I squeezed every moment out of summer this year and said hello to Fall with one last beach bar getaway.
But with Autumn upon us, it is a great idea to look at what’s on deck for end of year adventures and the seasons that will fast approach.
Constant motion, y’all.
When it comes to travel, being in the right place at the right time is everything and planning ahead is key.
So here are my favorite ideas for every season under heaven.
Fall
With autumn’s chill comes brilliant foliage, Mother Nature’s last hurrah before landscapes become blanketed beneath snow. Virtuoso travel advisor Robert Merlin suggests a few favorite autumnal experiences: “foliage hikes, menus that highlight in-season ingredients, and sleeping near open windows.”
Tried-And-True: New England and the Maritime Provinces
It’s the leaf-peeper’s paradise, the Avalon of autumn. Fall foliage in New England and the neighboring Canadian Maritimes must be seen to be believed, as deciduous trees explode in every shade of gold, orange, yellow, and red. During a ten-day voyage with Royal Caribbean International, guests can admire fall foliage from the 300-foot-high observation capsule aboard the 4,180-passenger Anthem of the Seas while traveling between Cape Liberty and Canada’s Saint John (or Halifax).
With a Twist: Bavaria, Germany
Come autumn, Bavaria’s alpine forests burst with some of Europe’s finest fall colors. Several trails let you take full advantage, starting with the aptly named Romantic Road, which also leads through the Franconia wine region (just in time for harvest season), as well as to finely preserved medieval walled cities and the fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle. Beer halls and bratwurst top a celebration of all things Bavarian on Kensington Tours’ private seven-day adventure through Berlin and Bavaria’s capital, Munich.
Winter
Time to hibernate? For a bear, maybe. The first snowfall sends sports enthusiasts into hyperdrive with skiing, snowmobiling, dogsledding, and every other wintry escapade imaginable. There just aren’t enough hours for all the snowboarding and snowshoeing, ice-skating and ice-caving – although the shorter days do leave more time for hot tubs, hot toddies, relaxing massages, and roaring fires.
Tried-And-True: Park City, Utah
When it comes to winter wonderlands, Virtuoso travel advisor Carrie Wallace steers clients straight to Park City. Home to stellar ski resorts,
the vibrant mountain town has it all, including bobsledding at Utah Olympic Park. During the holidays, I recommend families ride the North Pole Express in Heber Valley to meet Santa and have hot chocolate with Mrs. Claus. Two-hundred-twenty-room Montage Deer Valley not only grants ski-in/ ski-out access to Deer Valley Resort, but also offers plenty to do for nonskiers and families.
With a Twist: Megève, France
While hardcore skiers might prefer places such as Méribel and Courchevel, Wallace gives the nod to Megève for its charming atmosphere: “With upscale shopping, lavish holiday decorations, an ice-skating rink, carriage rides, and views of Mont Blanc, it’s the perfect little alpine village.” For something different, go hot-air ballooning (yes, even in winter) or skijoring, in which skiers are towed behind a train of horses or dogs. Home to Michelin-starred dining, an outdoor sauna, 27 contemporary rooms and suites, plus five traditional chalets, Alpaga Megève provides plenty of cozy places to warm up to the winter atmosphere.
Spring
Ah, spring! Birds are singing, bees are buzzing, flowers are budding, and love is in the air. Perhaps nothing symbolizes the season more than the delicate cherry blossom, whose relatively brief blooming period is a metaphor for the transitional nature of life and a reminder to seize every moment.
Tried-And-True: Washington, D.C.
In 1912, Tokyo mayor Yukio Ozaki presented President Taft with 3,000 cherry trees as a token of goodwill between Japan and the United States. Since 1935, D.C. has celebrated that enduring friendship with the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, which features a variety of themed events and activities, including a grand parade, concerts, a kite-flying competition, and waterfront fireworks. A selection of Thomas Jefferson’s favorite books and personal artifacts adorns the public areas and 95 guest rooms at The Jefferson.
With A Twist: Japan
Spring in Japan is “magical,”. For prime hanami (cherry-blossom) viewin Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, along with Nara’s Mount Yoshino and the Path of Philosophy in Kyoto. Avoid busy daytime crowds, consider lighted nighttime viewings.” Petal-viewing season coincides with Ponant’s nine-day voyage from Osaka to Maizuru aboard the 264-passenger L’Austral. Visits to prime hanami spots include Okayama’s Korakuen Garden.
Summer
Perhaps it was the work of Jack Kerouac, or maybe it’s just in our DNA – but for most of us, the seduction of the open road is simply too much to resist. All a great road trip requires is being open to the unexpected, a killer playlist, and chucking schedules out the window (figuratively, of course). On the Road will forever be stamped on my heart as the gateway book to more discovery
Tried-And-True: California’s Pacific Coast Highway
California’s State Route 1 is, for Virtuoso travel advisor Crystal Warner, the quintessential road trip: “Over 600-plus miles, you’ll see stunning coastal views, seaside villages, and untouched forests, and make your way through some sunny wine-making districts too.” I can work with American Excursionist to craft a tailor-made 11-day trip between San Francisco and Laguna Beach with your choice of luxury rental car. Kayaking trips along the Santa Barbara waterfront, as well as exclusive tours of Beverly Hills and Hollywood, are all possible.
With A Twist: Iceland’s Ring Road
Journeys along the Ring Road
– an 830-mile-long route encircling Iceland – promise a host of snow-covered mountains, active volcanoes, icebergs, lava fields, black-sand beaches, and towering waterfalls. Two of Warner’s Icelandic must-sees: Landmannalaugar, a lunar-esque landscape located in the country’s highlands (“It really is otherworldly!”), and the Blue Lagoon (“You wouldn’t visit Paris and skip the Eiffel Tower.”). Treks on lava beds, hikes near a volcano, dips in geothermal pools, and travels along the Ring Road are all part of a six-day Iceland multisport adventure from Backroads.
How Far Adventures is an independent affiliate of Gifted Travel Network, a VIrtuoso Member.
Courtesy of Virtuoso and Joel Centano.
