The Best Places to Vacation in October with Your Family
School is in session, the leaves are beginning to change, and the weather is cooling down! That means it is time for one of our most favorite family vacation times of the whole year! Fall Break! Family October getaways are some of our most favorite because peak travel season has passed, crowds are thinner, and the weather is almost always perfect! Keep reading to find out the absolute best places to vacation in October with your family!
The Best Places to Vacation in October with Your Family
These fall destinations are some of our most favorite ever but pair them with the fall leaves, Halloween themes, crisp weather, and fewer crowds, and these fall vacation spots are next level amazing!
Best Fall Vacation Destinations in the US
The United States is a literal pumpkin breadbasket for wonderful fall destinations that you and your family can enjoy for a long weekend, or for a week-long fall break!
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen is perfect in the fall for delicious restaurants, gorgeous views, autumn foliage, crisp weather, and awesome mountain hiking and biking. For extra fun, visit the 19th Century Mining Museum!
Bar Harbour, Maine
Acadia National Park in Bar Harbour is one of our absolute favorites! How can you go wrong with freshly caught Lobster, mountain views and hikes AND salty Atlantic beaches!
Bryce Canyon, Utah
The weather in October is PERFECT! It has cooled down and the crowds are down as well. Catch a magical sunrise over the hoodoos and then hike through the red rock.
Disney (either Disneyland or Disneyworld)
We ABSOLUTELY LOVE, love, LOVE visiting Disney Parks in October. Halloween is one of the most fun times. Themed fireworks, decorations, cooler weather, and fewer crowds is a major draw! The best thing to do in Disney during October? Our DO NOT MISS suggestion for Disney in October is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!
New York City, New York
Savannah lived in NYC and fall in NYC was her absolute favorite! October can be chilly in New York but boy is it beyond gorgeous. There are a plethora of fun festivals like the food and wine festival and the opening of the ice rink make it a perfect fall destination. Not to mention, the parks in NYC are perfect in the fall! Be sure to visit Central Park, but don’t forget to get off the touristy path and go to Riverside Park on the Upper West Side or High Line Park on Manhattan’s West Side.
Yellowstone, Montana
The busy season is winding down and the park is beyond gorgeous! Fall leaves and bison abound. There is nothing better than waking up early, enjoying the crisp morning air and watching Old Faithful. Can you say? Adding to fall bucket list NOW!
Zion National Park, Utah
Daytime in Zion is warm and sunny with cooler temperatures in the evening. In other words, the weather is near perfect and the masses have gone home. The fall colors are out for full display! If it is getting too cold to hike the narrows, don’t feel too bad. Angels Landing in October is stunning.
Olympic National Park, Washington
Washington state is an absolute dream in the fall! With crisp weather, changing leaves, and clean air it is the perfect place to unplug and spend some quality time with family. For more information about visiting this lesser-known but gem of a National Park with kids, see TravelMadMum’s post on visiting Olympic National Park with Kids.
Best International Places to Visit in October
To be fair, there are loads of amazing places to visit in the fall across the globe! However, we wanted to pick the ones that have been our favorite and that are budget-friendly so you can take the whole family! It is hard to beat anywhere in Europe in the fall and North Africa is exceptionally awesome with fewer crowds and cooler temps!
Marrakesh, Morocco
The bright colors of Morocco paired with fewer crowds, and temperate weather makes Morocco one of the BEST overall fall break destinations on our list. Marrakesh is busy, bright, and bustling! The palaces, medinas, and architecture are astounding and not having to fight the heat and massive summer crowds is a total win! For an extra added bonus, take a day trip to the Atlas Mountains and enjoy the eye candy of colors both in and outside the city.
Munich, Germany
Castles, palaces, and fall leaves. Truly, there is not much more to be said on why EVERYONE has to, at some point, visit Munich in the fall. For the best experience, take a drive through the Alps and visit Neuschwanstein against the backdrop of the changing leaves and misty air.
Paris, France
Is there a bad time to visit Paris? We are not sure! We can say, we have been to Paris in the Spring, Summer, and Fall and we really love them all (wink). Truthfully, Paris at any time is wonderful. However, using your kids’ fall break to take a family vacation to the city of lights, is perfect! Visit the Louvre, take a tasty family cooking class, climb the Eiffel Tower and explore the streets as a family. It is sure to be one of the most memorable fall breaks!
Prague, Czech Republic
Prague is a dream. It is truly a fairytale city. However, in the summer, the crowds and heat can get pretty nasty! That is why we suggest visiting Prague in the Fall if you can. The shoulder season is the best season in our book because there is nothing better than being able to take in the Charles Bridge, watch the sunset, and do it without fighting hordes of people.
Fall Break for This Year!
This year, for our fall break, we are heading off to a three week trip to Paris and then Morocco! We can’t wait! However, we will all still miss a little bit of school and work. Which is why, if you haven’t read the BEST WAYS TO MISS SCHOOL FOR TRAVEL post detailing all the tips and tricks on how to miss school without it destroying grades or in-class learning, you need to do so now!
Now get your planning pants on, pick your destination, and take advantage of your fall break too! Let us know in the comments where you are headed or what you think the best places to vacation in October with your family is!
XO
Kam
