Fall has always been my favorite season, ever since I can remember having a favorite season. I love everything about the fall… the food, smells, weather, decor, family time, fashion, and just recently, the travel! I am by no means an expert at fall travel, but I’m getting there!

You may already know that I am a teacher and fall can be a busy season for educators. We are just getting back into the routine of school after being out all summer. Grades are due, parent conferences are happening, and if you have kids, fall sports are in full swing. But if you can sneak away, even for just a weekend, I cannot recommend it enough! Usually, destinations are less crowded in the fall, since most people are back to work/school. And you can’t beat the cooler temperatures, either. I honestly think that fall travel is my new favorite thing! It was hard to choose just five, but listed below are my favorite fall destinations to date!

5. Broken Bow, Oklahoma

Coming in at number five is Broken Bow, Oklahoma! This has become a family favorite of ours, especially since it’s only about three hours from our home in Texas. There truly is something here for everyone. In my opinion, Broken Bow has the very best accommodations for every budget, from luxury cabins to campsites. The temperatures in the fall are very nice, typically warm during the day and chilly at night. There really is nothing better than being able to enjoy the day outdoors hiking or at the lake, shopping around the downtown area, or hanging around your cabin; then cozying up at nighttime and roasting marshmallows around the firepit. Most cabins in Broken Bow have firepits and outdoor hot tubs. We enjoy bringing food to cook, but there are also many restaurants, breweries and wineries in town. Be sure to book your lodging early for a fall weekend, they tend to book up quick!

4. St. Louis, Missouri

We visited St. Louis last October and had a spooky good time! I was looking for a quick family getaway over Columbus Day weekend and settled on St. Louis, and I am so glad I did! This was also the first trip we took our puppy on and she did great. St. Louis is a very dog-friendly destination and they even have several tourist attractions that allow your pups to tag along. We only had two full days in this city, but I feel like we were able to do so much in that time. Our favorites were visiting the Gateway Arch, walking along the Mississippi River, visiting Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, and taking a haunted history walk around the city at night! St. Louis has many great hotel and restaurant options and several museums to check out, including our favorite, The City Museum. While I was hoping for more fall colors, this quick weekend trip has remained a fall family favorite for all of us! Click here to read more about our weekend in St. Louis.

3. New Buffalo, Michigan

I was lucky enough to visit a dear friend in New Buffalo, Michigan late October of last year. This was just the girls trip I needed in my life! It was also my first and only visit to Michigan and I cannot wait to go back! I mean, fall foliage, lighthouses, beaches, and quaint water front towns, what more can you ask for? I highly recommend staying at the Marina Grand Resort. The rooms are so cozy, right on the water and ours had a fireplace and patio. We enjoyed our time in New Buffalo and also had fun driving around Michigan and checking out St. Joseph and Saugatuck. Saugatuck was also the best day trip, with delicious restaurants and all the shopping my little heart could handle! Click here to read more about my weekend in Michigan.

2. Snowbird, Utah

I actually just returned from Utah last weekend and moved it up on my favorite list to number two! What a weekend! I was able to get away with my best friend of almost 30 years for a spa weekend in the mountains and it was everything we both needed. We took full advantage of the spa and got massages, pedicures, took a yoga class, enjoyed the steam room and roof top hot tub and heated pool. But we also hiked and drove around in the mustang convertible we rented for the weekend. The hiking was my favorite part, besides the room service! And the fall colors were to die for! I must also mention that we experienced the first snow of the season in Utah and it was such a nice surprise. I would absolutely go back to Snowbird in a heartbeat. This destination would be great for a romantic getaway, a girls trip, and even a family adventure! To read more about my weekend in Snowbird, click here.

1. Washington, DC

Ranking number one for my family is our fall trip to Washington DC! Not only is this my favorite fall destination, it may also be my favorite family trip we’ve taken. We actually visited DC over Thanksgiving Break in late November. This is a wonderful time to visit because the weather is fantastic and most of the businessmen and women leave the city for the holidays. It wasn’t crowded at all and we were able to visit those historic landmarks and world famous museums without the crowds! The daytime temperatures were perfect and we enjoyed walking around the city and playing football with our boys at the national mall. At night, we bundled up and walked to see the monuments at night. It was just truly the perfect week with my family. Click here to read more about our trip to DC!

Most of these adventures took place over long weekends, when the boys and I were out of school for a holiday. I am learning to leave the work behind and enjoy these breaks with friends and family. The laundry and housework will always be there, as will the never ending pile of papers to be graded! But I’ll never get back these long weekends meant for family, friends and adventures. There are still so many places on my fall travel bucket list. I hope that I can add more destinations to this list very soon. If you have any fall travel recommendations, be sure to leave a comment and let me know! We will be traveling to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas over Thanksgiving Break this year, so be sure to be on the lookout for more information about those two destinations!