Places to “Fall” Into
Fall seems to be the perfect time for a road trip. The end of the lazy days of summer and before the magical feelings of the holidays enter the picture it seems that the best time to hop in a car or on a plane are those wonderful fall months with the gorgeous weather that makes life seem as though it just quite can't any more perfect!
It either seems incredibly obvious to you or it never crossed your mind but heading to a college town with a football problem is one of the most fun things you can do in the fall. The Southeastern Conference (or SEC to most) is just about as crazy about football as you can get – football is life and so are games. Depending on where you choose to go or what you “bleed” for those die-hard fans (a reference to the school’s colors, if you attend the University of Tennessee you “bleed” orange) the games have different attire and vibes. The University of Mississippi, or Ole Miss to most, games begin with people congregating in The Grove with most people dressing up a bit – at least compared to some other schools. With fourteen schools, there is any number of options close to home or a bit further away. Just one item to note, make sure you are cheering for the home team!
It almost seems too obvious to point out but often Asheville can seem too familiar to some or too laid back for others or just something to keep in reserve when a quick getaway needs to be planned. There cannot be a better time to go to Asheville than the fall. The always gorgeous Biltmore, the estate of the Vanderbilt family, is striking all year long but set against the changes in the foliage the fall offers is almost too much to handle. Looking to go a little lower-key, the number of breweries worth visiting is astounding. French Broad River Brewery is named after the river that flows past it and the seeming epicenter of the craft beer movement as we know it today.
The Historic Bluffton South Carolina Seafood Festival is something you may not have ever heard of but are sure glad you have now. Held each fall the festival is held in the self-labeled quirky community that has it all with a well-known historic district and wonderfully delicious restaurants set along the beauty of the river. The Seafood Festival is more than just a weekend, it's a week-long event hosting an assortment of activities in addition to mouth-watering food. Featuring local seafood set in a low country cuisine, the natural hospitality in Bluffton is evident. The pinnacle of the festival is the Street Fest featuring artists from multiple states and music and entertainment of all kinds.
Forget Spring Break, heading to Key West in the fall is where it's at. A quick jaunt to Miami and a lovely drive down to the keys will be a lovely weekend. Gone are the sweltering days in the summer heat and they've been replaced with refreshing ocean breezes and wonderful water temperatures. Home to many boutique hotels the secluded pools and palm tree-lined properties are perfect in the fall try the Santa Maria Suites Hotel for a modern and chi bungalow feel. And don’t forget to head to the Southernmost Point in the United States for the classic photo op, with the weather being so pleasant a bike ride would be the icing on the cake.
Another popular Spring Break destination is also amazing during the fall, Padre Island, Texas. The 34-mile barrier island is a little bit of everything. From outdoor activities to tourist-type activities a stay on the island can be as laid back or as luxurious as you want. The average temperature in the fall usually hangs around the low-seventies to eighty or so, the perfect coastal spot for a quick weekend-long refresher. The Pearl South Padre Resort is a great oceanfront option for all travelers with multiple room options including full kitchens to make the stay as easy and comfortable as possible, especially nice if one of the activities during the trip is a successful deep sea fishing charter.
Fall foliage seems to call most people to the mountains but a visit to Chattanooga gives you the best of all worlds: the mountains, the city, and a bit of small-town warmth. With the classic Rock City and Ruby Falls in their absolute prime, even the trek to the activity is spectacular with the gorgeous winding roads that lead up the mountain. Want a bit more city? Try a stroll through the historic Chattanooga Choo hotel and its old box cars that once were rooms or take a ride on a real passenger train from the early 1900 century. With breweries and great food, there is no shortage of things to keep you occupied.
New Orleans is never a bad idea, but it’s an exceptionally good one in the fall. The perfect place to transition from summer to fall, the weather is mild with a bit of a nip and the focus is never apple cider and hayrides. A unique place to take in the season, the ample outdoor dining is at its peak and nothing beats a yummy bowl of gumbo al fresco with a bit of a chill in the air. The absolute best part of NOLA in the fall? Oyster season starts in September. Take a slurp at a legendary restaurant Luke. And quite frankly, what better place to build up to Halloween that in one of the most haunted cities in the United States?
Feeling a little like immersing yourself in full fall fare and including horses in the mix? Lexington, Kentucky will take of that. The nicest time to visit, without the cold snaps of the spring or the oppressive humidity of the summer, fall brings mild temperatures. There is also the annual Scarefest Convention, the largest horror film and paranormal gathering in the country. There is also Wicked World Scaregrounds, an indoor Haunted House, and Terror on Tates Creek a spooky outdoor event. Sometime in Lexington will leave you feeling fall for sure.
Historic Natchez, also known as the Little Easy is full of fall fun; weekend festivals, live music, and gorgeous views of the Mighty Mississippi River. There is a historic home festival, Grand Fall Pilgrimage, the Balloon Festival full of hot air balloons and fair food, and a southern rock music fest known as Longwood Afternoon Music Fest. Not just a town with country cooking, there is the Country Pit with over-fired pizzas, a classic American Magnolia Grill, and Rolling Rover Reloaded, self-proclaimed soul food with a twist or two. A weekend in Natchez may not be enough.
And finally, no list would be complete without camping in the Great Smokie Mountains. Stretching through two states, North Carolina and Tennessee, there are a blue million -if you are going to travel in the south, knowing southern sayings is key!- places to spend an hour to a full week enjoying the gorgeous colors and weather this southern end of the Appalachian Mountains gives you. The best place to start? The one you’ve not yet been to.
There seems to be a new addition to the must-go of fall destinations each year but a growing list of places to travel is a great thing! The fall never fails to be almost perfect almost anywhere!
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