Want to find the best destinations for a fall getaway? We’ve come up with four that top the list in 2019. Take a look at these top cities to visit in the fall and discover what makes them such great spots for an autumn vacation.
1. Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
A fall getaway in the Great Smoky Mountains is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Experience the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by foot on a hike, on horseback, or on an ATV. After an invigorating trek, venture out of the woods for one of the many festivals happening in the surrounding towns during the months of September and October. Popular festivals include the Dollywood Harvest Festival, Oktoberfest at Ober, and Fall Harvest. And if you want to get your fill of scares in, visit all the haunted houses in the area, including Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, The Mysterious Mansion, and Outbreak: Dread the Undead.
2. San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio certainly doesn’t give off those traditional autumn vibes with bright fall foliage and crisp autumn air. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a prime destination spot to enjoy year-round, especially in the fall when the summer temps cool off. It’s a particularly great city to vacation in if you are traveling with kids. Start your family vacation off right with an evening at SeaWorld San Antonio Howl-O-Scream, complete with haunted houses, trick or treating, hay mazes, and a pumpkin patch. Another fun activity for the whole family is a day at Six Flags Fiesta Texas Fright Fest where the roller coasters won’t be the only thing making people scream. From September till October, the park is full of frightening stage performances and bone-chilling haunted houses. For a less spooky fall activity, take the Rio San Antonio Cruise. You won’t have to worry about ghosts and goblins jumping out from behind trees on this ride.
3. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster may truly be the granddaddy of all quaint autumn getaways in the Northeast. From local fall festivals and hot air balloon rides to Amish buggy rides, Lancaster is packed to the brim with all manner of beloved autumn activities, making it a shoo-in for top cities to visit in the fall. If you want a tour of the Amish lifestyle, book a ride with The Amish Experience to drive down dirt roads and spot cows being milked, butter being churned, and fields being plowed. After the buggy ride, switch modes of transportation by riding a hot air balloon over thousands of acres of stunning, colorful autumn foliage. If you book a hot air balloon trip with US Hot Air Balloon, you have the option of enjoying a picnic lunch in the sky during your ride! Another way to enjoy the changing colors of the leaves is to zipline through the trees at Refreshing Mountain Retreat & Adventure Center. You can also book a cabin to stay in if you prefer to be right in the heart of the forest rather than in a hotel on the outskirts of town.
4. Manchester, Vermont
If you make it to Manchester on a Thursday before the end of October, you can pick up fresh produce and local goods at the Manchester Farmers Market. It’s there you’ll find a colorful array of gorgeous beetroot, winter squash, pumpkins, chard, and other delightful seasonal vegetables. Many other local vendors will entice you with the scent of warm bread made from scratch, pastries from the nearby bakery, and yummy comfort food classics like butternut squash soup and hot apple cider. In between the mouthwatering food, browse the artist vendors and pick up a painting to bring home with you. While you shop, take in the sounds of the local and traveling musicians who create the perfect ambiance for this quaint farmers market. You can also head over to the Dorset Farmers Market, which is open year-round.
Once you’ve collected all the scrumptious baked goods and fresh vegetables you can stuff in your bag, plan an afternoon at Mad Tom Orchard to fill a bushel of delicious Vermont apples. Nothing screams “fall” quite like apple-picking, especially when you are doing it with the beautiful New England autumn foliage as your backdrop. Finally, you’ll want to squeeze in enough time to browse the book selection at Northshire Bookstore, a family-owned staple in the community of Manchester. Here you’ll find an assortment of books available for purchase as well as handcrafted jewelry, art, and other one-of-a-kind trinkets that make for excellent gifts. Stop off at Spiral Press Cafe next door to pick up a muffin and a hot cup of coffee to go with the new books you’ll be reading all evening.
Ready to make the most out of your upcoming autumn getaway to one of the top cities to visit in the fall? Buy your bus ticket from BusTickets.com today!
