Did you fail to get your dose of fun last summer? Are you opting to stay close to home this Thanksgiving and the long Christmas holiday? Do you have nothing to do this October and November? If, by any chance, you are stuck with the option to schedule your travel this October or November, give it a try – a fall holiday can be awesome.
With fall coming after summer and before winter, the season is referred to as the “shoulder season” when the temperatures are comfortable – not hot and neither freezing. With school, fall is not being a very popular season for travel. Thus, fall means thinner crowds, as well as great deals and big savings. If these aren’t enough reasons to consider a fall travel this October or November, think of the beautiful sceneries that the changing foliage colors create. For a number of road trippers and foliage fanatics, no other season can match the fabulous scenery of the fall.
If you are convinced it will be a lovely experience to take one last trip before Thanksgiving/Christmas, where is the perfect fall destination? Check out Momondo’s pick of the best fall destinations around the world in the blog The Best Fall Destinations of 2015. There are seven autumn destinations in the list:
- Last Sun – Tel Aviv, Israel: If you missed summer, you can catch it in Tel Aviv, a top beach city in the world. You can’t help but revel in this city’s Riviera-style seashore promenade that’s blissfully silent at this time of the year, though it “… is alive with carefree joggers, boutique shops and exceptional restaurants serving up fresh Mediterranean fare.” With the number of tourists dwindling this time of the year, you can enjoy the mild temperature and the pleasure of almost empty beaches, restaurants and hotels with a perfect temperature.
- Less Sun – Seville, Spain: “…Known as “the frying pan of Spain”, with its insular 40 degree weather, summer in Seville is nothing short of painful…” Seville is best savored after summer or by fall to “… hit the sweet spot.” With its Metropol Parasol dubbed as “The Mushroom,” a large wooden structure that was built in a dead spot that is perfect for whiling away your time walking around soaking in the local culture. The Mushroom houses shops and a market, an undulating walkway from where you can appreciate the view, a restaurant in the roof, and a podium where events and concerts are staged.
- Fall colors – Ontario, Canada: Leaf-peepers are people who travel witness the most awe-inspiring foliage transformations. To get more from the season in Ontario, Canada, head the Algonquin Provincial Park. It “… is 7,725 sq km of dense forest, winding rivers and placid lakes. Paddle along in a canoe for the best views of maple trees and red oaks showing off their fiery tones. For what Winston Churchill famously dubbed “the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world”, take on the Impressionist-like landscape of the Niagara Parkway or, if you’d rather explore on foot, hike amongst 1000-year old trees at the Bruce Peninsula National Park.”
- Harvest season – Tuscany, Italy: Here in Tuscany, fall is taken seriously being the harvest season of their most valued crop: grapes. This is annually celebrated during Festa Dell’Uva (Grape Festival) in Impruneta. “… all over the country, Sagre (harvest festivals) are being held in honor of everything from grapes to chestnuts, mushrooms, pumpkins and even polenta.” This is why the perfect time to visit Tuscany is anytime between mid-September into early October. The weather is milder while the landscape is abounding with autumn colors. If you can schedule your visit during Vendemmia (grape harvest), there is so much new fun things to experience.
- Budget – Lisbon, Portugal: “If you’re looking for a budget option, Portugal’s capital on the river front, Lisbon, is at its cheapest after the summer tourists have packed up and gone home.” You’ll love a lot of things at this time of the year – the sun, the temperature, the absence of throngs of tourists, and the low rates of hotels. The tram fare is reduced by half, if you’ll buy them early.
- Spring – Patagonia, Argentina: This destination is home to Cueva de las Manos, which literally translates to “Cave of the Hands,” a kind of cave art that dates back to 10,000 BCE. At a time when it is fall in Europe and the United States, it is spring in Patagonia. This makes it a perfect destination at a time when you want a place with a milder temperature. Some of the best things to enjoy in Patagonia include kayaking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
- First snow – Iceland: “To welcome nature’s descent into hibernation and fast-forward to snowy days, you’ll find Iceland is all space, fresh air and freedom in the months leading up to winter. Pick wild blueberries, spot seals lazing on black sand beaches, warm up in natural hot pools or help out with the annual réttir, when farmers and their families hike up the remote valleys to round up their sheep and horses before winter.” Aside from lower prices and smaller crowds, Iceland is endowed with many natural wonders you’ll enjoy, such as the season’s first Northern Lights.
Now that leaf-peeping season is here, it’s time to take advantage of it. Even when you’re not a fall foliage fanatic, there are so many reasons to enjoy the season – go on a scenic rail travel or a road trip, hit the beach, just walk/hike under the cool weather – or check out one of these destinations.
