The Best Fall Destinations Throughout the U.S.

Anyone who call up summer is the best season likely does n’t have any sweat secretor . gloaming wins that box mates , pass down , because not only does nature put on one hellhole of a show , go outside is actuallyenjoyable . Plus , we celebrate all the best things in the fall : beer , chile , pie , football , logger , and haunted stuff . And eating all those deeply - fried orchard apple tree pies ? Do n’t occupy about it , because we ’re all about to pack on the sweaters and bulky coats . To honor this title-holder of a time of year , we ’ve round out up the honest places in the res publica to experience fall and all it ’s pumpkin - spiced glory :

Stowe, Vermont

After age of being lowly about their mostly forest nation have the highest concentration of maple in the country , Vermont finally came out anddeclared themselves to have the good declination foliage on the major planet . Leaf peeping ( that ’s in reality what it ’s called , people ) is essentially the nation ’s official sport . Stowe is the snapper of that action because it contains Mt. Mansfield ( Vermont ’s highest peak ) and the 200 - year - former village in its valley search like something straight out of a post card , complete with enough picturesque old church building to give all your follower FOMO . Stowe is also home to theTrapp Family Lodge(yes , ofSound of Musicfame ) and its hills are alive with crisp autumn colour , severalfall festivals , and showings ofRocky Horror Picture Showall October . Don’t Miss : More than 200 artists and crafters will show off their material at the theStowe Foliage Arts Festival , but the biggest draw play may just be the Vermont Beer , Cheese and Sausage tent , where a dozen beer will be served alongside topically - made sausages and Malva sylvestris – the literal free fall requirement .

Copper Harbor, Michigan

The Michigan state of matter forest system consists of four million acres , which is nearly eight times the size of Rhode Island ( or basically just a whole lot of Tree for those who are n’t into math conversions ) . Michigan ’s prettiest trees , though ? Those would be in Copper Harbor on the Keewenaw Peninsula , the northernmost part of the Upper Michigan peninsula . There arehiking trailsthat show off all that natural fall beauty , pluswaterfallsthat are just beg for you to ‘ gram them . If you preferfour wheelsinstead of two ( most likely sore ) feet , take a driving force up US-41 to pass through a innate tunnel of trees or cruise up the Brockway Mountain Drive . It ’s the highest road between the Rockies and the Alleghenies , and from there you’re able to take in panoramic panorama of Lake Superior and the woodland . Don’t Miss : Fall is the time to do something that scares you so much you have nightmares until Thanksgiving . In Copper Harbor , that would implicate checking out one of the give up copper - minelaying villages that gave the township its namesake . town like Mandan and Delaware are essentially ghost town with creepy-crawly cemeteries with gravestones from the 1800s .

Cape May, New Jersey

We ’ve already told you that Cape May is thebest Jersey Shore townspeople in porc ringlet country . But , we ’ll let you in on a secret the locals hold costly : the dear clip to visit “ the shore ” is really in the declination , once the tourists have pack up beach chairs and umbrella ( and trashy small children ) . surely , it may be a bit too chilly to lie in out in a bathing suit , but the bunch are slight , the piquant ocean air is crisp , and this priggish town pack the charm . Cape May hosts a bunch ofhaunted ghost toursin its famed twist - of - the - one C historic mansions throughout the fall . And the area wine maker ( yeah , there ’s afew of those ) host their own declension festival , with some offering weekly bonfires in their vinery . If you reckon fall is better for slyness brews than hack though , Cape May Brewing Companybrews their own Oktoberfest and Cranberry Bog Shandy . Don’t Miss : If you may make it up the 199 step ( that ’s like 16 flights ) to the top ofCape May Lighthousewithout feel terrible about your wellness and sprightliness choices , you ’ll be rewarded with 360 - arcdegree opinion ofCape May Point State Park– a coastal dune , marsh , and forest sphere along the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay that plough shining Red River , copper , and yellowness from previous October to early November .

Ellijay, Georgia

Oh , did you think the southward did n’t have a “ fall ” ? Well you ’re mistaken , specially when it comes to Ellijay , the town 80 miles northward of Atlanta that bills itself as the “ apple upper-case letter of Georgia . ” ( peach tree are so last time of year . ) This Appalachian Mountain township will be cloak in Red and oranges come late October and well into November , making it ideal for those slacking on their fall travel plans . It ’s part of the 867,000 - acreChattahoochee National Forestand family to several hiking trails , so the most serious of leaf - peepers should be quenched . Ellijay innkeeper the 45 - year - oldGeorgia Apple Festival , which celebrates the 20 + different eccentric of apple grown in town . Then , there ’s about 10pick - your - own orchardsin town if you ’re looking to contribute home your own bushel ( or seven).Don’t Miss : An orchard apple tree off the tree is great , sure , but an Malus pumila pie is even good . And well still ? Adeep - fried Malus pumila Proto-Indo European . Reece Orchardsmakes them decent on the farm , plus they have a petting menagerie , andcannons to shoot apples out of . For real .

Door County, Wisconsin

Door County is moot the “ Cape Cod of the Midwest ” because it ’s made up of more than a dozen towns on a peninsula nest between Lake Michigan and Green Bay . The county ’s 300 Swedish mile of shoreline are dotted withlighthouses , woodlet , wineries , and pumpkin plot of ground , plus there’sPeninsula State Parkfor draw of untouched , autumnal colour . If you head just 45 minutes out , you ’re in Packers dominion , andGreen Bay is the best town in the state for football fans . Plus , what sound out fall more than throw up your arms and yelling TOUCHDOWN with tall mallow on your nous . Don’t Miss : steer over to Door County’sSchoolhouse Artisan Cheeseto taste what Wisconsin does best , and a lot of it . They represent more than 30 different cheesemakers from Dairyland , and do n’t feel bad about assay them all – it ’s sweater time of year after all .

Sleepy Hollow, New York

You only have to go 20 minutes outside of Manhattan to find Sleepy Hollow , one of themost haunted places in the world . The town also just so encounter to sit in the small Hudson Valley – pretend it as scenic as it is creepy . Fall is the best time to chat because that ’s when the Greenwich Village fully embraces its spooky heritage : there are candlelight tours of the most - emphatically hauntedSleepy Hollow Cemetery ; the historical Philipsburg Manor , which turn into ahaunted housein the middle of the village ; and the already - eery Lyndhurst castling becomes “ Jay Ghoul ’s House of Curiosities . ” Sleepy Hollow is also home to theRockefeller State Park Preserve . The 1,000 - acre park with rivers , lake , streams , honest-to-goodness Harlan F. Stone bridge deck , and ( of course ) loads of trees lets you take in the beauteous fall brightness level while you strain to catch a glimpse of the Headless Horseman . Don’t Miss : Seven thousand ( ! ! ) pumpkins are carve every decline to become Sleepy Hollow’sGreat Jack O’Lantern Blaze , turning the mystical , eighteenth - hundred Van Cortlandt Manor farmhouse into a fiery carving garden direct out ofNightmare Before Christmas . The Blaze features pumpkins chip at into everything from snakes to intricate gramps alfileria and an actual Headless Horseman , which will put your sad excuse for a jack o ’ lantern to disgrace .

Big Bear Lake, California

Most Los Angeles folks sleep with Big Bear as a premier winter destination for skiing , but between October and November it serves as a scenic mountain safety valve from the LA hustle . ( And if you go then , you do n’t have to worry about find out snow pants . ) Among all those Christmas - esque evergreen are oak , Tilia heterophylla and aspens that dot Big Bear with golds , reds , and yellow when the weather turns chilly . The best way to take in the views is by hiking . There are 10 differenttrailsto assistant you research around the lake , plus dozens ofrustic hostelry and cabinsto bit as base base . Bonus : Big Bear hosts anOktoberfestevery weekend through October 30 , mean you could have your fill of German brew and brats all throughHerbst(ahem , fall).Don’t girl : To take in some serious lake scene while you fill up on California wines and smoke elk costa , trek over toThe Pines– it ’s the only fine dining eating place that ’s lakeside . For those looking for something heartier , there ’s nothing in force than hand-crafted Proto-Indo European ( especially brilliant pith - filled I ) , which are a strength atTeddy Bear Restaurant , a Big Bear raw material since 1944 .

Oakland, MD

If there ’s one small town that truly loves fall , it ’s Oakland . This western Maryland sight town was once votedthe most beautiful fall Ithiel Town in the area , thanks to its proximity toSwallow Falls State Park . Swallow Falls is home to the tallest waterfall in Maryland , Muddy Creek Falls , as well one of the oldest Nebraska fern groves in America . There ’s also immense sugar maples , northern cerise oak , and beech trees . Besides all the natural fall beauty , the townsfolk bills itself as “ the big small town ” for its bustling , but quaint , downtown – that comes unadulterated with an old - school soda shop class , Englander ’s Antiques . This antique store / diner is known for its hearty breakfasts of buckwheat cakes , a.k.a . the perfect fuel for a tenacious solar day search ( or catch a wink outside).Don’t Miss : Oakland hosts a virtually 50 - yr - old Autumn Glory Festival , a five - day celebration that ’s been lauded as one of the good fall fete in the USA . It ’s got all the idyllic fall activities you ’d want : Zea mays tangle , Cucurbita pepo carving competitions , a complete Oktoberfest dinner party , and marketer selling handcraft quilts .

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Salem, Massachusetts

The entire calendar month of October is dedicate to Halloween in Salem thanks to its celebrated history as the setting ofHocus Pocus(and yeah , some really old witch trials ) . But seeing as Salem is place on the picturesque glide of Massachusetts , it ’s as fairly as it is nervous . Besides the month - long celebration , dubbedHaunted occurrent , there are witch shops , likeCrow Haven Corner , to pick up real spell book and candles , andnightly toursof Salem ’s several taken up and historical sites . You wo n’t have to travel far to take in that classic New England fall leaf either , as Forest River Park and the Salem Woods are handily near townspeople . Don’t Miss : The highlight of Salem ’s Halloween activities is theWitches ’ Halloween Ball , a giant costume party where they also cast spells and rituals . No , they really do .

Gunnison, Colorado

Gunnison is a sleepy-eyed mountain townspeople that bills itself as the “ nucleotide ingroup of the Rocky Mountains , ” so you wo n’t have to travel far to take in some jaw - pearl suitable spill raft . Kebler Pass is one of themost beautiful places in Colorado , and it shine in the descent . Literally . Colorado ’s aspen trees turn a magnificent amber , and this 30 - mi mountain private road is stocked with plenty of places to stop and take in the view . This surface area is known for sight biking and tramp , and withmore than 150 trail covering 750 miles , that ’s a surefire mode to occupy most of your fourth dimension – plus well into the time of year , you ’ll still be able to see some of the region ’s famed wildflowers dust the landscape with even more color . Don’t Miss : The Dogwood , in nearby Crested Butte , is a cocktail bar in an sometime miner ’s cabin , speciate in all thing snug . Warm up by sipping on a tequila speedball with creme de cocoa and espresso or noshing on cabin - made pretzel with beer cheeseflower .

Beaver’s Bend, Oklahoma

A three - time of day drive from Dallas , Beaver ’s Bend is wall by part of theOuachita National Forest , the old National Forest in the United States . The bend is basically a elephantine playground for anyone who likes to attend at fall foliation while also doing something adventurous , like riding an ATV , horseback riding , or canoeing . It ’s rustic , vast , and scenic – and every October it ’s also home to theIdabel Fall Festival , where you’re able to sample winning chili cookoff recipe and maybe get a coup d’oeil of Bigfoot . We said“possibly . ”Don’t Miss : The Beaver ’s Bend field is known for lumber , and they keep that inheritance every class at the annualLumberjack Festival . The fete honour everything we love about those heavy burly , men of the woodwind : face fungus , flannel , and free-enterprise axe throwing .

Bethel, Maine

A mountain town and ski hub in western Maine , Bethel acts as the central point to take in fall foliage around the Pine Tree State when it ’s not wrap up in snow . It ’s posit in theWhite Mountain National Forest , with some of the tallest muckle in Maine . Bethel also lay title to theArtist ’s Covered Bridge , which got its name from so many painter parking their easel by it to put it on canvas . Peak leaf - peep time of year is in mid - October , and the meridian maculation for it would be on ascenic ski - raising ridethrough the mountains . Because this is New England in the fall , and you ’d be remiss not to have a bowl of chowdah : Sunday River Brewing Companyoffers a “ chowder of the twenty-four hour period ” with your beer . Don’t Miss : Bethel also celebrates descend as the official start to cuffing season by hosting the annualNorth American Wife Carrying Championship , where hubby - and - married woman squad vie through athletic challenge and the winner takes home the wife ’s weightiness in beer and 5x her weight in cash .

New York City, New York

Sure , New York may not be known for its sprawl forests and natural wonder , but it does have the largest concentration of Starbucks pumpkin spiciness latte in the United States . Oh , andCentral Park ’s Ramble– a 36 - acre gaga garden that also acts as the birdwatch centre of the entire park . you’re able to also lead uptown toInwood Hill Parkto explore an enormous natural woodland and see what New York was like before it was overflow by , um , New Yorkers . NYC celebrates come withharvest festivals , dessert , masquerade balls , and theTompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade , which is far more adorable than Halloween parades for citizenry . Don’t Miss : Since New Yorkers just spent all summer perspire in the subway , they make happy in the probability to enjoy parky temperatures andseek out these cocktails to warm up up . That is , until it ’s so cold they hole up in their studio apartment apartment ‘ til March .

Starved Rock State Park, Illinois

Starved Rock is just two hours outdoors of Chicago , but it feels like it could be an entirely different province , with falls , trail , and prime fall leaf . Plus , theStarved Rock Lodgeis home to the largest fireplace in all of Illinois , and nothing screams shine like a gigantic , crackle fire . Bonus : 95 % of the pumpkin grown for food processing ( like the ones you use to make pumpkin Proto-Indo European ) in the US are get in Illinois , so it makes common sense that the North Shore Chicago suburb , Highwood , would go for the world book for the largest numeral of jack o ’ lantern lit at one sentence . They action this feat at the annualHighwood Pumpkin Fest , where yard of jack o ’ lanterns are lit each year to endorse the Make - a - Wish Foundation . Don’t Miss : Also outdoors of Chicago isthe large corn maze in the worldly concern , which this year is themed after 50 geezerhood ofStar Trek . Live Long , Prosper and Drink Pumpkin Spice .