Whether you seek to hold on to summer a little longer or fully embrace the crisp fall weather, sixteen travel bloggers offer their suggestions for unique activities you should add to your fall travel plans!
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Fort Myers Beach (FL) Sand Sculpting Championships
Contributed by Lori Sorrentino
While it’s true that locals in south Florida don’t shovel snow, or even leaves, they are known to shovel sand, and carve it into sculptures and sandcastles so creative and glamorous, even Cinderella would blush!
Southwest Florida is a popular warm winter US destination to visit in December, but visit in late November and you’re in for a real treat. Every year during Thanksgiving week, the annual American Sand Sculpting Championships are held on a 7-mile stretch of Fort Myers Beach, one of the area’s most beautiful beaches.
Not only is the sand on Fort Myers Beach soft and white, and perfect for sunbathing, the moisture content is Goldilocks when it comes to building castles in the sand — not too dry, not too wet — but just right!
What’s truly amazing is that the sculptures are so much more than castles. You’ll see everything from pop culture scenes and epic landscapes with trains tunneling through mountainside cliffs to life-size cartoon characters and towering sea dragons rising up from the beach — all carved from sand.
The attention to detail is breathtaking, and it’s fun to watch the sculptors balance multiple small tools in hand and a straw on their lips as they craft their sculptures into works of art.
The multi-day event also has live music, interesting demonstrations, and exciting competition among artists. There’s a nominal entrance fee of around $10.
Crabbing Along the Oregon Coast Contributed by Candace Steele
contributed by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett
One of the best things to do in Newport, Oregon in the fall months is to go crabbing. Crabbing is open year-round on the coast, but the best time to go crabbing is in the fall and early winter. This is when you will catch crabs with the most meat, and the crabs are usually bigger this time of year, making it easier to find crabs large enough to keep.
Newport is one of the best places to go crabbing on the coast for Dungeness crabs. There are lots of public docks and piers where you can crab, or you can go out in a boat. You’ll have a much higher chance of catching many crabs if you go out in a boat, but crabbing from the pier is still a great option.
You can either rent a small boat to go out crabbing, or you can go with a charter company. A charter company will be more expensive, but you won’t have to worry about finding a good place to go crabbing as you would if you went out on a boat by yourself.
Crabbing is a great activity, even if you are going out as a family. The rivers feeding into the ocean are beautiful, and you will have a great time enjoying the views and hoping to get lucky enough to catch dinner.
Elk in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina/Tennessee)
Encompassing 522,000 acres on the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular of all the US National Parks. The park drew over 14 million visitors last year, making it second only to the Blue Ridge Parkway among the most visited National Park Service units.
The massive wilderness is a haven for nature lovers and outdoor adventurers, and it’s easily accessible from mountain towns such as Gatlinburg TN and Cherokee NC. Even the rapidly growing city of Asheville NC, which features an incredible array of restaurants and tourist attractions (plus a regional airport that offers 60+ flights a day), is located just 37 miles from the park’s eastern entrance.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is full of monolithic mountains (16 of which are over 6,000 feet tall), waterfalls, trout streams, and the largest intact forest ecosystem in the southeastern USA. So there are countless things to do there, including visiting historical sites like Mingus Mill and iconic landmarks such as Cades Cove, Clingman’s Dome, and Newfound Gap Road. There’s also the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, the world-renowned scenic route that begins at the GSMNP entrance.
Autumn is our favorite time of year to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park because the temperatures are cooler, the crowds are smaller, and the fall colors in North Carolina begin to peak from mid- to late October.
The biggest highlight of visiting GSMNP in the Fall is an opportunity to see the last herd of wild Elk in the state of North Carolina. They can typically be found in the eastern section of the park near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee NC, as well in the Cataloochee Valley section near Maggie Valley NC.
The Elk are typically in rut in the Fall, so visitors may have a chance to see males giving their bugle-like mating call and fighting over females. It’s important to note that these massive mammals can get very aggressive during the rutting season, so please maintain a respectful distance to ensure your safety.
Other popular activities at GSMNP in Autumn include fishing, day-hiking the Appalachian Trail, and watching for wildlife such as birds, Black Bears, and White-tailed deer. You can also hike the Little Cataloochee Trail to see historic buildings of early Appalachian settlers from the 1800s and early 1900s.
There are 9 campgrounds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but the towns mentioned above also offer plenty of options for hotels and cabin rentals if “roughing it” isn’t your thing.
Jack-O-Lantern Blaze
Contributed by Anwar
Hudson Valley and Tarrytown in particular have a storied history in Halloween lore. Tarrytown is believed to be the location of Sleepy Hollow, the nightmare-inducing background for Ichabod Crane’s terrifying ride. So it comes as no surprise that Tarrytown fully commits to Halloween festivities, and one of the most popular is the annual Jack o Lantern Blaze.
This kid-friendly event leads people through fields of jack-o-lanterns carved and built into various monuments and displays. While the lit jack-o-lanterns may be inspired by the Headless Horseman’s lit jack-o-lantern head, the actual event is certainly more wonder than horror. The incredible art that is involved in hand carving all of the over 7,000 pumpkins and fashioning them into these incredible structures takes painstaking work. You’ll witness beautifully lit structures from windmills, statues, wizards, dragons and more. Each year seems to bring more and more exquisite art and structures.
The event is held annually in the village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York, and runs approximately two months from mid-September to mid-November. Tickets are available for purchase online and do sell out. The event meanders through about 1/2 mile of paths through the various pumpkin displays. Proceeds from the event support local Hudson Valley educational programs.
Zombie Walk In Sacramento
Contributed by Ossama Alnuwaiser
Sacramento probably is not the best place to celebrate Halloween, but surely during august, it is the best place to celebrate the annual zombie walk festival. It is not Halloween yet, and everyone is wearing a costume. If you ever happen to be in downtown during this time of year, you should watch out zombies are everywhere. You can see them marching in number. Do not worry they do not bite, but they will scary you to death.
Zombies get tired, too, and probably need time to rest and relax. Thus, there is the carnival of the dead at a park in downtown where they feature live music, food trucks, make up stations, zombie sports and a lot more.
My favorite activity at zombie walk is the dead verses the life team. The first team are the zombies running around trying to catch a prey. The second team is the life one carrying a toy gun and protect the unfortunate. You have to stop the zombies from reaching to the handicaps area or else they die.
It is inspired by the zombie classic movie “Night Of The Living Dead.” They also have an outdoor screening of George Romero where you can take a picture with the living dead, zombies.
Oktoberfest in Leavenworth WA
Contributed by Sarah & Nathan
Nestled in the beautiful Cascade Mountains in central Washington state is the Bavarian-style town of Leavenworth. It’s a place that transports you to Germany’s Bavaria without leaving the US. And in the fall it becomes even more surreal when they hold a traditional German Oktoberfest in town.
Leavenworth’s Oktoberfest has been a popular and fun annual event for over 20 years. No need for elaborate decorations as the setting is already laid. All that’s needed is to add more beer gardens, Oompah music, Lederhosen and Drindl dresses. In all honesty, those things are in Leavenworth year-round but in October it gets kicked up several notches.
This year (2022) there will be two Oktoberfests in the area held on the first 3 weekends in October. There will be a new event contained within the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee, about 30 minutes from Leavenworth. Plus, of course, the traditional event held throughout the town of Leavenworth. Shuttle service will be provided between the two events so you can choose to stay in Leavenworth or Wenatchee.
So start planning for this unique fall activity which will include plenty of good beer and food, lively music and entertainment, dancing late into the night and even a Kinderplatz for the kiddos.
Acadia National Park (Maine)
Contributed by David & Intan
The Acadia National Park is located on the scenic coast of Maine and it’s known for its stunning autumn colors, which you can usually see in early to mid-October. This is one of the best places to go during the fall in the USA!
There are hiking trails in Acadia for all types and ages. Some of the cliff hikes can be difficult and dangerous to navigate, but most of the Acadia trails are family-friendly and easy for beginners.
One of the best Acadia hikes to do in the fall season is the Beehive Trail, which is known for being thrilling and a bit scary, so it’s only recommended for people who are fit and comfortable with heights. You can complete the whole loop hike in 1 or 2 hours, and it’s well worth the adventure if you’re able to do it!
At the summit of Beehive mountain, the views are spectacular: you can see Sand Beach and Great Head below, plus the Acadia coastline and small islands in the distance! It’s probably one of the best autumn foliage views you can enjoy in any U.S. national park, and the hike to the top is a thrill in itself.
Harvest Festival and Fruit Loop in Hood River
Contributed by Jessica Schmit
Hood River, Oregon is one of the most picturesque places you can imagine, situated along the towering walls of the Columbia River Gorge and at the foot of the snow-capped Mount Hood, the tallest mountain in the entire state. And while there are tons of awesome things to do in Hood River, come fall, one activity reigns supreme- driving the Fruit Loop.
With some of the country’s most fertile soil, the area surrounding Hood River is home to a 35-mile scenic drive (the aforementioned, adorably named “Fruit Loop”), boasting almost 30 orchards, breweries, wineries, and fruit stands. In the autumn, most of the bucolic farms along the route will offer U-pick pumpkins, gourds, flowers, and apples, with delicious homemade apple cider and other goodies, like huckleberry jam, available for purchase. Given the surrounding mountains, these farms always look stunning, but are arguably at their most beautiful in the autumn, thanks to the colorful foliage dotting their hillsides.
If you have a hard time narrowing down which farms to stop at, consider hitting up the Harvest Festival, usually held around the second weekend of October along Hood River’s waterfront. Here, over 100 local vendors will bring their autumn produce; food, like pies and jams; and beer and cider. Throw in some live music and sweater weather, and you’ve got the perfect way to celebrate fall!
Hot Springs in Mammoth Lakes
Contributed by Allison Boyle
When the weather starts getting chilly in the fall, what better way to warm up than taking a dip in a lovely natural hot springs? You can find your fill of hot springs near the mountain town of Mammoth Lakes in the Sierra Nevadas and enjoy the changing of the seasons while keeping cozy.
Very close to town, just off Benton Crossing, you’ll find Pulkey’s Pool, where you can go au naturel in a small tub that fits just a few people and is clothing optional. For a bigger, more crowded scene, check out Wild Willy’s right nearby.
If you love the heat or the fall temperatures are particularly cold, head to the Crab Cooker, where the source water can reach up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit – though the water in the actual tub is cool enough to actually get in and enjoy. For stunning mountain views while you soak, check out Shepherd Hot Springs which features a beautiful backdrop of the Sierra Nevadas.
You can also take a little road trip out to the ghost town of Bodie and savor the soaking tubs at Travertine Hot Springs and Buckeye Hot Springs. And when you’ve soaked to your heart’s content, you’ll find so many other things to do in Mammoth Lakes that you might not be ready to leave this charming mountain town even as winter approaches!
Rougarou Fest
Contributed by Charles McCool
The state of Louisiana hosts a plethora of exciting festivals but the most unique one might be Rougarou Fest. There is nothing quite like the Rougarou Fest and the closest description is a gumbo of Mardi Gras, Halloween, and a Medieval Renaissance Faire. Rougarou Fest is one of the most fun things to do in Houma, Louisiana and the event occurs on a late October weekend each year.
The Rougarou itself is a werewolf-like creature living in the bayous and Southeast Louisiana children grow up learning to behave or “the Rougarou will get you.” Rougarou evolved from the French term for werewolf—Loup Garou.
Rougarou Fest celebrates the Louisiana Rougarou myth with a wide variety of FREE, family-friendly events—including the Krewe Ga Rou Parade (featuring the Rougarou Queen), phenomenal costume contest, Storytelling Stage (keeping the Rougarou folklore stories alive!), pumpkin lighting, live music, nutria pardoning (too fun), a recycling center (because the Rougarou only leaves the bayou when people trash it), and much more.
Rougarou Fest is totally free (except for food and souvenirs) because everything is donated by local businesses and hundreds of volunteers support the cause all year round. All proceeds from The Rougarou Fest go towards supporting the Wetlands Discovery Center in Houma, Louisiana, to promote education and awareness of the disappearing and fragile Louisiana coastline.
Mount Washington Cog Railway
Contributed by Kate McCulley
If you enjoy beautiful fall foliage, delicious cider donuts, and rewarding mountain hikes, New Hampshire is the state for you! Perhaps nowhere else in the United States does fall better.
But if you’re looking for something a bit more unusual than pumpkin patches or apple picking, go for a scenic rail journey like no other. No train ride in New Hampshire is more unusual or unique than the Mount Washington Cog Railway.
The Cog, as locals call it, ascends to the top of Mount Washington — the highest peak in the Northeastern US at 6,288 feet (1,917 meters). It’s the second steepest railway in the world, and it’s an engineering marvel with designs that have not been duplicated since. In fact, its builder, Sylvester Marsh, was basically laughed out of the NH state legislature in 1858 when he presented his idea for the railroad. Well, who’s laughing now?
The journey to the top takes about 45 minutes, and the landscape changes from thick forests to barren mountaintops. During the fall, you can take in views of the foliage painted over the landscape in every direction. Enjoy waving to hikers on the Appalachian Trail as the knowledgeable guides tell you about Mount Washington’s history.
At the summit, home to the fastest wind speeds ever recorded by humans, you can take in views from every angle, grab a cup of coffee in the visitors’ center, or send a postcard from the actual USPS post office. Keep an eye out for Nimbus, the furry gray cat who lives at the observatory, keeping the scientists company and welcoming guests to the mountain.
From there, it’s an easy ride down the mountainside. Finish your day with a hike in nearby Crawford Notch to take advantage of the beautiful fall weather.
Waterford Fair, Waterford Virginia
Contributed by Julie McCool
Step back in time to the beautiful historic town of Waterford Virginia and experience the oldest juried craft fair in Virginia. For almost 80 years, artists and entertainers have gathered for the Waterford Fair during the first weekend of October. The three-day fall festival is a showcase for artisans and crafters who work in traditional 18th and 19th-century methods.
During the fair, the streets of Waterford’s historic downtown are lined with folk artists at work in every medium. Musicians play traditional instruments like the dulcimer and fiddle while living historians share tales of the area’s history. The family-friendly fair offers plenty of kids’ activities too, including hands-on crafts and live performances geared to children. The fair also features tours of several historic homes, Colonial and Civil War encampments, food and drinks, and the chance to purchase crafts and art.
The town of Waterford was founded in 1733 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Just 45 miles west of Washington DC, the town sits at the edge of Virginia Wine Country and makes an excellent day trip from the nation’s capital. Scenic roads and farms dotted with vineyards and craft breweries surround the town, offering a pretty escape in the countryside. Nearby pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and fall foliage add to a fun day out in Northern Virginia.
Nighttime Witch Trials Walking Tour in Salem, MA
Contributed by Theresa McKinney
Taking a Witch Trials walking tour of Salem, MA is the perfect fall activity in the USA. Combining both history and local legend, a walking tour of the Witch City is spookiest after dark. Thankfully, fall is the best season for a nighttime tour, with comfortable weather and the sun setting before 7:00pm.
A nighttime tour through Salem takes you through 400 years of history, beginning with the city’s biggest source of infamy: the Salem Witch Trials. This period of Puritan paranoia took place between 1692 and 1693, and saw hundreds of people accused of witchcraft. While many of the accused made a false confession to avoid the gallows, sadly twenty individuals were ultimately executed.
While describing these events, your guide will lead you past famous sites related to the Witch Trials. Although there aren’t many surviving structures from that period, one rare exception is The Witch House, or former home to a Salem judge who presided over the trials. Rumor has it that some interrogations were even performed in his home. Additionally, the tour visits the Witch Trials Memorial, which honors the victims of this tragic period.
However, a nighttime Salem walking tour is not all about tragedy. The tour guide also mixes in a couple Hocus Pocus filming sites, like Ropes Mansion, as well as a bronze statue of Samantha from the show Bewitched, which filmed its seventh season in Salem. Additionally, the guide makes sure to tell ghost stories as you encounter various haunted locations downtown.
The Salem walking tour lasts a little over two hours and costs $32 per person.
Oktoberfest in Helen, Georgia
Contributed by Alanna
Every fall, a small Bavarian mountain town in the middle of the South throws an epic Oktoberfest celebration. The town is called Helen and it’s located in the North Georgia mountains about an hour and a half north of Atlanta.
Running for over 50 years in Helen, Oktoberfest is a classic celebration that takes place from September through October each year. You’ll want to plan ahead because this celebration is the most popular reason for visiting Helen each year and hotels can fill up.
For families, enjoy music in the square, stop inside the themed shops, especially the candy shop, and be sure to grab a fresh pretzel to share. There is also a lot to do in and around Helen including river tubing, hiking to see waterfalls, a mini golf course, and a small mountain roller coaster.
For party-goers, the weekend can get crazy. Festhalle is the main hall of the celebration with lots of beer, music, and celebration including the iconic tapping of the keg. Restaurants will have fall-themed beer on draft and you’ll often find pop-up activities like axe throwing, beer gardens, or live music and dancing.
Be sure to try authentic German cuisine at Hofer’s for morning pastries or lunchtime German sandwiches. For dinner, Bodensee has the most authentic German food with brats, wursts, and goulash. Muller’s Famous Fried Cheese Café is known for its namesake and is delicious.
The most unique and on-theme place to stay is Heidi Motel and Windmill Suites, a quirky hotel on a hill with a windmill on the property.
Savannah, GA
Contributed by Erin Clarkson
One of the best ways to learn about a city’s past is by exploring its historic cemeteries — and fall is often the ideal time to do just that! The air is crisp, the weather mild, and seasonal color is at its best.
There are three historic cemeteries in Savannah that are worth visiting during the fall season, and each one has its own unique appeal.
Colonial Park Cemetery is in the heart of the Historic District, and it’s where you’ll find headstones from Revolutionary War heroes, Yellow Fever victims, and even an original signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Since it’s no longer an active burial site, the grounds have been converted to a city park. It’s a quiet place to go for a stroll, enjoy a picnic, or relax on a bench with a good book.
On the flip side, Laurel Grove Cemetery is located on the west side of the city – far removed from the typical tourist hubbub.
It’s a segregated cemetery, with white families buried in the northern section and Black residents at rest in the southern portion.
The most solemn area in Laurel Grove South is a section simply marked with the words “Slaves Burials” etched into an old wooden sign.
A stroll through the cemetery will reveal the names of some of Savannah’s most well-known civil rights activists and religious leaders.
Bonaventure Cemetery is considered one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world, so it’s a popular destination for visitors.
Photographers enjoy visiting to take photos of centuries-old headstones set against a picturesque backdrop of massive oaks covered in Spanish moss.
A guided tour is a great way to uncover the cemetery’s secrets while enjoying the beautiful fall color.
Note: Please be respectful towards families visiting loved ones in the cemeteries to grieve.
Larches near Seattle, WA
Contributed by Adrian Saracino
Another one of the most unique fall activities in the USA is hunting for larches in the Pacific Northwest. If you’re not familiar, larches are conifer trees that turn gold every fall and drop their needles similar to deciduous trees with leaves.
These gorgeous trees are found in the colder climates of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia. The color change is due to the chemical reaction that happens as these trees save up their nutrients for the winter.
Besides their beauty, what makes larches so mysterious is that the time they change color each year is different. It typically begins in late September through October. Many people who live near them go on “larch marches” to hunt for those that are turning, then report back on popular hiking forums like WTA.org. Those interested in spotting them have to move quickly though: they only stay gold for about 2-3 weeks before the trees become bare.
Since larches grow in cold climates, they’re usually found at higher elevations. This means you often need to hike to them. There is a high congregation of larch hikes in Washington, some close to each other and conducive to a larch march.
Lake Ingalls is one of the most beautiful. This 9-mile there-and-back hike takes you to an alpine lake after weaving through a forest of larches. It’s moderately difficult with a bit of scrambling, but it’s well worth the effort. You’ll likely also see mountain goats!
Colchuck Lake is at the start of the Enchantments, probably the most coveted place in the world to see larches. However, it requires a cutthroat lottery and a multi-day backpacking trip to visit, so most people stick with the difficult 8-mile hike to Colchuck Lake that they can complete in a day. Those that get through it are met with unparalleled views of larches surrounding a blue lake reflecting mountains.
North Cascades National Park is another great spot to hunt for larches. Blue Lake is a shorter 4.4-mile, there-and-back hike located inside the park that’s rated moderate. You’ll find larches reflecting in the turquoise blue water, maybe even dusted in some snow.
Heather Maple Pass Loop is near Blue Lake, so you can tackle both in one day if you’re feeling ambitious. This 7.2-mile hike takes you along a breathtaking ridge dotted with larches and other bright fall colors.
No matter what hike you decide, make sure to check forums to ensure the larches are turning before you go. It’s best to visit on the weekdays if you can, but if not make sure to get to the trailhead early and display the appropriate parking pass if applicable. Details of required passes can be found on the hiking trail’s website.