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5 spellbinding spots for your fall usa bucketlist
There’s something about fall that brings out the urge for day trips, road trips and any other type of excursion that I can fit into my schedule. Personally, I’m tempted to say that any town is magical during the fall season. However, certain towns and cities around the United States transform into something movie-level magical during that enchanted window from the middle of September through the beginning of November. That’s why I’m covering the best picks for foliage and spooky follies in my USA fall bucket list! I’ll even reveal the best city to visit if you’re worried that you’re too late for peak foliage.
Fall Under the Spell of Autumn by the Sea in Salem, Massachusetts Everybody should make the trek to New England to celebrate fall in Salem at least once in their lifetime. Tucked away in Essex County on the North Shore of Massachusetts, Salem is as charming as it is engrossing. What I like about Salem in the fall is that you’ll get your fill of pointy hats, crystal balls and haunted tours while also digging into the history behind one of the most important and fascinating seaports in America’s history. People who come to Salem to visit landmarks associated with the 1962 Salem Witch Trials end up being charmed by beautiful foliage by the sea combined with the whimsy of a small New England town. When you come in October, expect to see tons of costumed people walking around. You’ll also see plenty of historic homes, taverns, shops and inns all decked out in beautiful harvest décor with a level of enthusiasm you’ve probably never experienced before.
I don’t think you can get a feel for Salem unless you take a walking tour. There are plenty of historic tours that will take you place by place to live out scenes from the Salem Witch Trials. I’ve immensely enjoyed the House of Seven Gables, the Witch House, the Old Burying Point Cemetery, the Pickering House and Pickering Wharf for creating a well-rounded afternoon. You can see a lot in a day in Salem because most of the museum experiences are pretty brief.
Walk in the Footsteps of Washington Irving’s Headless Horseman in Sleepy Hollow, New York The only place in the United States that I can say even touches Salem’s fall energy is Sleepy Hollow, New York. Located in Westchester County, the village of Sleepy Hollow is situated less than an hour from New York City. However, the two spots are netherworlds apart! First, the foliage alone in Hudson Valley is worth the trip. However, the big draw for an autumn visit to Sleepy Hollow is an event called the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze that lives up to every expectation for what you’d expect from the place that inspired the Headless Horseman from “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Sleepy Hollow’s Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze puts on display more than 7,000 handcarved pumpkins at the mysterious Van Cortlandt Manor set on the confluence of the Hudson River and Croton River for the entire length of fall. When touring Sleep Hollow, visiting the burial site of Washington Irving at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is always a must.
Experience Fall in Wine Country in Salinas Valley While I’ll readily admit that I’m partial to New England and the Northeast for foliage viewing, this
certainly isn’t the only corridor that
dazzles. Shifting to the West Coast, fall is a fantastic time for a wine tour through California’s Salinas Valley. The shimmering fall colors make the landscape here about as beautiful as it ever gets. You can cover close to two dozen boutique, low-key wineries if you stick to the River Road Wine Trail in Monterey. Do Some Leaf Peeping in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula It took me many years to discover that I was leaving Michigan too early after enjoying summertime leisure on the Great Lakes to experience the real magic. I recommend having a four-wheel-drive car that will allow you to zip off into the wilderness of Brockway Mountain Drive near Copper Harbor for a drive that’s just under 10 miles of nothing but stunning views of fall foliage mirroring off of Lake Superior and the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Experience a Late-Fall Jaunt in Chattanooga I promised I’d tell you where to go if you’re late planning a fall getaway this year! You don’t have to worry about missing “peak” foliage if you’re behind. Chattanooga’s position at the gates of the Appalachian Mountains means that leaf colors are at their most vibrant from the final days of October through the first week in November. Generally, Halloween is considered the optimal day for leaf viewing here. Fall is a great time to sip some cider and check out the vendors at the outdoor Chattanooga River Market.
