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Best Fall Travel in the USA!

The United States is one of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world. What better time to explore it than in the fall! Some areas of the state have nice fall leaves, cool crisp air while others say warm and sunny making the fall experiences very enjoyable. Below my fellow travel bloggers and I have outlined some of the best fall activities and travel ideas to check out around the USA. Everything from fall foliage to apple picking and so much more! Check it out below!

Disclaimer: Affiliate links are used, which means if you purchase via my link I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you! I only recommend products I use and love!

Arizona

Submitted by Brittany from Travel by Brit

Best Fall Activity in Arizona – Hiking in Sedona
During the fall season, most states experience a drastic decrease in temperatures – but not in Arizona! With sunny skies and highs in the 70s and 80s, Arizona experiences its’ best weather during the autumn months. Hiking in Sedona is the perfect way to enjoy Arizona’s beautiful fall weather.

Here are some of the best hiking trails to try during your visit to Sedona:

• West Fork Trail: West Fork Trail is a 7-mile hike just 15 minutes north of Uptown Sedona in
  Oak Creek Canyon. This hike allows you to enjoy the stunning fall foliage in Sedona as you
  walk along a peaceful stream.

• Devil’s Bridge: Devil’s Bridge is an iconic Sedona hike that ends on a red rock bridge. This 4-
  mile hike offers spectacular views of the Sedona skyline.
• Cathedral Rock: Cathedral Rock is a short hike that is just over a mile long. Though it is a
  challenging climb up, this hike offers jaw-dropping views of Sedona at the top of the peak.

No matter which hiking trail you choose during your trip to Sedona, the unbeatable weather, gorgeous red rocks, and beautiful fall foliage will make your visit worthwhile!

California

Submitted by Sara from WanderMoore

Located on the west coast, California is known for its great weather, diverse culture, and great wine!  Their great weather makes California a great place to travel this fall in the USA. Northern California’s wine regions Napa and Sonoma Valleys are the perfect places to sip a nice glass of wine. Wine lovers will enjoy bold red wines and equally as bold foliage colors of red, orange, and yellow. Make sure to spend some time San Francisco along the way too!  Stay at the Farmhouse Inn and eat at the French Laundry.

Colorado

Submitted by Kara from Destination: Live Life

Seeing the Aspens Change Colors in Colorado

Colorado as a state is well-known for the beautiful Rocky Mountains in the western part of the state. These mountains provide year-round entertainment for residents and visitors alike, it is no surprise that the best fall activity in Colorado also involves heading into the mountains! People flock in droves to see the aspen trees change colors along with the changing of the season. Just be sure you time your trip appropriately, as the best time to see this occur is mid-September to early October.

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the highest places you can see this in action with a peak elevation of over 12,000 feet. Another great option is to take the peak to peak scenic byway which will take you through the front range, Estes Park, Nederland and more. Either of these options are an easy day trip from Denver, so it won’t cause a logistical nightmare if you are basing yourself there. Staying in Colorado’s capital city will ensure you have access to incredible Airbnbs in Denver, some of the best restaurants in the state of Colorado, and so many things to do you couldn’t possibly get bored!

Michigan

Submitted by Sara from WanderMoore

The amazing state of Michigan is located in the Mid-West United States and is perfect for many fall activities! Apple Picking, Sunflower Festivals, Haunted House’s and of course fall color tours. How can you pick!?!? The weather is cool and crisp and it gives you that perfect fall feeling. So grab your fall sweater and enjoy some great fall activities in Michigan- a perfect place to visit this fall in the USA. Here are some of my personal favorites:

• Apple Picking at Robinette’s
• Attend the Sunflower Festival at Gull Meadow Farms
• Escape the Corn Maze at Lewis Farms
• M-22 Fall Foliage Tour!
• Enjoy a sunset on Lake Michigan- grab a blanket and cuddle up!
• Go Michigan Wine Tasting
• Visit The Haunt in Grand Rapids
• Find yourself the perfect Pumpkin

Minnesota

Submitted by Jordan from The Homebody Tourist

A road trip up the Minnesota North Shore is the ULTIMATE fall activity. Your epic road trip will begin in Duluth, MN and take you along the shores of Lake Superior all the way to the Canadian border. Along the way, you will see amazing views of Lake Superior, lighthouses, unique beaches, waterfalls, state parks, and cute small towns…not to mention the vibrant colors of the leaves all around you!  Some of the trip highlights include a ropes course in Silver Bay, magnificent hikes and waterfalls at Tettegouche State Park, and an Alpine coaster and Gondola in Lutsen.

Planning tips: The North Shore sees peak fall colors from the end of September to the first week in October, so be sure to plan your trip accordingly. It can also be a bit chilly along Lake Superior, so do not forget your sweater! The average temperatures in October range from 35-53 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Nevada

Submitted by Monica from This Rare Earth

In the middle of the Mojave Desert, roughly 20 minutes outside of Las Vegas, Nevada, sits a stunning public art installation made famous by the dramatic images taken by tourists.  These seven tall towers of colorful rocks named Seven Magic Mountains are an easy trip from Las Vegas.  Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone created this artwork in 2016 from locally sourced boulders and it has attracted visitors from all over the world. 

Fall is the best time to visit this art installation, due to the brutal summer temperatures in the desert.  Allow a solid hour to explore the towers, read the plaques about the artwork, and take photographs against the stunning dry desert backdrop.  These rock sculptures stand at 35 feet tall and are a welcome break from the lights of the city.  

Seven Magic Mountains can be reached from I-15 South. Take the Sloan Rd exit and turn left onto Las Vegas Boulevard. In roughly 7 miles, the artwork will appear on your left hand side. You can’t miss them!

New Hampshire

Submitted by Nichole from Nichole the Nomad

One of the best places in the world to experience fall foliage is New England. From mid-September and mid-October, New England’s billions of leaves transform into a kaleidoscope of colors. One of the best ways to view the beautiful fall foliage is driving the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire. Every year millions of people drive the 34-mile scenic byway because it is considered one of the most beautiful foliage drives in the world! 

The Kancamagus Highway weaves through the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire, offering views of foliage from overlooks, hikes, and waterfalls. The most scenic mountain overlooks are the Pemigewasset Overlook, CL Graham Wangan Overlook, and Hancock Overlook. For the adventurous, the Kancamagus Highway has many trails that lead to mountain summits, including Boulder Ledges, Mount Chocorua, and South Moat Mountain. Mountain views aren’t the way to experience foliage, though! Short walks to Albany Covered Bridge, Lower Falls, Rocky Gorge, and Sabbaday Falls offer beautiful foliage views over rivers and waterfalls. No matter what you choose to do on the Kancamagus Highway, you will experience some of the most beautiful foliage in the world!

New York

Submitted by Sarah from In Search of Sarah

Geneva, New York makes for a wonderful fall destination to visit. Located 2 hours from Buffalo, Geneva is a part of the Finger Lakes and sits at the north end of Seneca Lake and is a perfect getaway for couples.

Fall is a great time to explore the area, since the Finger Lakes are surrounded by trees turning shades of orange, yellow, and red.

Geneva is well-known for its gorgeous wineries dotted around the lake, such as Fox Run Vineyards, offering a beautiful patio to enjoy a meal from their cafe, and Billsboro Winery, which focuses on sustainability. There is also the iconic Belhurst Castle, built in the 1800s and overlooks the lake, offering an on-site winery with fine dining and accommodations. 

Fall is the best time to visit wineries, since it’s harvest season! Tours are so fun at this time of the year and there’s no better time to learn about the process of harvesting, winemaking, and tasting.If you’re looking for a tranquil place to stay, Geneva-on-the-Lake is a historic boutique hotel resort with an incredible restaurant, free boat rides around the lake, and well-manicured gardens. There are plenty of packages and rooms to choose from. 

North Carolina/Tennessee

Submitted by Rai from A Rai of Light

Traveling to the Great Smoky Mountain region during the fall season is a must. This is when the air begins to cool and the flora of the red maples, scarlet oaks, and birch trees turn from deep greens to vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow. Timing is crucial when it comes to planning this activity and the viewing of the changing seasons. Arrive too early or too late and you miss the spectacle. The change in season starts at the highest elevations around the middle of September and continues down the mountain in the weeks that follow. This is all dependent on temperatures, the length of the day, and many additional factors, making it difficult to determine a peak foliage forecast. Generally speaking, the best time to visit is between the middle of October to early November. This area is famous for its landscapes and scenic overlooks are a great way to view the changing landscape. The Great Smoky Mountains in the fall are well worth the time and effort required to visit and should be on everyone’s bucket list of things to do in USA.

Oklahoma

Submitted by Stephanie from Oklahoma Wonders

One of the most popular weekend getaways in Oklahoma in the fall is to head to a college football game. Both the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University practically worship their football programs, and both programs tend to send their teams on to important bowl games year after year. Oklahoma has won more National Championships, but both programs feature future NFL stars every year and have strong gameday traditions. Whichever team you choose to see, you’re in for a treat! You can enjoy tailgating before the game and experiencing the college towns at night. If you aren’t college-age yourself, never fear, as there are plenty of things to do in both towns for adults traveling alone as well as couples and families with kids. Make sure you buy your tickets ahead of time, as both teams are insanely popular and sell out every game every year. Since Oklahoma doesn’t have an NFL team, our college sports are simply beloved.

Pennsylvania

Submitted by JoJo from Jojo’s Cup of Mocha

Although I am originally from New York, I can gladly say that I now call Pennsylvania my home! I’ve lived here for the past 3 years and went to college out here for 4 years. Spending about 7 years, collectively speaking, so I’ve seen and been to quite a few fall festivities throughout the years. There are so many fall festivals, apple and pumpkin pickings, corn mazes, haunted houses, hayrides, and other activities that it’s hard to name the best one!

I love attending the activities listed above, but for me personally, I’d say one of the best fall activities to do in Pennsylvania is the Eastern State Penitentiary Tours. Eastern State Penitentiary, which is located in Philadelphia, was a former prison from 1829-1971 which housed criminals such as Al Capone. Today, the penitentiary offers day and night tours to showcase its history and possible paranormal activities. The penitentiary also does their “Terror Behind the Walls” attraction which, is kind of like a haunted house in that sense, where you go throughout the prison and experience all the attractions and jump scares the actors throw at you! I’ve done it in previous years, and it is amazing!

Utah

Submitted by Megan from Red Around the World

The orchards in Capitol Reef National Park in Utah are one of my favorite places to visit, particularly in fall because then you can actually pick the fruit to take with you or eat right there.  Why is this so unique, you ask?  Because they’re in a national park!  It’s one of the only national parks with something like this and you can go in and enjoy as much fruit as you want while you’re there for free and anything you take with you is just $2 per pound.

What you can pick will depend on when you’re there, but the fruit that they have includes (in order of ripeness to pick from June to October) cherries, apricots, peaches, pears, and apples.  You can always call the park ahead of time to see if the fruit is actually ripe and ready to pick.  It’s so much fun getting to stroll through the orchards with the apple pickers to pick your own right from the trees to enjoy while you stroll some more.

Wisconsin

Submitted by Paulina from Paulina on the Road

If you’re planning to experience the best fall activity this season, you must visit North Wisconsin, especially for discovering plentiful mesmerizing waterfalls. Undoubtedly, the waterfalls in North Wisconsin are among the best fall foliage activities and the most popular attractions in Wisconsin. Whether they are rumbling, speeding, or rippling over rocks, North Wisconsin’s waterfalls offer the best of venture in the glorious outdoors, presenting natural beauty, fresh air, and the excitement of exploring something exceptional off-the-beaten-path. Plus, it’s a magical gem amid a vast, beautiful wood. Moreover, making your way to the state’s most magnificent falls during the second week of October can be a day’s activity. So, be sure to carry your hiking shoes, choose a company, and take your camera to capture that classic shot of the waterfalls and falling leaves.

However, the place indeed holds so many cascades with which you will fall in love. It includes waterfalls, like- Copper Falls, Foster Falls, Gile Falls, Bond Falls, Peterson Falls, Potawatomi Falls, and many more! Each fall holds its grace, where you can further encounter several other adventurous activities. Besides appreciating the site’s charm, also hire Travel-Guides to help you reach and explore the best of Northern Wisconsin’s fall activities.  

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