Whether you’re looking to take a trip to a national park, a scenic drive, or to visit an island in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve got the perfect affordable fall getaways.
Northeast Wine Retreat: Long Island, NY
Stay: Greenporter Hotel
The Greenporter Hotel is in the heart of the North Fork's wine country, in historic Greenport, Long Island two hours from Manhattan by car. With floors of bright maple and sleek aluminum furnishings, the 30 rooms are all about cool minimalism and convey the feel of a comfortable beach house. The restaurant Cuvee Seafood & Grille highlights seasonal produce, seafood, game, and wine from vineyards and local purveyors. Sip rosé at Croteaux Vineyards in the shaded garden, visit McCall Wines, Long Island’s largest vineyard for Pinot Noir, or stroll around Paumanok Vineyards, known for its crisp, fruity Chenin Blanc. Fall rates start at $149 on weekdays and $239 on weekends.
Southwestern Wellness Getaway: Taos, NM
Stay: El Monte Sagrado
Whether guests come to immerse themselves in an ancient culture, stroll through galleries, or soak up the gorgeous New Mexican landscape, Taos offers a one-of-a-kind experience. Natural surroundings meet luxury at El Monte Sagrado. The eco-conscious resort has 84 rooms and suites with Moroccan tile work, engraved wood panels, private hot tubs, and kiva-style fireplaces. The Rejuvenation Center draws on another local resource: intuitive healers. Taos is an 'energy center,' so the spa specializes in transformative services like Life-Reading Massage and Reiki. Sure, there are also straightforward facials and manicures for skeptics. Fall rates start at $199 per night.
City Getaway: New Orleans
Stay: Hotel Modern
An entrepreneurial spirit has taken hold in this city, where businesses are thinking beyond the French Quarter. Spend some time in Bywater, where the vibrant Creole cottages and galleries showcase experimental paintings, photographs, and other works by local artists. At the Hotel Modern, you will be greeted with complimentary drinks in the lobby and escorted to your room as if you were staying at a friend’s guesthouse, avoiding a lengthy check-in process. The 135 rooms were designed with a modern eclectic aesthetic that mirrors New Orleans’ juxtaposition of Old World charm with New World diversity. Fall rates start at $109 in September and $149 in October.
Pacific Northwest Foodie Island: Lummi Island, WA
Stay: Willows Inn
Nature enthusiasts love this nine-square-mile oasis of working farms on Puget Sound, two hours north of Seattle. Built in 1910, the main building of the Willows Inn features a restaurant and five all-white rooms; alternative stays include a cabin and a yurt (a circular tent-like structure with a kitchen wood stove and bath house). Feast on spot prawns, reef-net-caught salmon, and just-picked greens prepared by the hotel's chef Blaine Wetzel, who came from Copenhagen's legendary Noma. The inn has its own farm, pastures for a flock of over 100 lambs, and staff eager to point guests in the direction of the best beaches and back roads. Fall rates start at $100/night.
Romantic Southern Drive: Blue Ridge Parkway, NC
Stay: The Black Walnut Bed and Breakfast Inn
After taking in the magnificent views of North Carolina along the Blue Ridge Parkway, check into Asheville’s Black Walnut Bed and Breakfast Inn. Listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings, the eight-bedroom inn was built in 1899 as a home for Mary S. Wolcott. Though set on nearly an acre of beautifully landscaped gardens, it is located within a half-mile walk to the galleries, shops, and restaurants of this vibrant small city. Opt for one of the six guestrooms in the main house, or bring your dog along for a stay in one of the two pet-friendly suites in the newly renovated carriage house. Fall rates start at $190 per night.
Active Western Mountain Getaway: Jackson Hole, WY
Stay: Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa
Occupying a majority of the Jackson Hole valley, Grand Teton National Park is known for massive mountains, pristine lakes and rivers, and abundant wildlife. Early fall is the perfect time to enjoy blue ribbon trout fishing, hiking, or a scenic trip down the Snake River. The mountainside rooms on floors 3-5 at the Teton Mountain Lodge overlook the mountain range, but the best view may very well be from the Solitude Spa's rooftop hot tub with 180-degree Teton vistas. The Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival returns September 5-15, 2013, with more than 50 events. Fall rates start at $215 in September and $183 in October.
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