Quiet hikes and lazy picnics are yours for the taking in autumn. Before winter comes, take a long weekend to see the best of what the park has to offer.
Three days are a perfect chunk of time to explore the park’s three main areas: Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Valley, and Wawona. Plan to stay in the valley―it’s central to everything, and reservations are easier to come by at this time of year.
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David Fenton
3 of 22David Fenton
Fall Under the Sonoma Coast Spell
The rugged stretch of land that runs along Sonoma County's coast inspires grand passions. From the pocket coves of Bodega Bay and windswept bluffs of Sea Ranch to inland pine-covered peaks and ocean-carved sea stacks, the area is marked by layers of fog, gulls, sweetgrass, and wildness. It's a place where you can tidepool for hours in precious solitude or ride thrilling, frigid waves. Discover hidden gems along the coast, or take a road trip along the shore, Central Sonoma, or the valley.
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Emily Nathan
5 of 22Emily Nathan
Taste your way through Anderson Valley
For farm-fresh food and sublime wine, spend an autumn weekend in California's least known, most beautiful wine country.
Pour a glass in Oregon's Willamette Valley wine country
With luxe inns and tons of tasting rooms, Willamette is ready for prime time. You can get lost on the backcountry roads but always find a good glass of Pinot around the bend. And now, with great hotels and tasting rooms mustering in towns like Carlton, you can experience the valley’s off-the-beaten-path vibe yet have the comforts of a soft bed close by.
John Clark
7 of 22John Clark
Bike, Eat, and Drink around Boise
This Idaho town, with a 25-mile beltway and plenty of mountain trails in the surrounding hills, is made for riding, especially when fall foliage at its peak. With its burgeoning food scene, scenic beltway, and welcoming people, this is just the kind of town that makes you want to move right in. On a perfect day in Boise, you'll shop at artist collectives and record shops, hobnob with locals at one of the many breweries, and stay at The Modern Hotel. This might just be the best town for a Pacific Northwest trip that combines outdoor adventure and urban kicks.
Pete Stone
8 of 22Pete Stone
Follow in Lewis and Clark’s footsteps on the Long Beach Peninsula
In fall, you'll have this Ilwaco, Washington coastal trail all to yourself.
More:PCT for beginners The Kendall Katwalk trail, near Seattle, offers big rewards for small effort. Casual hikers who might be daunted by the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail can dip in a tentative toe on the Kendall Katwalk trail, an hour east of Seattle. In 6 not-too-demanding miles from Snoqualmie Pass to the Katwalk, a morsel of the PCT provides many of the scenic delectables of the full Mexico-to-Canada buffet.
Erik Rank
11 of 22Erik Rank
Boulder, Colorado
The Colorado town has it all: gorgeous trails, great restaurants, and some of the sportiest people around.
The jagged Flatirons rise at Boulder's western edge offers invigorating hiking, climbing, and exploring.
And visitors find lots of fine restaurants and independent shops ― especially sporty ones ― along the Pearl Street pedestrian mall.
Golden leaves, killer margaritas, and an artistic core: This Southwestern town is the real deal.
At a time when so many towns have become soulless clones of one another, Taos, with its creative heart, natural beauty, and ancient roots, delivers an inimitable experience, especially in autumn.
On a guided pack trip, you can explore some of the Southwest’'s most rugged, pristine country ― and let someone else worry about dinner (and pitching the tent).
Get our guide to the outfitters and the wilderness you can explore.
Wander through this quirky, unassuming wine region just south of San Luis Obispo. Located in a triangle bordered by Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, and San Luis Obispo, Edna Valley still retains a distinctive, backroad California charm. Today it's home to more than 3,000 acres of vineyards and 30 wine labels. Tasting rooms run the gamut from a former one-room schoolhouse to the stylish Jack Niven Hospitality Center at Edna Valley Vineyard. At the latter, you can sample Chardonnays in front of picture windows with views of the valley's most distinctive icon, Islay Peak, an ancient volcanic plug that rose from the ocean floor.
Gina Sabatella
21 of 22Gina Sabatella
Laguna Beach in the off-season
Now that summer crowds have cleared out of this coastal town 50 miles south of L.A., it’s time for a romantic fall getaway.
Here's how to get there, 3 romantic stays, where to eat, and what to do.
For beautiful back roads and even better wines, head to these hills in California's Santa Barbara County.
Until receiving designation as an appellation in 2001, this compact region was largely overshadowed by the neighboring Santa Maria and Santa Ynez Valleys. But no more.
Easily explored via a 34-mile loop linking Santa Rosa Road and State 246, the Santa Rita Hills have become a destination for visitors looking for distinctive Pinot Noirs or a lazy drive through the unspoiled country of western Santa Barbara County.