Road trips, hot cider, sweater weather and fall foliage are a few of our favorite things once the summer in North America ends. Below are some of the top destinations and the peak times to enjoy the colors of autumn along with the perfect places to stay when planning your fall vacation
The Hudson Valley is one of the East Coast’s hidden gems for fall travel, and Wildflower Farms offers an incredible front-row seat to the season's magic. Tour operator EXP Journeys takes guests on either a scenic 90 minute drive or 20 minute helicopter ride from New York City, making it an ideal spot for a long weekend or as a stop on a broader East Coast leaf-peeping journey from New York to Massachusetts
They curate experiences such as guided foraging on the property, biking the Rail Trail, especially in the fall when the canopy of golden, red and orange colored leaves cover the trail, hiking along the Hudson River or rock climbing in Shawagunk Mountains. A must is kayaking on the Wallkill River in the fall with the leaves reflecting on the water in
the morning, followed by a visit to a local farm like Wrights Farm for apples and cinnamon donuts
Where to Stay: Wildflower Farms (below) sits on 140 acres of meadows and woodlands at the base of the Catskill Mountains in Gardiner, New York The design of Wildflower Farms, from the open-air lobby with cozy fire pits to the cabins featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that perfectly frame the autumn transition, strikes that perfect balance of comfort and nature. It’s a property that showcases the Hudson Valley’s everchanging landscape, with fall offering the most breathtaking display. At the end of each day, guests can enjoy a sundowner on the deck of the Great Lodge, where there’s no better vantage point for taking in the fall foliage The only thing that would pull them away from the views is their dinner reservation at Clay, Wildflower Farm's restaurant.
Chester Lake is renowned as a larch-viewing trail in autumn For those precious few weeks at the end of September and the beginning of October, golden larch views stretch across the valley Chester lake never fails to impress with its turquoise, mirrored water providing clear reflections of the surrounding rocky peaks. The scenery is incredible in all directions, especially in the fall when the most amazing golden hues of larches spread out before you from the direction you came. Hiking, fishing for Cutthroat and Dolly Varden Trout and if you are adventurous in the cooler months even swimming are great ways to enjoy the day there Kananaskis Mountain Lodge will provide guests with a Peak Picnic to fuel your adventure and enjoy along the trail.
After a long day of hiking, you can rest those tired legs with a Twilight soak at the Nordic Spa or a post-hike cocktail Enjoy the scenery while sipping on your favorite drink at the Blacktail Bar Make sure to check out the Complete Guide to Hiking in Kananaskis
Photo by Paul Zizka
Alaska is an often overlooked destination in September and October, but ask any local and they’ll say this is their favorite time of the year to explore The fall season arrives in Alaska earlier than the Lower 48, making for ideal hiking and biking surrounded by fall foliage Being the end of the summer tourism season, fall guarantees fewer crowds and an easier time booking hotels and restaurants Meanwhile, September is also the start of the Aurora Borealis season offering a spectacular display of northern lights throughout the state.
Where to Stay: Incredible opportunities from fall foliage hiking excursions to Oktoberfest celebrations and an Aurora Concierge on site make fall a prime time to visit Alyeska Resort. As most lodges close for the year in September, the largest mountain resort in the state, Alyeska Resort, located 40 minutes from Anchorage in Girdwood, remains one of the few properties to remain open yearround offering guests continued access to Alaska’s adventure and wellness offerings In Alyeska’s famed Nordic Spa, the first of its kind in Alaska, there is a uniquely relaxing opportunity to immerse yourself, both in the hot tub and the trees, with their recently opened Forest Loop The opportunity to see the autumnal beauty of Alaska's beautiful forest from the comfort of a spa robe is an unparalleled offering.
Although famous for being a top ski destination in the winter, Vail is spectacular in the fall as the Aspens blanket the mountains with their colorful foliage Vail offers a variety of leaf peeping opportunities be it on foot, bike or horseback. You can hike through the North Trail or Deluge Lake Trail, ride horseback or take a scenic gondola ride up Vail Mountain, and mountain-bike through the numerous trails down
Where to stay: The Sonnenalp Located in the heart of Vail, this family-owned luxury hotel offers numerous fall activities and events available for guests including horseback riding and mountain biking The hotel has an activity coordinator that can arrange reservations and rentals for guests There is also a Kids Club guide that can take families and private groups to see fall foliage by car and on hike.The best time to catch Vail’s fall foliage is from early September to mid/late October The Aspen trees start to change in early September and usually peak around the third week of that month. Depending on weather conditions, the colors usually stick around until late October
