Lacey Pfalz | (TNS) TravelPulse
As the days turn shorter and much of the world cools down, travelers start to consider where they should visit next.
This year, we recommend saving some cash and visiting a “second city,” so called because they’re generally less popular to visit than destinations like Miami or New York City (though we think they deserve just as much love).
We chose the 10 second cities on this list based on their ability to offer amazing opportunities to enjoy the short-lived fall travel season, from leaf peeping in scenic areas to the incredible cultural and artistic events they host each year.
Yakima, Washington
While Seattle might get most of the buzz in Washington state, Yakima’s a great fall destination. Just two hours from Seattle, it’s home to some amazing agriculture that provides ample opportunities for fresh food and fun experiences.
A vineyard in the lower Yakima Valley near Zillah, Washington. (Jeffclimer/Dreamstime/TNS)
Yakima is located near over 90 wineries, with six American Viticulture Areas located within 70 miles of the city. It was also recently named the #1 Best Wine Region in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards! Beer lovers can also take part in beer tastings at local craft breweries, and wine lovers and beer lovers will unite at the region’s Fresh Hop Ale Fest or Crush Harvest Celebrations.
Travelers looking for a great road trip opportunity will enjoy coasting along the White Pass and the Chinook Pass Scenic Byway, which offers scenic views of the Cascade Mountain Range. Travelers can enjoy a variety of seasonal activities too, like apple and pumpkin picking, wine tours, Tieton white water river rafting or Dia de los Muertos celebrations.
Did we mention it’s also affordable? Locally grown food, affordable lodgings and ample free or low-cost outdoor activities make it a great destination for travelers on a budget.
Beech Mountain, North Carolina
Experience the joys of autumn in Beech Mountain, North Carolina. Located around some popular mountain towns, it’s a smaller, less touristy destination offering great seasonal activities. It’s located off the scenic Blue Ridge parkway.
Nature lovers can enjoy visiting the Buckeye Lake & Recreation Center for all sorts of fun outdoor activities, like hiking, kayaking and fishing. But bird lovers will have the most to enjoy: the area is recognized by the High-Country Audubon Society as a major hot spot for birds!
Besides the Buckeye Lake area, hikers and bikers can enjoy relaxing or more challenging trails along the Blue Ridge Mountains, including the Emerald Outback trail.
A more special annual event is held each year in Beech Mountain: the Autumn at Oz festival. Across the last three weekends in September, visitors with tickets to the event will be immersed in the land of Oz come to life, with their favorite characters, unique arts and crafts, themed food and beverages, along with live performances.
St. Augustine, Florida
History lovers, unite! This fall, head away from the more popular regions of Florida to visit a true historic gem: St. Augustine.
The town is the oldest European settlement in North America, home to the Castillo de San Marcos, a Spanish fort dating back to the 1670s. Travelers heading to St. Augustine will love immersing themselves in pre-Columbian and Spanish history at the Fountain of Youth park, a living history museum that boasts being the site where Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon once searched for the famed fountain of youth, and visiting the other museums and historical sites in the town.
The town itself is home to Spanish Colonial and Victorian-style buildings, making it a charming destination for architecture lovers.
Road trippers will enjoy driving the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway, while others will head to St. Augustine for one of the town’s annual events, like its St. Augustine Founder’s Day Celebration, the St. Augustine Greek Celebration or Halloween.
Lodi, California
Lodi, California is located in the Central Valley, south of Sacramento. It’s a great alternative for the wine regions of Napa and Sonoma, and produces more grapes than either city combined. It’s home to over 85 wineries, 65 tasting rooms and holds the title of the Zinfandel Capital of the World.
The hospitable town offers plenty of other, less grapey experiences, too. Travelers can enjoy learning about olive oil production at local olive groves, hike through the scenic Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, wander through Micke Grove Park, cycle the Cosumnes River Preserve with Blossom Road Loop and much more.
Fall fests include the Lodi Grape Festival, the Lodi Comic Con, the 4th Annual San Joaquin County Tractor Fest and plenty of weekly live music, farmer’s markets and community events.
It’s also more affordable, so travelers on a budget can enjoy saving on accommodations, food and experiences. Amtrak’s San Joaquin line offers a stop in Lodi, making it convenient for local travelers or those who first visited some of the larger cities nearby.
Bangor, Maine
Located in what’s known as the Maine Highlands region, the city of Bangor is a perfect place to visit to enjoy all the autumn festivities, from the farm to the city’s events.
It’s located near two state parks, the highest peak in Maine and some gorgeous forests that turn all shades of red, yellow and orange in the fall, while the city itself features a scenic Bangor Waterfront Trail along the Penobscot River and the 680-acre Bangor City Forest.
The Columbia Street Baptist Church in downtown Bangor, Maine. (Tiago Lopes Fernandez/Dreamstime/TNS)
It’s also home to one of the spookiest authors in the world: Stephen King. Follow the route of some of the attractions made famous by the author, including his eccentric mansion as a fun spooky season experience.
During a rainy day, travelers can head to the Zillman Art Museum, which was once a 1930s department store with some beautiful exhibitions from local artists and those from around the world.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
If autumn events and festivals are your go-to experiences to enjoy the season, Oklahoma City has got you covered! This surprisingly diverse city offers a plethora of awesome autumn festivals and events, like the Oklahoma State Fair, the Red Earth Festival, Frontier City’s Fright Fest, Myriad Gardens’ Pumpkinville, Fiesta de la Américas, Oklahoma Regatta Festival and the Asian Night Market Festival, to name just a few.
Outdoor lovers and sports enthusiasts should visit the Boathouse District, where travelers can canoe, row and kayak in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site, or, a little further away from the city, animal lovers can take a hike at Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge.
A historic Route 66 bridge in Oklahoma City. (Katsrcool168/Dreamstime/TNS)
On rainy days, travelers should head inside to one or more of the city’s many museums. We especially recommend the First Americans Museum, which tells the stories of 39 First American Nations, a full-service restaurant serving Native cuisine and more.
Prescott, Arizona
Travelers should consider the less-touristy city of Prescott, Arizona, for their next autumn escape, instead of popular Sedona or Phoenix. Located north of Phoenix and west of Sedona, the brilliant natural landscape is what attracts people from across the state and beyond to visit this unique destination, which offers a stunning 277 sunny days to enjoy nature year-round.
Nature lovers will adore Prescott. It’s home to over 400 miles of hiking trails within the Prescott National Forest, the scenic Watson Lake, where travelers can kayak, the historic Whiskey Row, where travelers can wine and dine, and the sites of Tuzigoot and Montezuma’s Castle, where travelers can discover the region’s ancient human history, which extends for thousands of years.
In fact, history lovers will also find things to love in Prescott: it was named by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of its “Dozen Distinctive Destinations,” in 2006 for its commitment to preservation.
Mountain bikers, be aware: the new Bean Peaks Gravity Flow Trails, which opened last year, offer nearly 20 miles of trails made just for mountain biking, located near the White Spar Campground. It’s a first-of-its-kind in Arizona and a must-ride for any mountain biker.
This Sept. 21-22, Prescott’s Sharlot Hall Museum is hosting the Prescott Indian Art Market, featuring over 80 Native American artists and craftspeople showcasing their cultures’ art, from beading to weaving and more.
Richmond Region, Virginia
The Richmond Region in Virginia is a great place for travelers to enjoy this fall, especially if they’re heading to the region on a road trip. It’s home to excellent fall foliage and fall activities, such as the Richmond Region Beer Trail and the nation’s first Mimosa Trail, Maymont’s Garden Glow and more. October is also Virginia Wine Month, so wine lovers will find no lack of opportunities to try locally produced wines.
In Richmond, nature lovers will enjoy the only Class III and Class IV whitewater rapids located in an urban setting in the nation, thanks to the James River. Parks that are perfect for leaf peepers include Pocahontas State Park and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, which offers themed events celebrating Dia de los Muertos, Diwali and HarvestFest.
Those who enjoy the darker side of spooky season can enjoy attractions like the Poe Museum, the Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion amusement park and the opportunity to enjoy a ghost tour or Halloween cruise in Richmond.
Buffalo, New York
While New York City might be most of the buzz, Buffalo is a great destination for travelers wanting to save some money while enjoying a fall city escape.
This year, travelers can enjoy all sorts of fun fall activities, from leaf-peeping at the scenic 42-acre Richardson Olmsted campus, which today is a National Historic Site, visiting the wondrous Niagara Falls and more. Or travelers can visit the charming Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens for a lovely autumn stroll.
On days when you want to stay inside, the newly opened Buffalo AKG Museum and the Colored Musicians Club & Jazz Museum are great places to expand your mind and learn a bit more about the city.
Throughout the season, travelers can enjoy visiting local farmers markets and attending as many music events and concert series as they can. Other fun events include the Niagara Celtic Heritage Festival & Highland Games, the Great Pumpkin Farm Fall Festival and, ahead of the winter holidays, Buffalo’s European Holiday Market.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Our 10th city on this list deserves a lot of love: Grand Rapids, Michigan was rated eighth on CNN’s Inaugural List of America’s Best Towns this year, and fall is the perfect time to visit!
Home to more outdoor adventures than you can choose from, and more craft breweries than you knew existed, travelers heading there from Michigan and beyond will enjoy some awesome opportunities to enjoy fall, from apple picking to brewery tours. We recommend leaf-peepers to visit the Blandford Nature Center, Calvin College Ecosystem Preserve or the Wittenbach/Wege Agriscience & Environmental Education Center.
Yet, it’s a surprisingly artistic city, too.
Art lovers will enjoy visiting the 150-acre Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, which features large sculptures from masters like Auguste Rodin, all set within a charming botanical garden that is sure to astound in the fall. This October, travelers heading to the gardens can enjoy the special Chrysanthemums & More! Exhibit.
Additionally, this September is when the city will host the world’s largest free and public art festival: ArtPrize. Artwork from 800 global artists will be exhibited across the city, creating a living canvas for travelers and residents alike to enjoy. Block parties, live music and other fun events will be held throughout the event across the city.
As the weather turns colder, travelers should head into the Grand Rapids Art Museum and the historic Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum to learn more about the city.
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