By Noreen Kompanik
TravelPulse
The sizzling summer heat is finally giving way to cooler, crisper temperatures, which is why fall is one of the best times of year for a getaway escape.
Fall foliage getaways are popular with families because they offer a rare combination of stunning scenery, outdoor adventure, seasonal traditions, and quality time together. Brilliant hues create a spectacular, awe-inspiring backdrop, while the lower temperatures and humidity make it easier to comfortably spend time with nature.
From apple picking, hayrides, harvest festivals, farmers markets, cider tastings, and more, these foliage trips lend themselves to leisurely mornings, nature walks, and evenings around a fire surrounded by impressively colorful scenery.
Beech Mountain, North Carolina
At 5,506 feet, Beech Mountain is the highest town in Eastern America and one of the first to receive fall calls in the Southeast. With foliage in full force, one of the most popular scenic fall drives is the famed Blue Ridge Parkway.
Crisp mountain air invites visitors to hike, bike, and breathe in the season. Beyond the trails, Beech is a getaway to classic fall fun that includes Banner Elk’s quirky, charming Wooly Worm Festival. Family fun extends to Mountaineer Adventure Tower with a thrilling 25-foot slide and Fireman’s Park Playground, located next to a real fire station.
North Lake Tahoe, Reno, Nevada
Visitors can chase autumn colors from the Truckee River to North Lake Tahoe, offering a distinctive Western take on leaf peeping. Golden aspens frame stunning alpine lakes, mountain peaks, and the winding Truckee River. From late September through October, families can stroll the Reno Riverwalk, explore Rancho San Rafael Park, or venture to nearby North Lake Tahoe to kayak calm, crystal-clear waters and hike Monkey Rock for sweeping lake and foliage views.
Table Rock, Missouri
Surrounded by the beauty of the Ozark Mountains and known for its clear blue waters and 800 miles of shoreline, Table Rock offers families numerous ways to see fall colors, from boating and hiking to theme parks and nature areas.
Table Rock State Park sports wooded trails along the lake for hiking and biking, while a short drive away leads to more hiking, biking, and wildlife tours through 10,000 acres of Ozark landscape at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park. Silver Dollar City combines rides, crafts, and seasonal entertainment and even has its own Harvest Festival that families can enjoy.
Sonoma County, California
For families seeking a fall foliage getaway beyond traditional Northeast leaf-peeping destinations, Sonoma County offers a colorful California alternative filled with vineyard landscapes, farm experiences, outdoor recreation, and mild autumn weather.
From September through mid-November, Sonoma County’s vineyard-covered hills shift from verdant green to brilliant shades of gold, amber, crimson, rust, and burgundy. Families will love the scenic drives through the valleys of Sonoma, where fall color stretches across rolling vineyards and country backroads. Hands-on family experiences also include pumpkin patches, corn mazes, apple orchards, farm stays, harvest festivals, and outdoor adventures.
Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Dollywood sits on 165 acres located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is totally into celebrating seasonal festivities throughout the year with distinctive décor, entertainment, and food. This fall, the theme park’s Harvest Festival runs from Sept. 14 through Oct. 31. Festival goers can not only honor Dolly Parton’s unforgettable legacy but also experience a new nighttime event, Harvey’s Boo Bash, featuring more than 12,000 glowing grounds, activities, and attractions.
Haywood County, North Carolina
With five mountain towns situated among the Blue Ridge Mountains, this Western North Carolina destination turns into a sea of reds, oranges, and yellows every autumn. Ways to enjoy the stunning fall foliage include staying at a creekside accommodation, visiting a brewery, or taking in a scenic overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway, offering 360-degree mountain views.
Some of the most popular festivals include the Apple Harvest Festival in Waynesville and the Maggie Valley Fall Art and Craft Show. A stop at Barber Orchards Fruit Stand for apple cider donuts and warm (or frozen) cider is a must. Haywood County also has access to one of the more remote sections of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cataloochee Valley. Visitors can explore historic structures and spot wildlife such as black bears, salamanders, and the majestic Cataloochee Valley elk herd. Autumn is elk mating season, providing the best chance to hear the bull elk “bugling.”
Burlington, Vermont
Boasting some of the country’s most stunning autumn colors, Burlington, Vermont’s leaf-peeping typically peaks in mid- to late-October. The region has everything families love about autumn, including crisp air, easy outdoor adventures, and breathtaking colors.
Scenic drives along the Green Mountains Byway offer iconic vistas. Classic hikes provide breathtaking panoramas and mountains painted in the hues of autumn and bike paths connecting to trails and colorful Lake Champlain, a favorite cruise spot on Spirit of Ethan Allen that departs from the Burlington waterfront with daily and sunset cruises.
Shelburne Orchard is a popular fall staple for apple picking and fresh cider.
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Just a short drive from Washington, West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle revives visitors with a relaxed atmosphere full of history, scenery, and small-town charm, as well as with ways to escape the big city to soak in healing waters, shop at eclectic storefronts, and wander through national historic parks. The best time for viewing fall foliage is generally from mid-October until the first week of November, allowing for vibrant autumn colors at their peak. The 47th Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival celebrates the region’s apple industry every third weekend in October.
Alpine Helen in White County, Georgia
Festival lovers and those who cherish quiet mountain getaways head to Alpine Helen in White County, Georgia, especially during the fall season. Some choose roads less traveled for fall colors, waterfalls, wineries, cool mountain air, art, and agricultural activities.
Others flock to the charming and celebratory Bavarian-themed town of Helen, where Oktoberfest is the longest-running festival of its kind in the United States, held this year from Sept. 10 to Nov. 1, with weeks of fun, dancing, German entertainers in dirndls, authentic German food, beer, and wine.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
Each fall, the Natchez Trace Parkway transforms into one of the South’s most scenic foliage drives, and Ridgeland, Mississippi, is an ideal base for families exploring autumn—without the crowds. Stretching 444 miles, the Parkway comes alive from early to mid-November with brilliant hues.
In Ridgeland, the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail is perfect for cyclists, walkers, or simply enjoying the changing leaves. The Cypress Swamp boardwalk leads families through a unique wetland landscape where colorful flora reflects across still water, and the Reservoir Overlook offers sweeping views of the Barnett Reservoir framed by vibrant colors and glowing sunset skies.
Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania
Families can build an autumn getaway to the scenic 68-mile Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway with a choice of fun attractions and events. From Oct. 9 to Oct. 11, Ligionier Days feature battle reenactments, cannon firings, a parade, and more. Families can awe over Ohiopyle Falls in the state park, bike the Great Allegheny Passage, and explore a small river town. Frank Lloyd Wright’s UNESCO Heritage Site, Falling Water, is striking against the autumn foliage, and Seven Springs Autumnfest brings three weekends of family entertainment, artisans, seasonal food, and fun chairlift rides.
Clarksville, Tennessee
Just 45 minutes northwest of Nashville, Tennessee, along the Cumberland River at the Tennessee–Kentucky line, Clarksville offers a myriad of experiences for a fall family trip. Trails are easily accessible for hiking, walking, cycling, and climbing. Blueway offers drop-in points for kayak and canoe adventures. Historic sites such as the Historic Collinsville Pioneer Settlement feature period-furnished outbuildings across 44 acres of rural Tennessee land, and Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center sit atop a 200-foot bluff overlooking the confluence of the Cumberland and Red Rivers.
Several indoor entertainment complexes, such as the Sky Zone Trampoline Park or The City Forum with go-karts, putt-putt golf, bowling, laser tag, and a roller coaster all under one roof, are a great option in case of inclement weather.
Breckenridge, Colorado
Breckenridge is especially appealing as a fall destination, as it combines spectacular mountain scenery, outdoor adventures, a charming, easily walkable Victorian historic town, and activities that work for all ages.
September and early October transform the surrounding Rocky Mountains into a sea of golden aspen leaves that “quake” with the gentle autumn breeze. Scenic drives, hikes, and gondola rides become memorable family experiences without having to be an avid hiker. Big and little kids can delight in the excitement of a gondola ride with sweeping views of Breckenridge and the Tenmile Ridge. Families can also enjoy horseback rides, mountain biking, fishing, and other outdoor activities, along with festive harvest-season events.
Copyright 2026 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
