The Best Countries to Fall Into

The shenanigans of summer have subsided, the seasons have changed and autumn is upon us.   For many, this is the best time of year to travel.   Crowds thin, prices drop, foliage explodes, and the temperature dances on the Goldilocks stage of not too hot, not too cold, aaah...just right.   Maybe you should consider:

Canada
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Welcome to the ultimate fall destination. They even advertise it on the flag.   Visitors come from all over the world to experience the colours of our foliage as they explode into shades of red, orange and yellow.   There are highlights coast to coast:   Ontario’s Algonquin Park, Niagara Parkway and Bruce Peninsular.   The Laurentian Mountains in Quebec.   Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, Nova Scotia’s Cabot Trail, New Brunswick’s Fundy Coastal Drive, the rolling forests and hills of Prince Edward Island and British Columbia – there’s no shortage of trees in Canada, and autumn  is easily the best time of year to enjoy them.

The United States
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Similarly, the Eastern Seaboard of the United States lights up in the colours of autumn from mid-September to the end of October.    There’s plenty of charming road trips in the states of Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire, where a gentle paced traveller can appreciate the change of season through small villages, farms, and seaside towns along the way.  Michigan and Wisconsin are also known for their fabulous fall colours. ​

Great Britain
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I have a particular fondness for the English countryside in autumn, having enjoyed epic road trips to the New Forest, Cotswolds and Cornwall in the past.   Rolling, misty countryside and quaint stone villages add a particular coziness to the adventure.  Other autumn faves in the UK include the National Forest in Leicestershire, along with Beacon Hill and the supernatural sounding Outwoods.    There are also great trails outside of Cardiff in Wales, and plenty of walks and bike adventures in the Scottish Highlands.

China
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China is so vast and there’s plenty to see away from the usual tourist hot spots of Beijing and Shanghai.   With temperatures cooling pleasantly, consider the south-western Sichuan province where the maple and birch trees strut their colours.    Domestic Chinese tourists love visiting places like Miyalou in October to enjoy the views, along with the Juizhai Vallley, where tranquil blue lakes compliment the “kingdom of colours”. ​

Spain
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Spain is much more than a beach holiday destination, especially as the sizzling summer temperatures begin to drop and the Mediterranean starts to cool.   It’s a great time to head south where it us perfectly warm and pleasant, and the cities of Granada, Cordoba and Seville are waiting to be explored.   Those summer crowds have dispensed, so it’s far easier to get around without making reservations, getting that great table on the patio instead of spending hours lining up.   Further north begins to get a little chilly around October. ​

Germany
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The forests of Bavaria are brushed from the same autumn palette, with the added bonus of the wild, 16-day Oktoberfest taking place each year in Munich.   Once you’ve saturated yourself on beer, hit the Autobahn for a drive along the Rhine, taking in the Black Forest, medieval castles, and the looming Alps.

South Pacific
Just because things are cooling down, doesn’t mean you need to pack a coat.   French Polynesia enjoys its best season in August to October, after the heat of the sweltering months, but before the rains kick in.  Tahiti, Bora Bora, the Society Islands  – there’s no shortage of escapes where you can find your own beach paradise.   You might want to stay clear of the Disappointment Islands though.    They really need to do something about that name.  ​