The best places to travel on vacation in October

Autumn is quickly approaching and with it comes the expected cold. Although October still gives us pleasant days and mild, cool weather, it is also one of the last months of the year that we have left to take advantage of the outdoors. That means now is the time to visit that national park (where the summer crowds will have thinned out), or take that trip to wine country (for harvest season). And, of course, the biggest attraction of traveling in October: the foliage. From the stunning hills of Monument Valley to the ancient wonders of Athens, here are our top ten destinations for the perfect outdoor getaway.

Tuscany, Italy

Once the peak tourist season (and sweltering temperatures) is over, Tuscany really shines in autumn. There's fantastic wine, golden foliage, better weather and, perhaps most tempting of all, truffles – between late September and December is when the coveted white truffles are found. Festivals dedicated to these expensive tubers abound, especially in the cities of San Miniato, Volterra and Palaia. But the real pleasure, of course, is searching for them yourself.

Stay at the Belmond Castello di Casole, a 10th-century estate set on a sprawling 4,200-acre property, where you can join your truffle expert Mauro Nesi and his dogs Lagotto Romagnolo on a foraging excursion. Once the delicacies are unearthed, the hotel chef will use them in a tasting menu for what will be a very extravagant way to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Monument Valley, Arizona

Everyone is familiar with Monument Valley: it's made several cameos in movies, from John Ford Westerns to Forrest Gump, and it's probably been your desktop screensaver at some point. But there's really no way to describe the magnitude of this Navajo Nation Tribal Park when seen in real life. It may be a trip to get there - a five-hour drive from Phoenix, six and a half from Las Vegas or Salt Lake City - but it's located within the Great Circle, home to the largest concentration of national parks (Grand Canyon, Zion , Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell).

The bottom line is, don't skip it on your Southwest road trip: add it to a visit to Moab or add it to your Grand Canyon itinerary. The Navajo-owned View Hotel is right inside the park, and every room has a balcony with panoramic views of those towering mountains. Be sure to get up early to watch the sun rise over the valley - an unforgettable spectacle - and stay up late to stargaze from your terrace - also unreal. Opt for a Starview room, which is further away from the lobby, for maximum stargazing.

Moab, Utah

The cinematic landscapes of this southeastern Utah town have made it a Hollywood favorite. You'll recognize scenes from Westworld at Dead Horse Point State Park, which is also where the ending of Thelma & Louise takes place , as well as the opening sequence of Mission: Impossible II . The actual events of 127 hours occurred in Canyonlands National Park, while Arches National Park appears in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade .

But Moab is not all style and no substance. Its abundance of national and state parks, diverse topographies, and incredible views provide a wealth of things to do and see. Go to the Delicate Arch of Arches in the afternoon to watch the sunset turn it deep red; Elsewhere in the park, you'll find ancient petroglyphs left by the Ute tribe, who have lived in the area since the year 1,000. Choose from Canyonlands' hundreds of miles of hiking trails.

Whitewater raft and kayak down the Colorado River. See dinosaur footprints at Bull Canyon Overlook and Copper Ridge. Go mountain biking, go quad biking, the options are endless. Make your base at the Sorrel River Ranch, a 160-acre resort that borders the Colorado River and offers panoramic views of the Moab Sandstone Mountains and Plateaus, and where the hot tub and spa will be a treat after a long adventure day

Sea Island, Georgia

Located right between Jacksonville and Savannah, this private resort is one of Georgia's prettiest and most polished barrier islands. It can only be accessed by residents of the gated community or guests of its three hotels, and although Sea Island is only five miles long, there is plenty to do.

The grande dame of the hotel is, without a doubt, the Cloister, a 1920s Mediterranean-style gem where President George HW Bush and his wife Barbara spent their honeymoon and where their son, President George W. Bush, was host of the G8 summit in 2008. Here you'll find a 65,000-square-foot spa, a stellar restaurant, three pools, and a private beach. Those who prefer golf to swimming should book a room at the Lodge, which features three golf courses and a state-of-the-art golf performance center frequented by PGA professionals. In between there are endless activities to fill the days, such as falconry, boat trips, horse riding and clay pigeon shooting.

North Adams, Massachusetts

While the Berkshires offer plenty to see, do, and experience in the summer, the region also shines just as brightly in the fall. October is peak "leaf peeping" season, and the best way to see the foliage is to rent a car to hike the 63-mile Mohawk Trail, which ends in North Adams. You can also hike to the top of Mount Greylock, which, at 1,000 meters, is the highest point in Massachusetts. Although it claims the title of "smallest city in the state," North Adams has a lot to offer. For starters, it has the largest contemporary art museum in the country - the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (better known as MASS MoCA) - and a large number of bookstores, cafes and galleries.

Book a room at The Porches Inn, a B&B just steps from the museum. Or, if you want to get back to luxury, stay further south at Lenox's Blantyre, a grand Tudor mansion-turned-hotel that's been around since 1902.

Athens, Greece

The energy of Athens in summer is undeniable, but so is the fact that it is very hot at that time of year. Therefore, October is an ideal month to visit the Greek capital. With temperatures in the low 70s, the weather is sublime and sunny, and there will be far fewer crowds at the legendary 2,470-year-old Acropolis (which can be visited during the day, while in the heat of summer you'd have to go very early). or at dusk).

Stay in the center of all the action at the majestic Hotel Grande Bretagne, which has one of the best views of the Parthenon from its rooftop. It is also within walking distance of the city's main attractions, from the restaurants and bars (Papadakis, Seychelles, the Clumsies, all unmissable) to shopping (the exclusive Kolonaki, the Monastiraki flea market) and museums (Benaki and the National Gallery).

Napa Valley, California

The month of October is the best time to visit the country's most famous wine region: it's grape harvest time, the temperature, in the mid-70s, is much more pleasant, and the leaves and vines have turned wonderfully golden. . The wineries (some of the most notable: Silver Oak, Opus One, Ovid and Robert Mondavi, which recently launched a personalized tasting experience with reserve wines from its prized To Kalon vineyard) are obviously a success, but curiously the vineyards only They represent 9% of the Napa Valley. Much of the rest is protected by the Land Trust, offering many opportunities for outdoor recreation such as hiking and mountain biking.

The Francis House in Calistoga is one of the most unique rooms in the area. Originally a 19th-century French Second Empire-style mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it has been meticulously restored and transformed into a five-key luxury inn. Or, book one of the 11 rooms at the Milliken Creek Inn in Napa, which has just been completely redesigned and has a prime position on the banks of the Napa River.

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Straddling Tennessee and North Carolina, Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States (recording 12.9 million visitors in 2019). In the shadow of its mountains, forests, hiking trails and waterfalls lies Blackberry Farm, Relais & Châteaux's much-loved resort in Walland, Tennessee, which has amassed a cult following for its focus on Southern hospitality, artisanal programming back to the roots and gastronomic brilliance.

. In 2019, owner Mary Celeste Beall opened a sister property, Blackberry Mountain, located 20 minutes away on 5,200 acres (Blackberry Farm is 4,200) and with a greater focus on outdoor activities and adventure. Do you prefer camping? Head to Under Canvas, a brand known for its luxury campsites near national parks. Located just minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains park entrance, it features amenities like daily housekeeping, a s'mores fire pit, and organic bath products.

Asheville, North Carolina

At the height of the Gilded Age, as members of the Vanderbilt dynasty were building spectacular residences in Newport, Manhattan, and upstate New York, George Washington Vanderbilt II, grandson of Commodore Cornelius, decided to build his country home in North Carolina. North after falling in love with the Asheville landscape on visits he made there with his mother. The result, of course, is the Biltmore, an opulent French Renaissance-style chateau with 250 rooms, 4 acres of land and 125,000 acres of land (today, the estate occupies a modest 8,000).

As it remains owned by George's descendants, Biltmore is the largest private residence in the United States. The house and grounds are open for tours and exhibitions, and can be rented for weddings. There are also three hotels on the estate to spend the night. Aside from its most famous attraction, Asheville has a lot to offer on its own. The city has a thriving arts and music scene and many restaurants and breweries. There's plenty of nature, too: the Blue Ridge Mountains are next door to the east, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is to the west, and the incredibly scenic Blue Ridge Parkway (a beauty in the fall), which runs from Virginia to Cherokee, Carolina North), runs through the city.

Barnard, Vermont

We don't need to state the obvious: Vermont is beautiful in the fall. Twin Farms, arguably the state's most idyllic and bucolic retreat, was the home of novelist Sinclair Lewis. He bought the 18th-century farmhouse, and its 300 acres of land, with his wife Dorothy in 1928, and she continued to live there after their divorce until the 1950s. Today, this 20-room retreat strives to maintain privacy of a home. You can start your day with a game of tennis or outdoor yoga, then take a chef-made lunch box for a bike ride to nearby Woodstock or a picnic in the woods.

In the afternoon, curl up with a book and a glass of wine by the fireplace, taking frequent breaks to enjoy the foliage around you. Next, grab a canoe on Copper Pond for a leisurely paddle. After dinner, play a game of chess in a corner by the fireplace before retiring to your room for a nice soak in the clawfoot tub before bed.

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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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