Where to Travel in Fall 2022
Back to school for some means time to hit the road for others. Fewer crowds, major festivals, new flight routes, and a showstopping soon-to-open museum make these five destinations top spots for fall travel. Take part in a grape stomp, sport skeletal face paint for Día de Los Muertos, and save cash on a flight to Sin City before seeing Adele hit the stage. It’s that time of year.
From Sonoma County, California to Valencia, Spain, where to travel this fall.
Sonoma County, California
Fall foliage fans will find plenty of leaves to peep in Sonoma County — plus grape harvests, a new food hall, and a Peanuts-style party. Check out the autumnal color show on a stroll through Jack London State Historic Park, which is home to more than 20 miles of hiking trails. Meanwhile, The Harvest Fair, which takes place on October 15, features over 100 wineries and a World Championship Grape Stomp. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, peruse the culinary offerings at The Livery on Main, a multi-tiered, open-air food hall and coworking space set to open this fall in downtown Sebastopol.
Visit in November to celebrate Charles M. Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip and Sonoma County resident for over 40 years. The Charles M. Schulz Museum, which turns 20 this year, will host Al Roker for festivities surrounding what would be the cartoonist’s 100th birthday and the release of the new book, Charles M. Schulz: The Art and Life of the Peanuts Creator in 100 Objects.
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
If you’ve dreamed of experiencing an authentic Día de Los Muertos celebration in Mexico — but you’re intimidated by the idea of taking on the capital, Mexico City — head to San Miguel de Allende instead. Considered by many to be the country’s most charming city, the UNESCO World Heritage Site hosts an annual weeklong La Calaca Festival (AKA skeleton festival), which takes place from late October to early November. Expect art installations, a costume contest, face painting, and a parade. Plus, thanks to the city’s boutique hotel boom in recent years, you’ll find no shortage of delightful places to stay. Art-filled Casa Delphine, Casa Hoyos, and Hotel Casamada opened in 2019, 2020, and 2022, respectively.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Sin City is calling: especially if you live in the Midwest or on the East Coast. New budget airline Breeze Airways, launched by JetBlue Airways founder David Neeleman last year, has added a slew of direct flights from underserved cities to Las Vegas at affordable prices (from $99 one-way). New nonstop routes connect Vegas to Syracuse, NY; Charleston, SC; and Akron-Canton, OH; to name a few of the 11 cities.
Even if you’re not much of a gambler, you can catch a Raiders game during the team’s second season at Allegiant Stadium. Alternatively, scoop up tickets to in-demand musical residencies: John Legend and Lionel Richie both take the stage in October, and Adele’s long-awaited Vegas residency finally kicks off in November.
Valencia, Spain
Calling all design lovers: Spain’s southeastern coast is the place to be this autumn. Not only will you beat the summer crowds, but the euro’s near-equal value to the dollar also continues to be advantageous for American travel budgets. Valencia has also been named the World Design Capital for 2022, which means visitors can pack their itineraries with cultural programming between dips in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to exhibitions, screenings, and workshops throughout the fall, September 19-25 is the World Design Street Festival, an outdoor celebration of the city’s aesthetics and gastronomy.
New York, New York
Sure, all the world’s a stage, but that’s no more obvious than in the Big Apple — especially this fall. Be among the first to step foot in the brand-new Museum of Broadway, which opens this November on 45th Street in Times Square. Here, visitors can trace Broadway’s timeline from the early years to the present day and reminisce about some of the most monumental shows ever to hit the Great White Way. In addition to interactive exhibitions and installations created by some of the theater industry’s top talents, you’ll also be able to peek behind the curtain and see what goes into the making of a Broadway production.
While you’re in the neighborhood, check out a current show. This season brings 15 new productions to the Broadway stage, including Cost of Living, which nabbed a Pulitzer Prize in 2018, and The Piano Lesson, which stars Samuel L. Jackson. Need a place to stay? A Broadway-themed hotel, Civilian, opened last November in the Theater District. The dynamic property features a miniature showbiz museum (complete with memorabilia from Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen) in its cocktail lounge.
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