旅Travel: The Top 14 Best Destinations for Fall 2009

The days are getting shorter, the air’s getting a little crisper, and the leaves are thinking about getting a new wardrobe. And with airfares and hotel rates dipping along with the temperatures, autumn is the perfect time for a vacation. Here are our picks for where to travel this fall.

New York City: “Autumn in New York” isn’t just a popular jazz tune; it’s also our top recommendation for travel this season. The Big Apple is never lovelier than in fall: The temperatures have descended from summer’s oppressive heat; a new theater season begins on Broadway (almost 20 shows are scheduled to open between late September and early December); and fall foliage is abundant in Central Park

Maine: No place is more strongly associated with fall colors than New England, and the state of Maine — less densely populated and more tree-filled than its neighbors — might be the best of all. You can even catch a glimpse of a moose or other wildlife as you drive along a winding country road, or hunt for antiques in Ogunquit or any of the numerous quaint towns along the coast.

Maui: There’s never a bad time to visit Maui, where airfares are down 13 percent this fall; it’s just that the island is at its most fun in autumn. Maui’s culture comes alive throughout September and October at the Festivals of Aloha. And in November, sports fans will want to check out the Maui Invitational, the premier preseason event in men’s college basketball. Besides, if the fall chill has you longing to laze on the beach, Maui’s your place.

Napa and Sonoma valleys: Fall is harvest time in wine country. Vineyards across the region are bringing in the grapes, and many of them have special activities for tourists and oenophiles. You’re likely to find grape stompings, wine-education events, dinners and tastings, and maybe even the chance to pick a grape or two yourself. Make San Francisco, just south of Napa and Sonoma, your home base for your wine-harvest tour.

Munich: Speaking of libations, if autumn is approaching, then Oktoberfest can’t be far away. Almost 200 years after holding the original Oktoberfest, Munich lets loose for 16 days every fall with music, dance halls, carnival rides, Bavarian-food feasts and around 2 million gallons of beer. This year’s event runs from Sept. 19 through Oct. 4, but Munich is just as fun after Oktoberfest — and it’s considerably less crowded, too.

Seattle: It’s true that Seattle gets rainier in the fall, but it’s still an enchanting city to visit in autumn; be sure to leaf-peep in the Washington Park Arboretum. If it does rain, Seattle’s renowned arts scene has plenty to keep you occupied, with fall openings in theater, opera and fine art.

Great Smoky Mountains: The mountains and the national park named after them present a cornucopia of autumnal glory. The fall color marches down the mountains as the season progresses, and several scenic roads and trails show off the colorful red maples, scarlet oaks, sweetgums and hickories to advantage.

Orlando: Fall is the perfect time to visit Orlando. For one thing, there are fewer tourists to compete with at such attractions as Walt Disney World, the Universal Studios resort and SeaWorld. On top of that, autumn in Florida feels like summer in much of the rest of the country, making this a great destination for extending warm-weather fun.

 

Rome: Fall is gloriously pleasant in the Eternal City. Locals have a love affair with what they call ottobrate romane, which roughly translates to “Rome’s beautiful October days.” With airfares to Rome down 14 percent this fall, this season is a great opportunity to experience those ottobrate yourself. Fall in Rome is also a gourmet’s delight: Besides the wine and olive harvests, fresh truffles take center stage at food festivals and in a wealth of special mushroom-centered restaurant dishes.

 

St. Louis: You can find fall festivals anywhere, but there are none better than those in the Midwest. Make St. Louis — where airfares are down 18 percent this year — your jumping-off spot for harvest-time fun throughout the farm-studded hills of the Missouri River Valley. Within the city, you’ll find plenty of lovely autumn leaves worth a look. And for haunted-house aficionados, St. Louis has two of the nation’s best: Creepyworld and The Darkness.

Puerto Vallarta: The best time of year to visit Puerto Vallarta starts in October, when summer rains fade away but the weather remains temperate. And unlike other parts of Mexico, there’s little chance of a fall hurricane striking, thanks to natural barriers and favorable wind patterns. We especially recommend traveling here in November, when a wide variety of festivals take over the city.

 

Baltimore: Fall really brings out the charm in Charm City, especially since airfares have dropped 13 percent compared to last year. Gorgeous foliage can be found all over the state, almost all of which is a convenient drive from Baltimore, where the weather stays pleasant enough for outdoor fun well into autumn. If you’re there in October, check out the Free Fall Baltimore event, which presents literally hundreds of free performances and exhibitions throughout the city.

Philadelphia: Whether the Phillies will make the World Series again is anyone’s guess, but with last year’s Major League Baseball champions tearing up their division, you’re definitely in for a good time at the ballpark during the playoffs. You certainly don’t have to like sports to fall for Philly in the autumn: Red, orange and brown leaves make the entire city beautiful to stroll through, and at the National Constitution Center, a major exhibition honoring the life of Princess Diana kicks off Oct. 2.

source: http://guides.travel.msn.com