Best destinations to visit in October

As much as we love going to the beach in the summer and exploring the wonders of snow in the winter, there is something very special about traveling during the fall. In addition to fewer tourists and lower prices, October brings harvest festivals, Halloween parties, and the best foliage of the year. (And those warm beaches are still open, if you're willing to fly on them.) Whether you want to take in spectacular fall foliage or escape to the warm Caribbean this year, these are 10 of the best places to travel in October.

Salem, Massachusetts

It's Halloween this month, so what better place to book a trip than the unofficial witch capital of the United States? Book a room at the Salem Hotel or the Merchant (both are owned by Lark Hotels, famous for transforming countless New England inns) and then head into town. Salem celebrates its connection to the occult all month long with a program of events including horror film festivals, seances and a fair with psychics who will read your future.

During the festivities, it's worth stopping by the history of the Salem Witch Trials at the Salem Witch Museum of 1692. The museum recreates the trials using real documents as the basis for its life-size sets, and hosts an exploration of witchcraft in all its forms throughout the ages.

Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is one of the best places to travel in October, as the month marks the height of spring in the southern hemisphere. That means you can plan plenty of outdoor activities, from strolling among the spring flowers at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden to touring the vineyards of Franschhoek. You can also spend the entire trip hopping between Cape Town's best beaches. Camps Bay Beach is worth a visit just for the views of Lion's Head and the Twelve Apostles, as is Windmill Beach (a 10-minute walk from Boulders Beach) for its warm waters and rocks from which you can see. it can jump.

Stay at the readers' award-winning Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel, a 15-bedroom Georgian-era terraced house situated on a residential street in Gardens (a trendy neighborhood known for its indoor restaurants, bars and shops). The luxurious street-level suites have their own large terraces and private pools, making you feel as if you were in a private home of incredible beauty.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Known as "the most photographed event in the world," the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (October 2-10) does not disappoint, offering families and travelers the opportunity to get up close to hundreds of seven-story balloons ranging from friendly animals to Darth Vader. You'll want to wake up before dawn to get a prime spot for the Mass Ascension, when all the balloons rise together to the tune of "The Star Spangled Banner."

That same night you can sleep at Hotel Chaco, an elegant and contemporary property with Native American-inspired art and architecture, located in the heart of Old Town. This ideal location and perfect October weather will allow you to explore all the museums and markets in the city center without breaking a sweat.

Loreto, Mexico

We are big fans of the Baja California Sur peninsula in Mexico, with its beautiful landscapes and luxurious resorts. While most tourists flock to Los Cabos, set your sights on the underrated city of Loreto. Located about 230 miles north of Los Cabos, the city is best known for its secluded and unspoilt setting in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Loreto Bay National Marine Park.

For stress-free planning, book a stay at Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa on the Islands of Loreto, where guests can enjoy scuba diving excursions, cultural city tours, whale watching excursions, kayaking, surfing, and ocean tours. the desert by quad. After a day of adventure, come back and relax at the 1,000-square-meter Sabila Spa or one of the resort's five pools.

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen may seem like a bit of an obvious choice (hello, mountains famous for their yellow leaves), but obvious isn't always a bad thing. The Jerome Hotel is a great place to camp, with a variety of activities for guests looking for an outdoor adventure, such as horseback riding in the Rocky Mountains, driving a Jeep through alpine landscapes, and surfing. paddle along the Colorado River. The hotel can also arrange day trips to the Maroon Bells, a pair of mountains that is one of the most photographed locations in the entire state. In fact, professionals have been known to flock to the shores of Maroon Lake long before dawn to get that stunning fall photo.

Bavarian Alps, Germany

An autumn trip to southern Germany is about much more than Oktoberfest (which has been canceled for 2021, anyway). Autumn may be the best season to visit the Bavarian Alps, when the weather is perfectly cool and the mountains transform into a technicolor dreamscape. It's also the best time for outdoor enthusiasts, as areas like Berchtesgaden and Lake Tegernsee lend themselves to epic hikes. The Disney-like Neuschwanstein Castle never disappoints photographers, as its white turrets look best against a backdrop of deep reds and oranges.

Spend at least a couple of days tucked away at Hotel Bachmair Weissach, a modern alpine property situated in the lake town of Tegernsee. With antler-adorned walls, a cloistered courtyard, checkered carpets and scalloped wooden balconies in each of its 141 rooms, it will fulfill every Bavarian romantic fantasy you can imagine.

Barbados

Barbados made headlines in 2020 when it announced its Welcome Stamp visa for digital nomads seeking sun. Valid for 12 months, the visa allows anyone earning more than a certain salary to live and work remotely temporarily. If you're not ready to commit to a year-long visit, it's still worth flying here in October. Book a beachfront villa at The Crane, one of the country's top resorts, and spend a few days exploring the Bajan rum circuit.

Although now ubiquitous throughout the Caribbean, rum was first formally distilled at the Mount Gay Rum headquarters in 1703. Head to their visitor center and you can learn more about that history, as well as sample a range of superb dark blends and white. Next, head to Bathsheba Beach on the east coast - one of the best stretches of sand in the world - where you'll find big surf-friendly waves and shallow pools sculpted by the coral reef right on the shore.

Asheville, North Carolina

Don't count out the South when it comes to fall foliage, especially the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Carolina Mountains. Make Asheville your base for exploring the highway in both directions: to the south, drive to the Pisgah National Forest, full of waterfalls and fall foliage-covered hills within sight of Looking Glass Rock, and to the north, the curved Linn Viaduct Cove hugs Grandfather Mountain, offering some of the highway's most iconic views.

Enjoy the downtown Asheville lifestyle: try African and Appalachian food at Benne on Eagle, browse women's theory and queer literature at Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe, and sip a Strawberry Milkshake IPA at Highland Brewing Company. Stay at Asheville's best boutique hotel, The Foundry Hotel, for comfortable rooms with exposed brick walls, a stylish lobby bar, and a restaurant offering a modern take on comfort food.

Santorini, Greece

More than two million people visit Santorini every year. To avoid those crowds – and see a more authentic side of the island – plan your trip during the low season, in October and November. Visit Red Beach and enjoy the legendary sunsets in Oia, of course, but then look for other lesser-known spots. Only one in 20 travelers to Santorini goes to Akrotiri, an almost perfectly preserved ancient city and archaeological site. Visit some wineries in Vlychada, or hire a guide to take you around Akrotiri.

Next, rest at Incognito Villa, located at the end of a dirt road on the beach, near Monolithos and the airport. It has its own garden and small swimming pool, and you can walk in any direction along the beach to a taverna. Even in the height of summer, it is incredibly quiet.

Hudson Valley, New York

If you want to enjoy the fall atmosphere of cider, sweaters, and pumpkin picking, look no further than the Hudson Valley. In addition to offering the best opportunity to see the leaves, October is the best time to go apple picking or try locally made cider at Angry Orchard. You can also catch a movie at the Four Brothers Drive-In Theater or celebrate Halloween with the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze on the grounds of Van Cortlandt Manor (advance reservations required). More than 7,000 pumpkins are displayed every night, including a 7-meter-high Statue of Liberty, all carved on site by a team of 1,000 volunteers.

Accommodation is located on Warren Street in the center of town: at the retro-style Rivertown Lodge, with wood-burning stoves and loaner bicycles, or at the relatively new Maker Hotel, with unique furnishings and a restaurant with locally sourced ingredients. from local farms.

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▷ Conclusion: Go out, travel and live your life to the fullest.

This year, treat yourself to a break from the ordinary and seek an adventure abroad. You'll come back refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to bore all your friends with travel stories.

Any time of year is a good time to travel. Discover the best places to travel by month:

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

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