Fall is a wonderful time of year to travel. Destinations are less crowded than during the summer months, the leaves on the trees may be changing, and local farmers are harvesting the best and freshest ingredients. These are just a few of my favorite fall travel destinations!
Gold Country
Road trip!! Drive beautiful Highway 49 to see the best of California’s Gold Country. Steeped in Gold Rush history, stop for a drink in historic saloons, check out ghost towns and explore mysterious caverns. There are plenty of beautiful and comfortable resorts and bed & breakfasts located all along the way, but my favorite is the Eden Vale Inn in Placerville, voted Top 10 Most Romantic Inns in the US. And since you are in the mood for a beautiful drive, don’t miss nearby Yosemite National Park- spectacular!
The Ranch at Rock Creek
There is something about fall that makes me want to embrace rustic, natural vibes. One of my favorite places to visit is The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana, a resort that perfectly blends rustic and luxury. The Ranch celebrates Fall Harvest festivities which feature the best that local ranchers and farmers have to offer. Can’t you just picture yourself sipping fresh apple cider by a roaring fire? Want to see highlights from my last trip there? Click here for tons of pics and more.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Travel the 469 miles connecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. The Blue Ridge Parkway has stunning views, abundant hiking trails, picnic areas, historic sites, interpretative exhibits, and the motherland of antiquing! There are so many great places to stay that I’ll just give you a couple of my favorites- The Inn on Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, (the largest home in America built by George Vanderbilt), nestled up against the Blue Ridge Mountains. Another beautiful resort is Primland in Meadows of Dan, VA, and don’t miss the consistent winner of Best Inn in the US, The Inn At Little Washington, VA, with it’s famous 2 Michelin Starred restaurant! Think split-rail fences, old farmsteads, mountain meadows and scenic overlooks with endless vistas of amazing fall leaf colors. Ah…a little slice of heaven on earth!
Grand Canyon
I LOVED my first visit to the Grand Canyon earlier this year, and I’m dying to take another trip in the fall. Fall not only provides comfortable temperatures for visiting the Grand Canyon, but, since most children are in school, the crowds tend to be a bit thinner. If you are hoping to see some fall color on your trip, it’s soooo worth the two hour drive up to the beautiful Zion National Park to see the Aspens! Best spot to stay in Zion? Flannigan’s Inn, a 2017 Gold Award Winner, and perfectly positioned at the south entrance of Zion National Park.
Monterey
The River Road Wine Trail in Monterey County, CA., is a great trip any time of year, but it is especially fun to visit during harvest season. The wine trail currently takes you to 11 different California wineries, so be sure you have a designated driver and a comfy hotel room for the end of the day! There are so many great places to stay in Monterey and Carmel that it’s hard to go wrong. I recommend buying a wine tasting pass, so you get a tasting flight at each of the wineries.
I would LOVE to hear your fave fall trips and resorts? You know me, always looking for the next place to explore!
