Fall Travel Roundup: 7 of The Best Fall Travel Destinations at Home and Abroad
Warm and cozy flavors, cool and crisp air, and colorful landscapes await at some of my favorite fall destinations both at home and abroad, below.
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Oaxaca, Mexico
🇲🇽 Must-Do Activity: Visit the archaeological site at Monte Alban 🥃 The most popular tour I promote: The Mezcal Journey 🌮 My top insider secret: Visit Jacobo y Maria's alebrije workshop, followed by lunch at Almu |
As if the fall flavors of the seven mole's weren't enough to get you drooling for almenda (almond) and cocoa, the food isn't the only reason Oaxaca should be at the top of your fall bucket list.
Boasting incredible archaeological ruins, Oaxaca becomes more temperate for travel and exploration in the fall months. You'll want to enjoy the markets, the handicrafts, the mezcal tours and everything the area offers - but if you can time it correctly, Oaxaca also puts on one heck of a Dia de Los Muertos celebration!
French Canada
🍷 Must-Do Activity: Visit Montmorency Falls and visit the wineries and cideries on Ile de Orleans 🎄 The most popular tour I promote: Christmas Magic Walking Tour of Old Quebec 🍁 My top insider secret: Go to Restaurant La Buche for a classic sugar shack experience. |
I've had the pleasure of visiting Quebec City during their festive early-Christmas season, when the Quebec City Christmas Market lights up the public town squares, snow starts to fall, and maple products sound more welcoming than ever.
Discover Quebec City during American Thanksgiving week for a preview of Christmas without the bitter chill of the later winter months and explore the history, the food, and the culture of French Canada.
South Korea
One word: Chuseok. It's the cozy Thanksgiving-adjacent holiday for South Koreans, a harvest festival full of warmth, food and family fun. Visit in September or October for the best fall leaves and align it with the chuseok holiday, which lands on a different date every year. In 2026, it's September 24 to 26, in 2027 it is September 14 to 16, and in 2028 it lands on October 2 to 4.
Visit natural landscapes like Nami Island, where you can Zipline or take a ferry onto the small island full of nature paths and eateries, or discover folk life in villages like Andong, Yongin, or Bukchon in Seoul.
Nothing beats steaming hot jiggae (stew) or classic Korean BBQ on a cool fall day. Mmm.
Anchorage, Alaska
🛥 Must-Do Activity: Take Lazy Otter Charters from Whittier out to see a glacier up close! 🐻 The most classic Anchorage tour for a taste of Alaska: Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center & Turnagain Arm Tour 🍣 My top insider secret: Go to Yamaya Seafood for an intimate Japanese omakase experience unlike anything you've had before. |
Alaskan cruises start to taper off when the first dusting of snow comes around, as early as August or September. Fall drifts in quickly and leaves just as fast, showcasing amazing fall foliage earlier than the rest of the country.
See bears, eagles, go fishing, take mountain treks, and get into the American wild. It's a wonderful trip to escape warmer spots in the late summer.
Learn about Alaskan fall style, and explore some of the interesting sites around Anchorage that you can see before winter weather makes travel more difficult.
Germany's Romantic Road
The quintessential fall road trip, fly into Frankfurt and out of Munich, or make it a round trip adventure by car. Explore castles, wine lands, beer halls and more during arguably the best time of year in Germany's southern regions.
The mountain peaks will beckon you to hike or take a gondola up to the top, the warm gluhwein and schnitzel will fill your bellies and soul with happiness, and when the late September Oktoberfest festivals start popping up, it will seem like every small village along the route is hosting their own flavor of beer-garden style fun.
Boston, Massachusetts
Growing up in Massachusetts we spent most summers at our beach house in Rhode Island. The vibes are summer beach days, clam cakes and cookouts, but come fall the area emptied out.
In fall, New England turned from summer beach grass to pines and oaks of hues in yellow and orange. There was always an entrancement of Halloween and witchy-woo-woo, and the brick streets became a postcard perfect snapshot of fall Americana. I miss that.
So, to get that vibe again, I highly recommend making your way to Boston. Fly into any number of airports nearby, rent a car, and soak it all in. Visit the harbor, the Salem Witch Museum, the Boston Commons and walk the Freedom Trail.
Head to Mystic, Connecticut for a day trip and more history and seafood. Experiencing the Colonial and whaling-day seaports in New England adds to the charm!
Asturias and Northern Spain
⛪ Must-Do Activity: Visit Covadonga and Cangas de Onis 🐐 My top insider secret: Stay at La Montaña Mágica for at least two nights. They offer free clay making, a farm to feed the animals, a pool table and games, and an onsite restaurant - all on the most magical mountain! You'll feel like you are in Switzerland. |
Fall, namely early fall like in September, is an ideal time to visit Asturias and Northern Spain. The weather is always traditionally nippy, but that's kind of its schtick, like Ireland. Cliff side breezes may blow you over, but the Celtic roots, the hearty fabadas, cachopos and other farmland foods will ground you.
Discover hikes, natural vistas, and even dinosaur tracks! Visit man's prehistoric cave paintings, enjoy coastal seafood havens nestled in to Amalfi drive-style villages, and spend afternoons enjoying the lively cider houses.
For a starting point, check out my guide on planning a Northern Spain road trip and go from there!
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