The dog days of August are upon us, and that means it’s time to start planning a fall getaway. Autumn is one of the best times to travel, especially in the United States, as peak summer crowds disperse and prices come down, along with the leaves and temperatures. Here are four types of trips to consider.
Florida Beaches
Less heat, less humidity, more value for your dollar. Check out TravelMuse’s coverage on Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Tampa/St. Petersburg, or sales at these two northwest Florida beaches: At Rosemary Beach, located between Pensacola and Panama City on Florida’s “Emerald Coast,” rates are up to 40 percent off summer rates from Aug. 15 to Nov. 21, 2009. A three-night stay is required. Call 888-855-1551 or visit www.rosemarybeach.com. The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa continues its 25th anniversary celebration with an offer of a third night free with the purchase of the previous two nights between Sept. 7 and Dec. 30, 2009. Call 800-367-1271 to make reservations and mention code “P5.”
Fall Foliage Tours
The East Coast has some of the best leaf-turning viewing to be found—read about Westchester’s fall foliage events—but don’t overlook some other spots around the country that have gorgeous scenery as well, such as Colorado. Aspen’s Sky Hotel, a Kimpton property, is offering a Gold Foliage Package with 15 percent room discounts, complimentary valet parking and a $25 gas card. Valid Sept. 12 to Oct. 31, 2009. www.theskyhotel.com
Photo: rjones0856
Oktoberfests
If you can’t make it to the real deal in Munich, Germany, plan a weekend getaway to one of the many Oktoberfests that take place across the United States each year from late September to early October. Here’s a list of the top 15 Bavarian bashes. Cincinnati has one of the biggest, but alternative places that show their love of German culture and beer range from Chicago to Tulsa to Seattle’s fest in Fremont. Packages start at $90 per person for groups of four for Breckenridge’s 15th annual Oktoberfest. The deal includes two nights of lodging, tickets to the Brewmaster's Dinner, beer vouchers and a reserved commemorative beer stein. Package offered Sept. 17 to 21, 2009. Tie it in with a fall package starting at $79 per night, where you can view the foliage from an ATV tour, on horseback or during a bike ride down Vail Pass. Visit www.gobreck.com for more information.
Halloween Events. There’s a chill in the air and the trees are bare, making the perfect setting for scary Halloween fun. From parades to spook houses to pumpkin contests, there is bound to be a celebration to meet your ghoulish needs. Read our picks in our Top Monster Mashes and Halloween Bashes article. Charleston, S.C., has no fewer than four Halloween packages on offer this fall, with various ghost, graveyard and walking tours on tap. Prices range from $119 to from $550 per night. Visit www.explorecharleston.com for more package information.
