Google searches for “where to travel this fall” have skyrocketed this past week, and along with the current uptick in U.S. travel, it looks like we can expect a busy autumn season ahead.
Andaz West Hollywood
Andaz West Hollywood is home to the highest hotel rooftop pool in Los Angeles that offers views of the Sunset Strip and Hollywood Hills, and just completed a half-a-million dollar pool renovation. Andaz West Hollywood is Los Angeles’ iconic rock ‘n’ roll hotel located on the famous Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, Calif. where musical history, celebrity, and style come together.
From October 7th to the 31st, Descanso Gardens hosts Carved, a mile-long trail filled with all things pumpkins, including an illuminated forest of jack-o’-lanterns. Tickets start at ($32–$38) and go on sale to the general public on September 15.
Red Savannah Bhutan
Bhutan is a landlocked country in the Eastern Himalayas. A Buddhist kingdom known for its monasteries, dzongs (fortresses), and breathtaking landscapes that range from steep mountains and subtropical plains, to valleys. Bhutan is the perfect place for a rich cultural experience.
The 250-mile Trans Bhutan Trail linking Haa to Trashigang will open at the end of September. Guests visiting Bhutan with Red Savannah will be able to experience a unique semi-nomadic lifestyle, culture and dialect in one of the most scenic pastoral valleys in the protected area of Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary in Eastern Bhutan. A long, but very scenic drive from Trashigang, leads high into the mountains of the Mon-La Pass where a welcome party of Brokpa nomads in local dress will be waiting. During their visit, travelers will enjoy a delicious nomad lunch and a glass of the local spirit. Guests will also visit the Merak village, where they will explore on foot to get a better understanding of the local culture. Visitors can watch as locals spin wool, and see how they expertly weave it to craft their colorful traditional clothes and textiles. Guests will also learn how natives make yak cheese, butter tea and ara (local rice, wheat or corn spirit). Red Savannah has several Bhutan itineraries that can be found here.
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) is a nonprofit devoted to marine-based research, education and conservation programs. Their wholly-owned social enterprise, PacWhale Eco-Adventures, allows visitors to get an up-close look at Maui’s wildlife through their snorkeling tours. Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa offers guests a true Hawaiian experience on the famed Ka’anapali Beach. and recently underwent a multimillion-dollar guestroom and lobby renovation. Guests can enjoy a vacation in tropical paradise inspired by the island’s rich heritage and authentic spirit that includes award-winning cuisine, expert-led stargazing and more.
Celebrate Halloween in Lahaina by taking a Halloween Cocktail Cruise with PacWhale Eco-Adventures. The four-and-a-half-hour tour will take passengers on an evening cruise through Ma’alaea Harbor complete with beautiful island views at sunset. A fully-stocked bar and appetizers will be available on board the double-decker catamaran, and the fun can continue with a visit to Lahaina, known for being one of the best places in the Pacific Islands to celebrate Halloween.
The 12th Annual Hawai’i Food and Wine Festival begins on October 20 to celebrate Hawai’i’s world-renowned cuisine and quality products. More than 150 master chefs, winemakers and more will be hosting events throughout the month such as wine tastings, five-course dinners and culinary bites from around the world. Those attending the festival can book their stay at Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa and taste some of their award-winning Asian cuisine at restaurants like Japengo and ‘Umalu. Guests can also find a true taste of Hawai’i inside the resort thanks to wildlife tours on property, the award-winning Drums of the Pacific Luau and an elaborate water playground with tropical streams and waterfalls.
The Elms Hotel & Spa Excelsior Springs, Missouri
Renowned for beautifully appointed accommodations, The Elms Hotel & Spa delivers lavish amenities on lovely grounds in Excelsior Springs. Located 30 minutes from Kansas City in the town of Excelsior Springs among vineyards, golf courses, historic sites, parks and trails, the property features a 28,000-square-foot spa space and 11,000 square feet of meeting and event space. On-property dining options include Three Owls, serving balanced dishes crafted from locally sourced ingredients and The Tavern, serving pub fare and salty snacks alongside hand-crafted cocktails and local beer.
For travelers interested in paranormal activity, October is the perfect time to visit The Elms around Halloween. The hotel offers a Paranormal Tour package where guests will be able to go on a one-hour tour throughout the property and learn about its haunted history.
Asheville, North Carolina
Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is a hip, thriving mountain city known for the longest autumn season and most spectacular foliage in the country. The city offers a near-perfect blend of natural beauty, quirky culture and innovative local cuisine in the heart of Southern Appalachia. Guests of The Foundry Hotel, a refined boutique hotel housed within the city’s old steel foundry in the heart of The Block neighborhood, can book the Picnic in the Block Experience via the hotel’s partnership with Dreamscape Luxury Picnics to indulge in a dreamy picnic on the hotel’s great lawn while admiring fall color making its way down the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. Picnics include a grazing board for two with seasonal fruit, house made dips, cheese and meats, a bottle of wine, sparkling water, Instagrammable décor and a Bluetooth speaker.
Bristol, Virginia
An idyllic location to peep this year’s fall foliage, travelers can check out the eclectic city of Bristol, Virginia to enjoy views of the picturesque Appalachian Mountains flanked by stunning orange and bright yellow leaves. This city offers visitors an uncharted fall getaway in Southern Appalachia with prime access to the Appalachian Trail and Bristol Caverns, where visitors can hike through the color-changing trees up to prime leaf-peeping heights. While in town, visitors can stay at The Bristol Hotel and get a taste for the region’s seasonal bounty at the hotel’s streetside Appalachian-inspired restaurant, Vivian’s Table or enjoy panoramic views of the nearby Smoky Mountains and autumn leaves on the city’s first and only rooftop, Lumac Rooftop Bar.
