keep this in mind and include various education opportunities. Some resorts are even employing socially distanced spaces for with tutors so young guests can complete school work and parents can relax, work, or both. Another key reason this fall may be a good time to travel: cooler weather makes facial coverings a little more tolerable. If now seems like a good time for you to travel, we have some domestic trip ideas – especially if planning on a workcation or schoolcation – for places to visit this fall.
1. New England
It is obvious that New England is a must-see fall destination. Boston is an ideal place to begin a trip through New England to see covered bridges, rolling hills of beautiful leaves, and feel crisp, fresh air in open spaces. Since leaves peak at different times each year, it’s important to check on estimated peak leaf viewing in various regions. For now, early to mid-October is the projected window for the best colors on the interactive foliage map for New England.
2. Acadia National Park
Known as the crown jewel of the Atlantic Coast, Acadia National Park has that highest point in the East Coast, Cadillac Mountain. Acadia National Park suggests a three to four-day visit to take in hikes, trails, and activities such as the Junior Ranger Program (available at most national parks) and other activities such as horse drawn carriage rides and ranger-guided boat tours all while being surrounded by the beautiful fall foliage. If camping or cabins aren’t your thing, the Mount Desert Island area of Bar Harbor, Maine has many lodging options, including the iconic Bar Harbor Inn which has been in operation since 1887.
3. Great Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park spans more than 500,000 acres between North Carolina and Tennessee. There are numerous historical monuments and places to visit in nearby areas of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Cherokee. The Great Smoky Mountains are also adjacent to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Cades Cove is a popular destination in the park to explore nature, history, and hikes in the Great Smokies. Many other activities are available at the park, including a hike to Rainbow Falls. The National Park Service even offers a curriculum for the park as a classroom and field trips if you need educational ideas for your trip. Multiple lodging options are available in the Smoky Mountain National Park area that can provide an authentic fall experience in addition to numerous open spaces and fresh, mountain air.
4. Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park is located in Virginia. It is especially beautiful in the fall with rolling mountain sides full of color just 75 miles from Washington, D.C. Driving the 105-mile Skyline Drive, there are several outlooks where you can take in the amazing vistas. Bicycling, fishing, rock climbing, and horse back riding are some of the park’s activities, as well many opportunities to observe wildlife and take stunning photographs. Park visitors can also participate in the EarthCache program, a high tech scavenger hunt, to explore selected trails and learn more about the area’s geology and history.
5. New York City
Central Park alone worth the trip to New York City in the fall. A picture on The Mall in Central Park is a must do place for photographs, a stroll, and people watching. You can even take a horse-drawn carriage ride or ice skate in Central Park. Nearby, museums such as the American History Museum are reopening to tourists. Restaurants such Eataly Flatiron is an outdoor restaurant with a seasonal, fall-themed menu and decor would be a perfect meal on a fall day. You can try many more fall-inspired food offerings around the city. Festive Halloween decorations in front of brownstones on The Upper West Side, gazing at the fall decorations on 5th Avenue, or taking a ghost tour will definitely put you in the Halloween mood.
6. Rocky Mountain National Park
For a more rugged, outdoor experience, Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park offers more than 400 miles of majestic mountain views, wildlife, and nature for guests to discover. Hiking, fishing, and nature watching are some of the activities that you can enjoy and the park provides a list of activities for younger visitors too. Rocky Mountain National Park offers distance learning and field trip resources to increase the educational value of your trip.
7. Yosemite National Park
Although California is not known for its foliage, Yosemite National Park’s trees are beautiful in the fall. By October, it is cooler in Yosemite and has far fewer visitors. Wildlife, hiking trails, cliffs, and epic views will mark your trip to one of the nation’s most popular national parks. Activities for younger visitors include in-park options and online resources for learning about the ecosystems, wildlife, and geology of the park. Bird watching, stargazing, horse back riding, photography, art, and fishing are some activities all park visitors can enjoy. Nearby, you can also take a trip on the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad and enjoy numerous other naturally socially distanced, outdoor excursions.
8. Yellowstone National Park
The nation’s first national park, Yellowstone National Park is one of the most stunning and visited national parks well known for its thermal basins. The Upper Geyser Basin is where you will find the iconic Old Faithful. Yellowstone has so many highlights including diverse wildlife viewing, hiking, fishing, trails, swimming, horse back riding, and boating for park guests to enjoy. The park also provides educational resources for young visitors too. Often crowded during the summer, fall is the perfect time to take in all of the park’s beauty without the congestion.
9. Crater Lake National Park
Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park comes alive in the fall just in time for crowds to subside. Crater Lake also provides robust resources for learning about the park, including educational videos to prepare for your trip and a study guide. Hiking, horse back riding, and a unique trolley tour are some popular activities for guests. If relaxing is also in your vacation plans, Crater Lake Lodge located on the edge of the volcanic basin is not to be missed for the views, relaxation, and an authentic lodge experience.
10. Washington State
The Emerald City, Seattle, Washington, offers many activities for visitors, but in the fall, five nearby national parks, monuments and state parks offer beautiful views and several outdoor, naturally social distanced activities too. Olympic National Park, about two hours from Seattle, is popular for hiking and exploring the mountains, rain forests, and beaches within the park. Mount Ranier National Park offers a range of educational opportunities as well as majestic views. The park has more than 200,000 acres of protected land with diverse ecosystems and outdoor activities, including popular stops in Narada Falls and Paradise. Paradise is the park’s main visitor center and offers prime viewing of Rainier. Cape Disappointment State Park is the final location of Lewis Clark’s 1805 expedition and is home to a unique Interpretive Center about the expedition as well as a mid-1800’s lighthouse. North Cascades National Park includes Stehekin, a passage way to the Cascade Mountains, and is a more remote location with falls, overlooks, and hikes for visitors. Lastly, Mount St. Helens Volcanic Monument, a volcanic peak in Southwestern Washington along the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest, is know for being the most destructive volcanic eruption in US history. Johnston Ridge Observatory is the gateway to the park best known for its elk observation areas, zip line adventures, and hikes among the beautiful landscapes.
11. Orlando, FL
If you need some warmth, relaxation, and fun this fall, Orlando offers all of those things and more. The Four Seasons on Disney property provides a special schoolcation experience with tutors and socially distanced study areas for young guests to complete their school work while adults can relax and/or do their own activities such a relaxing by the pool, golfing, or sampling some of the fine dining on property. Of course, nearby Disney World also offers an opportunity for fun with far fewer guests and enhanced cleaning and safety guidelines for guests. You can read more about my experience at Disney World since the reopening and all of the ways it can be a magical experience. Disney has also released special pricing for visitors from various states from September 4, 2020 through December 25, 2020.
Amtrak Vacations is the most relaxing and safer way to travel this fall
Read my other article on all the ways that Amtrak is the ideal way to travel during the pandemic. In addition to the many ways they are providing a safer passenger experience, it is relaxing, stress free, and we can create flexible, personalized itineraries that can include lodging, food and car rental. Amtrak is also offering several fall specials, so contact us soon for the best pricing.
Road trips and flights planning
If you would like to plan a road trip or fly this fall, we can also book a variety of domestic resorts and provide all of their COVID-19 guidelines to keep you safer. In addition to resorts and villas, we can also book vacation home rentals in almost any location.
Fall is the best time yet to travel
To avoid crowds and experience cooler weather making facial coverings more tolerable, fall is probably the best time yet to plan a getaway. Remote work and school are making workcations and schoolcations an exciting possibility to explore domestic destinations while still getting work and school tasks completed. We hope the list of sites and national parks in New England, New York City, the Pacific Northwest, and Florida inspired you to think about travel this fall. When you are ready for some socially distanced relaxation, contact us to schedule a discovery call or email us at info@beautifultomorrowtravel.com. We can quickly provide you with quotes and any level of travel planning that suits you.
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