Fall is a less common time of year for travel since kids are back in school, but this makes it an ideal time for fewer crowds and bargain pricing. As the days get shorter and cooler, take this to your advantage with your travel plans. Enjoy the scenic foliage changes and celebrate the harvest season. 

Perfect Your Fall Travel Plans

With some planning, it’s easy to make your fall group trip memorable in a way that sets it apart from those that take place in the other seasons. If you’re considering a fall group trip, here are some ideas for activities and places to enjoy them. 

Sip Wine on the West Coast

Autumn is a beautiful time to visit California’s wine country because of all the changing foliage colors. The weather is cooler, making it more enjoyable to sit outside and enjoy the views, walk the vineyards, or even bike the vineyards. There are also Napa Valley train tours and Sonoma Valley trolley tours that can be reserved for groups to vineyard hop and enjoy the scenery. 

Go Off-Roading in the Desert

During the summer months, Moab’s temperatures frequently exceed 100 degrees, in the fall they are in the 70s and perfect for outdoor activities. Moab is a small desert town with two nearby national parks: Arches and Canyonlands. There are tons of tour options for groups of all sizes for things like white water rafting through the canyons or off-roading the famous Hells Revenge trail.  

Peep Yellow Leaves in the Mountains

Leaf peeping isn’t exclusive to the Northeast. Colorado is a great place for fall foliage because of its abundance of aspen trees, which change from green to yellow, then orange and red. There are many options for towns to visit and group activities to match. Towns including Jefferson, Breckenridge, Allenspark, and Boulder all offer cabins and homes for groups to stay in and are located close to popular leaf-peeping sites such as Kenosha Pass and Sandbeach Lake. Get rustic by glamping or stay in luxury ski resorts during the off-peak season. There are bike rentals, scenic drives, hiking trips, hot springs, and so many sites to visit. It can be difficult to choose where to stay in Colorado, but we recommend that you find a site your group would like to visit, such as the iconic Maroon Bells, and then select your lodging from there. 

Enjoy Fall Festivals and Events 

In Oregon, there is the Pumpkin Regatta. In New York’s Hudson Valley, there is the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. Idaho has a unique tradition with the Trailing of the Sheep Festival and in Maine, there is the Harvest on the Harbor Festival. You can even get a taste of international celebrations here at home at Leavenworth, Washington’s Oktoberfest Markt. In every region, you can find unique fall festivals celebrating the harvest season and enjoying local flavors.

Get Spooky on a Ghost Tour

Fall marks the start of the Halloween season. Take advantage of the season’s spooky vibes and visit a ghost town such as Savannah, Georgia which has a history of paranormal activity. The town of Salem, Massachusetts, is known for witchcraft and for being haunted thanks to its history from the early settler times where women were accused as witches and often burned. New Orleans, Louisiana, is known for voodoo and is an excellent place for tarot readings. Take your group on a haunted experience and celebrate the spooky.

Beach Bathe Without the Crowds

Miami, Florida, averages a daytime temperature of 80 degrees in September and October, making it a perfect beach getaway. The great thing about visiting in the fall is that you can walk into restaurants without reservations and deal with less crowded beaches. Miami has a great art scene, nightlife, and shopping. Groups can enjoy activities like deep-sea fishing and boat tours. 

Fall has it all, there’s an autumnal activity perfect for everyone. No matter what places and activities you choose for your fall group trip, GroupTools is here to help make your planning process safe and stress-free. Visit GroupTools to learn more or jump right into your planning today.