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
A lot of places here mentioned but I probably want to stay away from the cities and explore the countryside in the fall as the changing of the colours of the leaves are amazing and the autumn sunshine (especially in Europe) makes me feel great whilst hiking in the mountains. My children are a bit too young right now and cant wait to take them into the big outdoors and show them what the world has to offer.
Didn’t know that Aspen is so popular in October. I can see how one can have a great time there with all those landscapes to hike through.
When it comes to Europe, almost all the cities are perfect for autumn visits, you’re so right. They are not that crowded nor hot. I just came back from the south of Spain and I had a blast. 🙂
Love all of these places you listed to vacation in October with your family!
With regards to you international trips, Darcee & I went to Munich a few years back at the end of September and into October and it was amazing. Then we also did Morocco last year at the end October and into November and the weather was absolutely perfect. Near Marrakech actually in Casablanca, I asked her to marry me so it had to be perfect weather and it was!
As for you local places, I just literally got back from Zion National Park and it was so much fun hiking and climbing that area of Utah! I do think the Montana Entrance of Yellowstone might be a 50/50 though. Only because a few weeks ago everywhere from Denver up through Wyoming got blasted by snow.
Bar Harbour, Main and Bryce Canyon have been on my personal travel wishlist for years, but my timing has always been off. I’d love to return to Paris in the fall and visiting Prague without the summer tourists sounds perfect!
So many amazing destinations for the Fall. Seeing the change of season in the U.S. is magnificent. I’ve been to Aspen and Maine in the fall and they are both absolutely gorgeous. You can never go wrong with Paris, whatever time of the year it is. I just actually got back as the leaves were changing, stunning. Marrakesh is on my bucket list but had never thought of going in the fall. Thanks for the tip to head out to the Atlas Mountains for the views. Enjoy your upcoming 3-week trip.
Fall is my favorite time of the year, and also my favorite time to travel. Usually the temperatures are mild and the nights cool, which means I finally get to wear my sweaters and scarves. There are fewer crowds, and businesses have more time to “treat you right!” I’ve been to several of the places you suggest, though not all during the fall. You have a great selection here. One of my favorites for fall is Zion National Park. We once tent-camped there for Thanksgiving. And yes, it was a bit cold at night. But days were perfect for hiking!
You listed a lot of great places. I was going to mention Florida, as the temperatures are dropping slightly and it isn’t as humid. You did mention Disney world though. Munich is also a great suggestion. It’s one of my favorite cities in Germany.
Lovely roundup. I love October for various reasons. In my place finally, we get relief after a harsh summer as well as punishing rains. On the other hand, at high altitude, the trees give us those autumn colours. Needless to say, it is also the festive season.