Day Trip Ideas for Fall

Hiking

My preference is to spend the day in nature by going to the nearest mountain. Hiking from early morning until late afternoon is my favorite fall day trip idea.

If the weather cooperates, autumn can be an excellent time to go hiking because it is neither too hot nor too cold. Furthermore, the foliage in the mountains is stunning and peaceful, making it a complete experience for both the body and the mind.

Recommended by Leslie Gilmour, CEO of Outdoor Scott

Driving

Nothing beats simply getting in your car and driving through a long stretch of road or a scenic route. The destination doesn’t matter as much as the journey itself and if you aren’t following a map, GPS or even any kind of directions, you never know what kind of splendour you’ll end up seeing.

Recommended by Anthony Mixides, Managing Director at Bond Media

Enjoying Nature

Located in Northern Utah in the Wasatch Mountain range are some of the most gorgeous fall views in the state. A scenic drive to see all the fall colors is a perfect idea for a day trip from Salt Lake City. As you head up Big Cottonwood Canyon be sure to stop at Donut Falls. This 3.5-mile hike is a great way to get away and enjoy nature. Fall is a great time of year to get to the mountains. It is beautiful and the weather is amazing. After your hike head to one of the best scenic fall drives, Guardsman Pass. This pass connects Big Cottonwood Canyon and Park City. If you have time Bloods Trail is one of the best hikes in the area. After exploring the canyon all day you can stay the night in Park City

Recommended by Lisa Manderino of Planning Away

Cafe Hopping

If you are planning a trip to Korea I recommend setting aside half a day to visit Anmok Beach and Gangneung Coffee Street. The whole street is lined with Cafes right next to the beautiful Anmok Beach. Going there when the weather is cooler makes it better as you can try out different brews, pastries and even see the old vending machines that are the reason it was called Coffee street in the first place.

Recommended by Vlad Mishkin from WebScraping.Ai

Fishing

Even if the weather is chilly and more often than not you don’t want to get wet, Fall is a great time to fish. There are certain fishes that are best caught in Fall and you don’t want to miss that chance. Trout, Pike and Walleye are just the few and for the more adventurous you can even try fishing on Kayaks.

Recommended by Mark Osborne, Director of Prestige Roof Lanterns 

Stargazing

The Smithsonian has an outdoor observatory event which allows guests to use high-tech telescopes to watch the night sky, which is always spectacularly clear in the fall! I absolutely love stargazing because it gives you a view of all of the worlds outside of your own, something we will never be able to truly understand, but something we can still dream about.

On top of this, you can increase your stargazing knowledge even more by listening to the Smithsonian-recommended Observatory Podcast on your journey to the Smithsonian.

Recommended by Brett Robinson, Head of Content & Marketing for Wired Clip

Amusement Parks

This fall, Disney and Universal parks have a day trip to suit everyone’s needs, from Halloween Horror Tickets to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Universal’s Halloween Horror is the perfect fall evening trip for a family with older kids or couples looking to get into the spooky mood. Activities include scare zones, haunted houses, live entertainment, and open roller coasters to ride in the dark. It’s a great and exciting getaway for anyone, especially those with older kids who are looking for more exciting rides and experiences during their fall-themed travel days.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party starts at 4 PM, running select nights from August through October at Magic Kingdom. That’s what makes Disney the ideal day trip for fall travelers – during the day, you can experience Disney World to the fullest, in its fall theme, and then in the evening, you can have the ultimate in Halloween-themed family experiences. Your night will be jam-packed with character meet and greets, Magic Kingdom rides, fireworks, and parades. Plus, you are allowed (and encouraged) to come in costume for the Not-So-Scary party. This is sure to be a long day, but completely worth your while.

Recommended by Michael Belmont, Owner of The Park Prodigy

Shoreline Lake

Shoreline Lake not only offers a true respite from the surrounding hectic urban hi-tech environment, but also provides a variety of water- and land-based outdoor recreation options for adults and kids. The Boathouse has private and group Sailing, Windsurfing, Kayaking, SUP, and SUP Yoga classes, as well as watercraft (including pedalboat) rentals, bicycle and scooter rentals, and boat launching. 

The Bistro provides gorgeous waterfront views from both inside the restaurant, as well as its lakeside outdoor patio and surrounding picnic grounds. Besides well-regarded seasonal offerings (plus real French and Classic American pastries, made in-house), it’s a relaxing spot for enjoying a meal, a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, etc. while taking in the beautiful surroundings.

Shoreline Lake is also a good starting point for hikes and bicycle trips that connect visitors to additional wildlife areas at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, as well as to a former stagecoach stop — Mountain View’s charming, and pedestrian-friendly Downtown District. Along with walking/bicycling around the lake, the trails allow hikers and bicyclists to access the South Bay’s sloughs and salt flats — which eventually lead into the Bay Trail, and the Stevens Creek Trail towards downtown Mountain View.

Recommended by Christina Ferrari, Owner of Silicon Shores Corp.

Grande Lakes Orlando

Grande Lakes Orlando, the 500-acre luxury resort anchored byThe Ritz-Carlton Orlando and JW Marriott Orlando, is ushering in the changing of the seasons with the return of their annual autumnal festival, Fall on the Farm. Starting October 8 and continuing on weekends throughout the month, Whisper Creek Farm at Grande Lakes Orlando will transform into a picturesque autumnal haven. 

Featuring classic fall fun activities fit for families and guests of all ages such as hayrides, pumpkin picking and carving, and a maze, as well as immersive experiences unique to Grande Lakes Orlando such as falconry demonstrations, fly fishing tips, and a farmer’s market showcasing locally-sourced produce and homemade goods from local vendors and the resort’s culinary team, Fall on the Farm offers an unforgettable day relishing in the best festivities that the season has to offer.

In addition to fun fall offerings, guests and families can enjoy the spoils of the newly renovated property, including updated guest rooms and family suites, private poolside cabanas, award-winning culinary experiences, and much more.

Gaylord Hotels

This fall Gaylord Hotels in Tennessee, Texas, Colorado, Maryland and Florida come to life with the return of Goblins & Giggles programming, creating perfect day trip destinations for families of all ages. To celebrate the spooky season, the resorts and their trademark soaring atriums will transform into festive fall villages featuring beloved Halloween-themed adventures and seasonal activities through October 31, 2022, offering groups and families an endless array of themed activities, attractive packages, seasonal culinary and spa delights, pool and water park fun and more to explore.

Families and guests at all five resorts will delight at endless activity options such as scavenger hunts with favorite Halloween characters, immersive live animal encounters, cooking decorating and art studios, light and fountain shows, themed movie nights, ‘Spookeasy’ pop-up bars, and much more.

Bloomington, Indiana

In the Fall they have picnic packages, tours, and even a Halloween candy and wine tasting.

Oliver Winery is a national sweet wine player and now the 28th largest wine operation in the U.S. With its accelerated growth, the independent, Indiana-based winery was named to Shanken’s Market Watch “Impact HOT Brand List” three years in a row. Ranked among the top wineries to visit in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure and Forbes, Oliver continues to stay true to its roots producing refreshingly real, forward-thinking, approachable wines.

Recommended by Heather Costello, PR & Communications Manager of Oliver Winery

Geocaching

Geocaching is one of our favorite family activities that we do in the fall. You can download the Geocache app and go as far as your own neighborhood or take a day trip somewhere further to explore and find treasures. 

Geocaching is a fun game that is also a great way of getting exercise and fresh air. Autumn is the best season to Geocache as we love walking through the woods and on trails to see the beautiful colored foliage.

Nadia Tahir, co-creator of This Mom is On Fire

Letchworth State Park

Letchworth State Park is one of Upstate New York’s hidden treasures. This park is also known as the Grand Canyon of the East and with one visit, it is easy to see why.

For thousands of years, the Genesee River has carved its way through layers of shale and sandstone which left behind towering gorge walls and a stunning 3 tiered waterfall.

But the fall season is when Letchworth State Park truly begins to shine because the leaves become vibrant with hues of red, orange and yellow colors.

The best part about visiting Letchworth is that the park is located about 45 minutes from downtown Rochester NY and can be easily visited as a day trip.

Recommended by Mark and Kristen Morgan, Owners of where are those morgans