Fall is the best time for a USA trip! Leaves change color, the weather cools, and fun things happen! This guide tells you what to do in the USA this fall 2024, even if you like nature, history, or good food!
Table of Contents
1. Leaf Peeping in New England
New England is famous for its beautiful fall leaves. Places like Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts turn into a colorful mix of reds, oranges, and yellows.
Here are some great spots to see the leaves:
- Vermont’s Route 100: This scenic road lets you see the Green Mountains and cute towns.
- Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire: Take a 34.5-mile drive through pretty mountains to see the leaves.
- Berkshires, Massachusetts: See rolling hills, fun things to do, and colorful leaves!
2. Pumpkin Picking and Corn Mazes
Fall is the best time to visit a pumpkin patch or get lost in a corn maze! It’s a fun activity for families and friends.
Here are some cool places to check out:
- Queen Anne’s Farm, Maryland: This farm has a huge pumpkin patch and a tricky corn maze!
- Cool Patch Pumpkins, California: They have the world’s biggest corn maze!
- Craven Farm, Washington: This pretty farm lets you pick pumpkins, ride on a hayride, and explore a corn maze!
3. Fall Festivals
Fall festivals are a fun way to experience local traditions, yummy food, and cool entertainment! They celebrate fall things like harvests and Halloween.
Here are some interesting festivals to check out:
- Oktoberfest, Helen, Georgia: This festival lets you experience German culture with music, food, and beer!
- Apple Harvest Festival, Biglerville, Pennsylvania: Celebrate apples with cider tastings, apple games, and live music!
- The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, New York: See a magical display of over 7,000 carved pumpkins!
4. Exploring National Parks
National Parks are a peaceful way to escape into nature and enjoy the beauty of fall with fewer crowds.
Here are some great parks to visit:
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park: See the amazing fall colors in one of America’s most popular national parks.
- Yosemite National Park: Fall brings cooler weather and beautiful colors to Yosemite’s famous landscapes.
- Rocky Mountain National Park: See the golden aspen trees and enjoy watching wildlife.
5. Wine Tasting in Napa Valley
Fall is grape harvest season in Napa Valley, making it a perfect time for wine tasting and vineyard tours.
Why it’s a must-do:
- Sample a variety of wines, including seasonal specialties.
- Enjoy vineyard tours and see the harvest in action.
Here are some highlights:
- Vineyard Tours: Many wineries offer tours that allow you to see the harvest in action and learn about the winemaking process.
- Wine Tastings: Sample a variety of wines, including seasonal specialties.
- Wine Train: Enjoy a scenic train ride through Napa Valley.
6. Halloween Fun
Halloween is a big deal in the fall, with lots of fun activities like haunted houses and parades.
Here are some ways to celebrate:
- Spooky fun in Salem, Massachusetts: This town is famous for its witch trials from history, and they hold a month-long “Haunted Happenings” festival in the fall.
- Theme park thrills at Halloween Horror Nights, Orlando: Universal Studios turns into a scary place with haunted houses and scare zones!
- Join the crowd at the Village Halloween Parade, New York City: This is a famous parade where thousands of people dress up in costumes and march through the streets. You can participate in the village Halloween Parade, so Why not Participate? and here are 50 raw Instagram Captions for New York City.
7. Apple Picking
Apple picking is a fun way to spend a fall day, and anyone can enjoy it, young or old!
Here’s why it’s great:
- Fun for everyone: Families, couples, and friends can all have a good time picking apples together.
- Fresh apples: You get to pick your own yummy apples to eat right away or use later for baking pies, cider, or other treats.
- Help local farms: By going apple picking, you support the farms that grow the apples we love.
Looking for a place to go apple picking? Here are a few ideas:
- Hudson Valley, New York: This area is famous for apple orchards. You can pick apples, taste cider made from apples, ride on hay bales behind a tractor, and enjoy other fall activities.
- Sky Top Orchard, North Carolina: This orchard has beautiful mountain views! You can pick apples, taste cider, and get yummy apple donuts that are freshly made.
- Apple Hill, California: This area has over 50 apple orchards! You can find many types of apples to pick and do other fun things like hayrides, pumpkin picking, and giant corn mazes.
8. Hiking in the Appalachians
The Appalachian Mountains offer some of the most beautiful and accessible hiking trails in the country, especially during the fall.
Why it’s a must-do:
- Breathtaking fall foliage: The Appalachian Mountains are renowned for their stunning fall colors. Hiking during this time allows you to experience the beauty of nature at its peak.
- Diverse trails for all skill levels: From easy family-friendly walks to challenging multi-day hikes, there’s a trail in the Appalachians for everyone.
- Escape into nature: Hiking is a great way to relax, de-stress, and connect with nature.
Here are some popular hiking destinations in the Appalachians to consider for your fall trip:
- Shenandoah National Park, Virginia: This park is famous for its Skyline Drive, a scenic road that offers stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina/Virginia: Known as “America’s Favorite Drive,” the Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic route that stretches for over 469 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee/North Carolina: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to some of the most popular hiking trails in the country.
9. Exploring Historic Towns
Fall is a perfect time to explore historic towns, enjoying their unique charm and seasonal events.
Here are some historic towns to consider for your fall trip:
- <strong=””>Savannah, Georgia: Known for its beautiful squares, historic architecture, and Southern hospitality, Savannah is a charming town to visit any time of year. But in the fall, the city comes alive with fall festivals, ghost tours, and haunted houses. </strong=””>
- Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia: At Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, you can travel back in time! People dressed in old-time clothes show you how they made things, cooked food, and lived their daily lives. Fall is a fun time to visit Colonial Williamsburg too, with harvest celebrations and Thanksgiving events.
- Newport, Rhode Island: Newport is a historic seaside town known for its grand mansions, beautiful harbor, and rich maritime history. In the fall, the town comes alive with fall foliage, harvest festivals, and art shows.
10. Hot Air Balloon Rides
Up, up, and away! Take a hot air balloon ride for a special way to see fall. You’ll float high in the sky like a bird and look down on all the pretty colors of the trees, hills, and little towns below.
Here are some great places to go for a hot air balloon ride in the fall:
- Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, New Mexico: This is the largest hot air balloon festival in the world, and it takes place every year in October. Imagine seeing hundreds of colorful balloons floating in the sky!
- Napa Valley, California: Combine a hot air balloon ride with wine tasting for the ultimate fall getaway in Napa Valley.
- Smoky Mountains, Tennessee: Take in the breathtaking beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from a hot air balloon. You’ll see the colorful leaves of the trees up close and get a bird’s-eye view of the mountains and valleys.
11. Camping
Fall is a great time for camping! Enjoy cooler temperatures, beautiful foliage, and fewer bugs compared to summer. You can cozy up by a campfire under a starry night sky and truly connect with nature.
Here are some great places to go camping in the fall:
- Acadia National Park, Maine: This park offers stunning coastal views and hiking trails through colorful forests.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee/North Carolina: With numerous campgrounds and backcountry sites, you can find the perfect spot to enjoy the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. The park is especially stunning in fall when the leaves change color.
- Zion National Park, Utah: Cooler weather in the fall makes it a great time to hike and explore the breathtaking red rock formations of Zion National Park.
12. Visiting a Harvest Fair
Harvest fairs celebrate the fall season with yummy local food, cool crafts, and fun activities. It’s a great way to:
- See amazing things grown nearby!
- Hear music and enjoy the fall weather.
- Ride rides and play games (fun for kids!)
- Support local businesses that make neat stuff.
Here are some famous harvest fairs to visit:
- The Big E, Massachusetts: This giant fair has animals, rides, shows, and tons of delicious treats!
- Minnesota State Fair: This fair is famous for its food competitions, music, and fun carnival rides.
- Texas State Fair: Everything is bigger in Texas, and their fair is no exception! They have rodeos, fried food you won’t believe, and cool exhibits about Texas.
13. Exploring Haunted Sites
Feeling brave this fall? Then go explore haunted places and hear creepy stories! It’s a great way to:
- Learn about local ghosts! Tours tell scary stories about ghosts that haunt these places.
- Fun with friends! Go with your friends and see who gets scared the most! Brrr!
Here are some haunted places to visit this fall:
Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia: This scary old prison is said to be haunted by ghosts! Tours are extra spooky in the fall.
Winchester Mystery House, California: This mansion is full of twists and turns because the owner was scared of ghosts! Maybe you’ll see one!
St. Augustine, Florida: This old city is known for having lots of ghosts! There are tours to see haunted places and hear spooky stories.
14. Explore Fall Foliage on Two Wheels
Fall bike rides are the best! You can see more colorful leaves than walking, and it’s a fun way to get some exercise in the cool fall weather.
Here are some great trails for fall biking:
Katy Trail, Missouri: This long, flat trail is easy to ride and has beautiful fall views.
C&O Canal Towpath, Maryland: This historic trail follows a river and has cool old places to stop and explore.
15. Paddle through fall beauty
Canoeing or kayaking on a calm fall day is a peaceful and scenic way to experience the beauty of the season. Calm water, and colorful leaves – a peaceful way to enjoy nature in fall. Here are some great places to go:
Here are some great places to go canoeing or kayaking in the fall:
Boundary Waters, Minnesota: Quiet and wild, with no roads or motors allowed.
Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada: Crystal clear water and mountains painted with fall colors.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri: See amazing fall leaves while floating down a scenic river.
Fall in the USA is amazing! Beautiful leaves, fun celebrations, and exciting adventures await. Hike stunning mountains, explore charming towns, or enjoy delicious food and wine tours. Fall is the perfect time to see the USA’s beauty and culture. Enjoy the cool weather, colorful leaves, and festive fun!