Planning a fall family vacation is a fun way to get outdoors and take in the changing season. Get the kids interested in active adventures and nature excursions, or escape on a less-traveled beach stay with your partner for some alone time. Either way, autumn is a fun blank canvas for outdoorsy travelers.
Check out these unique stays to help you narrow down your options.
Red Caboose Motel, Ronks, Pennsylvania
Deep in the heart of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, home to a close-knit Amish farming community, the Red Caboose Motel is a great family getaway. This historic stay welcomes guests with cozy accommodations — the train car’s caboose — in a beautiful rural town.
This motel is not as “rustic” as it sounds, as it comes with cable, full bathrooms, kitchens and some with private decks boasting country views for miles. Visit nearby attractions like Dutch Wonderland and petting zoos with the kids, or stick around the motel for fresh, farm-to-table cuisine. Rates begin at $95 per night.
The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
Have your own old-world luxury cruise stay without actually committing to the whole multiday trip. Stay aboard The Queen Mary for a touch of throwback, nautical charm with all the amenities of a luxurious hotel.
Located in Long Beach, California, the once active ocean liner is now a luxury stay with all the trappings of a high seas sailing vessel. Guests enjoy fine dining, nearby beach attractions, stunning views, Art Deco décor, WiFi and luxury services, beginning at $149 per night.
Heceta Head Lighthouse, Cape Cove, Oregon
Stay in a lighthouse for a unique experience in Cape Cove, Oregon. The Heceta Head Lighthouse and Light Keeper’s house date back to the late 1800s and is currently home to six guestrooms.
Heceta Head Ligthouse Keeper’s House. Photo: Jaahnlieb | Dreamstime.com
Accommodations include classic antique furniture, a working fireplace, private lounge areas to unwind with friends and family — all with unencumbered views of the water. Accommodations begin at $234 per night.
Jules’ Undersea Lodge, Key Largo, Florida
The world’s first underwater hotel, Jules’ Undersea Lodge
, is a unique stay to say the least. Located at the bottom of a lagoon in Key Largo Undersea Park, Jules’
is a cozy stay for couples.
Accommodations include underwater rooms with unbeatable views of marine life. Take advantage of other inclusions, like scuba diving lessons and other water-based activities. Accommodations begin at $800 for two.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedNorth America
Sep 3, 20266 Winnipeg, Canada, Destinations for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Winnipeg, Canada, with us.
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
Hotels
Sep 3, 20263 Caribbean, Latin American Marriott Hotels for Multigen Trips
Multigenerational travel continues to grow in popularity, with family travelers moving away from traditional getaways for meaningful trips with family members of all ages. The Caribbean and Latin America are growing destinations of interest for this type of travel, and three Marriott properties offer opportunities for multigen families to create lifelong memories.
Destinations
Sep 2, 2026Look Past the Traditional Classroom with Scott Dunn’s Back-to-School Itineraries
Parents looking to provide their kids with hands-on learning experiences going beyond textbooks by visiting unique destinations with family-centric approaches will find that and more with Scott Dunn's private, expert-led itineraries. These experiences provide lessons the classroom cannot.
Sponsored Content
GET TO KNOW TAP FORBIZ
Unlock flexible, refined business travel with TAP Air Portugal’s program, TAP FORBIZ. Developed for small, medium and large Companies, with options for corporate events, TAP FORBIZ offers exclusive advantages adapted to each type of business.
Destinations / North America
Sep 2, 2026Visit an Old-Fashioned County Fair in Maine
Celebrate autumn with a family trip to a traditional New England county fair. These annual celebrations of agriculture and country life are filled with sights and activities for the whole family to enjoy, from admiring prize pumpkins and meeting live animals to witnessing horse shows, listening to country music and dancing, and doing craft demonstrations. Most fairs also have carnival rides and hands-on activities for kids.
ShareThis