Fall Foliage Destinations Beyond New England

There’s no denying New England’s lush fall landscape is one of its most timeless and dramatic selling points for the region. That said, that naturally occurring fireworks display spreads to other parts of the United States after the first performances along the eastern Seaboard draw to a close.

Situated in coastal South Carolina along the May River, Montage Palmetto Bluff juxtaposes a stunning Southern fall landscape with an extensive nature preserve, walking trails, a vibrant village, a marina, restaurants and a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. A new s’mores cart adds a cozy touch with its variety of fun marshmallow flavors perfect for roasting around the River House fire pits or other locations onsite on cool fall nights.

Hot Air Balloon Festival in Park City. Photo: Johnny Adolphson | Dreamstime

Montage Deer Valley may be a Park City, Utah, hot spot during ski season and the Sundance Film Festival, but during the sun-drenched fall season, guests can experience a more-relaxed stay with seasonal activities, including hot-air ballooning over Park City, or a Montage Expedition to a regional destination such as Moab, Bryce Canyon or Zion. In addition, the property recently enhanced the dining experience at the resort’s signature restaurant, Apex, and created a fresh take on its dinner concept with earthy fall ingredients.

The same holds true for the Madeline Hotel and Residences in Telluride, Colo., near Mountain Village and San Sophia Mountain Range. More adventurous visitors can take things to new heights with Glide Telluride, where they will see every peak, valley, meadow and lake come alive in this thrilling journey above the clouds with a local pilot beside them and dramatic views below during a half-hour or full-hour ride in an Ask-21 glider. Back on property, nature lovers can take in the landscape with easily accessible scenic trails and hikes, mountain biking and organized jeep tours to Ouray and the Million Dollar Highway.

Snake River Sporting Club, on 800 acres of land near Jackson Hole, Wyo., recently began offering luxury overnight lodging to the public, including its Discovery Village. The intimate collection of four designer-furnished, one-bedroom “tiny homes” includes a fire pit and patio surrounding a communal open space. The units are outfitted in Restoration Hardware furnishings, complete with a vintage Scrabble board for guests to enjoy. The resort also has a two-bed and bath Sporting Cabin lodging that serves as a family’s private base camp just outside a primordial forest. Families in both lodgings gain access to Western activities, from skeet to archery, golf, horseback riding, fly-fishing and dinners with beef raised on property.

At the historic (and dog-friendly) La Fonda Santa Fe on the Plaza in Santa Fe, N.M., parents can treat themselves to spa treatments against a backdrop of northern New Mexico’s vibrant landscape. Activities nearby include classes at the Santa Fe School of Cooking, the Harrell House of Natural Oddities and Bug Museum and the Santa Fe Skate School, as well as numerous hiking, horseback riding and biking trails and fascinating art institutions including the Georgia O’Keefe Museum.

Photo: Josemaria Toscano | Dreamstime

The Duniway, Portland’s newest urban lifestyle hotel, is a great place to take in a Pacific Northwest autumn. The intimate setting makes the most of fantastic views of fall foliage steps from the entrance. It is also an easy drive to some of the most unique fall events in the Northwest, including the Corn Maize on Sauvie Island, haunted Portland tours, The Spirit of Halloweentown in St. Helens, the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta and costume shopping in some of the nation’s most eclectic vintage shops.

While the annual grape harvest draws travelers to the Napa Valley, it is also one of the best places to witness a Northern California fall. The Vintage House, finishing a transformative multimillion-dollar renovation at press time, offers a home-like setting to enjoy the stunning foliage seen among colorful grapevines and huge leaves. Starting in mid- to late-October, the grape harvest crush winds down as the trees burst into a palette of colors. Nearby towns are rich with local boutiques and restaurants, inviting travelers of all ages to enjoy the season’s best produce and mild temperatures.