I love the fall. I love everything about it. The weather, fall fashion, fall colors and great prices. If you live or have lived in a place that experiences four seasons, you know what I mean.
What’s so great about fall travel?
- Shoulder season” Shoulder season is that season of travel between low season and peak season. This usually occurs during the Spring and Fall. For the Fall, should season typically starts after Labor Day and goes until the end of November. Prices are good, especially right after the holiday. The weather is usually mild and the crowds are gone. Some of my most memorable trips were during shoulder season and I think the season had everything to do with it.
- The colors of Fall: Fall Foliage is probably one of the most recognizable conditions of the Fall season. Leaf Peepers, are they or should I say we are called, revel in the vibrant colors of nature. Depending on where you are the colors can be red, orange, gold, yellow and green. The season for fall foliage starts in September and goes until November. The north starts earlier and the season finishes in the south. www.foliagenetwork.com is a great site to see where the leaves are. I remember driving Sky Line Drive in Virgina in the convertible with the top down. When it got a little chilly, we’d turn the heat on but keep the top down.
- The Harvest: I’m a foodie, so this is an obvious attraction. From wine to food, we begin to shift our the abundance of our summer fare of produce to our fall bounty. Our taste buds become more hearty and rooted. Apples, pears, pumpkin, potatoes, zucchini, squash. We switch from lemonade to cider and vodka to rum or brandy, light crisp whites wines to reds of many varieties. This is a time to celebrate and gather.
- And, Festivals: A lot of the festivals center around food and depend on the region. For some reason, festivals during this time seem more subdued and sophisticated. Could be my imagination but the summer festivals seem wild and with reckless abandon, while fall festivals are well, as I said before more subdued and sophisticated. Wine tastings, hay rides, picking fruit in orchards, drinking hot apple cider, seafood. You see what I mean?
- Places I love in the fall:
- Italy: I visited Italy in November a couple of years ago and absolutely loved it. It was actually my second time going to Italy. The first time was in the Spring in May. The weather was similar but there was something about the fall that I just loved. Tuscany, Rome and Venice. They were all wonderful. Venice can be a bit smelly in the summer because of the heat and water so the air is much fresher during this time. Tuscany is alive with color. Places like, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, Sienna and of course Florence. I think it’s the crisp Fall air that I love.
- Hawaii: Especially Maui. November is the beginning of Whale season. The humpback whales come to Hawaii in search of warmer waters to mate and give birth.
- Anywhere is the Northeast or Southeast in the US. From Massachusetts to Georgia. From lobsters to pecans, from the ahh in Bahhston (Boston) to the aw in tawkin (talking), I just love the regional gems of the US and all they have to offer.
- You can’t talk about the Fall in the US without mentioning Thanksgiving! the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Turkey, Family, food and fun.
Ja’Vonne