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Summer travel seems to get the most hype, but experienced travelers know there is something special about the fall season’s weather, colors, and food! And apart from personal preference, there are plenty of logistical benefits to fall season travel.
But why should YOU plan a fall vacation? This season, generally considered to be late September to mid-December in the US, is a beautiful time to travel to some fall senior-friendly destinations.
Arguably, the main highlight is the stunning display of changing colors in nature. You get to see trees transform into vibrant shades of orange, red, and yellow, creating spectacular landscapes, especially in regions with many trees.
So what are we waiting for? Continue reading to see our top picks for the best fall senior-friendly destinations in the US to avoid the crowds!
If you’re looking to sip your morning coffee while savoring vistas of dazzling foliage and clear waters, then this is the fall senior-friendly destination for you! It’s all about the first of autumn’s daily relaxing moments in this serene vacation haven in the Adirondack Mountains.
The Village of Saranac Lake and its surroundings have attracted visitors since the 19th century with abundant outdoor activities and pure, pine-scented air.
The environment was deemed so vital that patients with tuberculosis and other lung diseases recovered on the porches of “cure cottages” around the adorable town. Mark Twain vacationed here, and he called Saranac “paradise.”
Starting in the Gilded Age, New York tycoons like the Vanderbilts fled the summer heat to stay 300 miles north of the Big Apple in rustic-luxury “camps” by the location’s many lakes. Today, here’s what you can expect from this fall senior-friendly destination:
-Book original log quarters at the Point, a former Rockefeller retreat, for roughly $2,000 a night. But other, more budget-friendly options do exist.
-In the fall, outdoor temperatures are perfect for fishing, canoeing, biking, and birding.
-Catch a play at Pendragon Theatre. Browse locally owned shops or galleries. Saranac boasts many historic buildings, including the Saranac Laboratory Museum, which tells the history of tuberculosis research in the area.
-Hike hundreds of trails, from easy strolls to the Saranac 6. When the foliage begins peaking in late September, hikers of all levels can take a one-mile leisurely hike up Coney Mountain and be rewarded with a 360-degree vista from the flat rock outcroppings.
-For those who don’t wish to venture too far out, the Barnum Brook Trail at Paul Smith’s College is wheelchair accessible. Through a network of boardwalks and bridges, you can immerse yourself in nature.
-Nearby attractions include a more prominent Lake Placid Olympic Museum. Before then, see the exhibit “80 Heirlooms From the ’80s Olympics,” with filmed highlights of the “Miracle on Ice” when the underdog US hockey team bested the Soviet Union. Check out two impossibly high ski jumps and take a run in a bobsled with wheels on an Olympic training track. Non-adrenaline seekers can opt for a bus and walking tour of Olympic sites.
Evergreens seem to blanket the misty Pacific Northwest in this fall senior-friendly destination. If you visit during this season, you’ll witness pockets of stunning foliage that ignite with colors rivaling New England’s prime leaf-peeping landscape.
The trees put on their most dazzling show against backdrops of ragged, snow-gilded mountains along the US’ most extensive national scenic area, the Columbia Gorge. This 80-mile corridor is what divides Washington and Oregon.
Here’s what you can expect from this fall senior-friendly destination:
-Once you enter the area, the Columbia River dashes under 4,000-foot cliffs and basalt spires, passing rich farmlands and vineyards along the way. And with that stunning fall light, you’ll feel like you’re driving into a dream. You get all the orchards changing color as you drive by Mount Hood and Mount Adams. It’s an inspiring view connecting you to nature and the Northwest.
-The Grand Coulee Dam, which is the nation’s largest hydropower producer, welcomes visitors all year round. But you can catch its light show, which runs until the end of September, or a free guided tour through late October.
-Since you’re already here, stop by the Gehrke Windmill Garden, where a folk artist transformed uncovered objects into whimsical kinetic sculptures.
-Head south along Banks Lake to Sun Lakes–Dry Falls State Park. Ice Age floods once raged through here, creating a cascade that’s a whopping four times the width of Niagara Falls. Nowadays, the 3-and-a-half mile-wide cataract lies empty, exposing all its incredible torrent-gouged geology.
-As the Columbia River flows into the middle of Washington, stop at Cave B Estate Winery for some wine tasting and maybe an early October grape stomp.
-Another MUST SEE place is the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, where you’ll learn about how workers helped usher in the atomic era.
-Onward to the west, Oregon’s Dalles and Hood River serve a refined farm-to-table culinary scene and world-class windsurfing if you’re feeling adventurous.
-Hiking and mountain biking trails are also plenty if you wish for a more mellow outdoor experience. Pro Tip: The 35-mile Fruit Loop drive passes farm stands, cideries, breweries, and wineries, making for a very snack-worthy circuit.
-And as the Columbia surges into the sea 100 miles west of Portland, history buffs should take advantage of the national park marking the turnaround point of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, with Sacagawea, their Lemhi Shoshone guide. Their early 1800s expedition concluded on this rainforest-cloaked coast.
Charlottesville, the colonial-era city roosted on the edge of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, attracts visitors any time of the year. But in the fall, it simply glows.
The summer heat finally decreases, the days are still warm, and you’re likely to glimpse what may be the prettiest fall colors on earth. Here’s what you can expect from this fall senior-friendly destination:
-Kick off your visit by stopping by the Thomas Jefferson–designed University of Virginia. The third president called the setting an “academic village.” On an autumn day, you’ll see students studying on the central lawn while ash, maple, and sycamore leaves swirl around them like little snow flurries.
-You’ll also want to head a couple of miles south of town to take a tour of Thomas Jefferson’s mansion, Monticello, recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage site.
-The fall in Charlottesville has its own flavor, as well. So stop by Carter Mountain Orchard, near Monticello. While there, you can pick apples. But be sure you snack on some apple cider donuts before you leave, made with allspice and nutmeg, fresh-pressed cider, and dusted with cinnamon sugar.
-Head to town, and take some time to wander through the downtown mall of shops and restaurants. You can find custom jewelry and paintings at C’Ville Arts, which features the works of 50 local artists. And remember to visit Virginia’s oldest bookstore, Old Dominion Books, which often has signed novels from local author John Grisham in stock.
-You can also enjoy fall colors of a different sort while here. Think… red, white and rosé! Visit one of the dozens of wineries on the famous Monticello Wine Trail. With they’re harvest just wrapped up around this time of year, winemakers are eager to share their latest vintages with travelers.
-To end your perfect stay at this fall senior-friendly destination, watch some free polo matches on Sunday afternoons through mid-October at King Family Vineyards.
Pro Tip: The weekends in the fall still bring in some crowds, though fewer families. So a midweek stay, no matter which fall senior-friendly destination you choose, practically ensures you’ll be able to enjoy peak color in peace and quiet!
If Taos was an unforgettable surprise for Georgia O’Keefe, Ansel Adams, and all the other artists who’ve ventured there for years, why not you?
The small village of Taos, with a population of less than 6,000, might not get the attention or crowds of places like Albuquerque or Santa Fe, but it has so much to offer, especially during the fall season.
While here you’ll get to witness expansive skies, a 1,000-year-old Pueblo, wonderful old adobe buildings, and the magnificent light that appealed to artists like photographer Adams, painter O’Keefe, and so many others in this location. Who knows… you may be inspired to pick u a paint brush yourself!
Here’s what you can expect from this fall senior-friendly destination:
-The town square in the center of Taos dates all the way back to the 1790’s, according to a plaque. It features souvenir shops, art galleries, restaurants and the old Hotel La Fonda de Taos. The adobe church that was beloved by Adams and O’Keefe is called San Francisco de Asis Mission Church and is on the other side of town. Georgia O’Keefe was especially enthralled with the back of the church, so be sure to see both sides.
-Taos Pueblo is the sole living Native American community that has been designated as both a UNESCO World Heritage site and National Historic Landmark. From Thursday to Monday, the village welcomes travelers to tour and observe the daily customs and traditions of the Red Willow people. You can glimpse the fall colors begin to peak at different parts of the state depending on elevation.
-The trees by the Taos Ski Valley area begin to peak in the middle of September, while the best time to visit the downtown area is mid-October. One of the best highlights of visiting then is seeing huge hot-air balloons spotting the skies during the Taos Mountain Balloon Rally at the end of October. It may be a bit smaller than the big one in Albuquerque, but it’s also free! You also don’t have to pay for parking, and you don’t have the same crowds.
Do you know of any other fall senior-friendly destinations you’d like to share with our readers? Or maybe you have your own preferred destinations for the fall season. Either way, be sure to share your thoughts on the matter in the comments section.
And if you liked this article, check out: 10 Breathtaking Locations That Will Make You Fall In Love With Fall
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I would love more information about the Columbia Gorge: Washington/Oregon trip. Would you email more specific information?