8 U.S. Cities That Shine Even Brighter in the Fall

The top fall destinations share several features: outdoor adventures with stunning foliage views, scenic drives through charming small towns, numerous overlooks showcasing vibrant autumn colors, and perhaps a hint of spookiness. The fall season ignites a desire for cozy road trips—while year-round sunny spots like Southern California are lovely, the seasonal change makes a strong case for a fall escape.

To narrow down your choices, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite fall hotspots best enjoyed from September to November. Whether you’re looking for picturesque drives, vibrant festivals, scenic hiking trails, delightful wineries, seasonal activities like apple picking or pumpkin patches, or breathtaking displays of autumn leaves, here are eight of the top U.S. cities to explore this fall.

New York City

Experiencing Central Park adorned with autumn leaves is a must-do—and that’s just one of the many attractions in New York City. Halloween is particularly festive, especially if you visit the East Village on October 21 for the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade, featuring a formal parade route for the first time in 2023. Food enthusiasts will appreciate the outdoor dining season, where securing reservations at top restaurants becomes a bit easier.

Museum visits become even more enjoyable without the oppressive heat waiting for you outside. Start with iconic spots like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, and the Guggenheim. Governors Island is also accessible year-round, with ferries operating daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. after September 5. Plus, strolling across the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the best outdoor experiences in the fall. Another advantage of New York City is its close proximity to upstate New York and New England.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis’s Owamni marks the first dedicated restaurant by Sioux chef founder Sean Sherman and his partner in both business and life, Dana Thompson. Beginning with a poignant reminder at its entrance (“You Are On Native Land”), Owamni shuns the colonial legacy of cane sugar, dairy, and wheat flour by omitting them from its menu, instead celebrating indigenous culinary methods and ingredients with unique dishes like bison tartare, preserved rabbit, and pulled duck tacos served with pickled squash and nixtamalized corn.

For additional fall activities in the metro area, visit Paisley Park, where Prince created his legendary music; the Walker Art Center, currently showcasing photographer Allan Sekula’s social critiques in Allan Sekula: Fish Story; and St. Paul’s Allianz Field, which hopes to see its beloved Minnesota United FC team in another playoff run as thrilling soccer matches attract an increasing number of fans.

Baltimore, Maryland

Oyster season kicks off on October 1 in Maryland, and combined with the long-awaited break from the intense summer humidity, fall becomes the perfect time to explore Baltimore. The lively bar district of Fell’s Point (known locally as Fells) is perfect for an oyster crawl, with popular stops like the beloved Thames Street Oyster House, where adventurous diners can order the impressive Grandiose Shellfish Tower—featuring fresh oysters, jumbo shrimp, cracked lobster tails, and stone crab claws.

Culturally, now is the time to visit Baltimore’s American Visionary Art Museum. The exhibit If You Build It, They Will Come explores the personal spaces of artists such as DeVon Smith, Leslie Payne, and Gayleen Aiken.

Another essential stop is the Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture; its permanent collection narrates 400 years of local history. Additionally, the Ruth R. Marder Center for Matisse Studies at the Baltimore Museum of Art houses an extensive Matisse collection, the largest held by any public museum.

Charlotte, North Carolina

Fall ushers in seasonal brews at the Queen City’s many breweries. This time of year, NoDa Brewing Co. showcases its award-winning Gordgeous ale, crafted with pumpkin puree, brown sugar, and spices. Meanwhile, the city’s oldest brewery, the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, hosts Mecktoberfest in its expansive beer garden, featuring special brews, delicious German-style pretzels, and other tasty bites.

With cooler temperatures arriving, it’s a great time to enjoy the outdoors. Renowned for its tree cover—45 percent of the city is wooded—fall is an excellent season for walking, running, biking, or scooting along the 56 miles of developed greenway trails. In Uptown, Romare Bearden Park, which honors the celebrated artist born here, is another lovely spot for a stroll and skyline photography. Outside the city, Crowders Mountain State Park offers stunning fall colors and 25-mile panoramic views from its summit. For another great fall destination, take a two-hour drive west to Asheville, where you can access the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic route through the Blue Ridge Mountains that connects Shenandoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Charleston, South Carolina

As summer's humidity fades, autumn in Charleston offers pleasant highs of 76 degrees and lows of 58 degrees, complemented by abundant sunshine and clear skies. Make the most of this lovely weather by attending annual events like the MOJA Arts Festival and Charleston Beer Week. If the weather turns, seek shelter at the Gibbes Museum of Art.

Charleston continually delights with its array of new restaurants and chic hotels. Maintain those summer vibes with poolside cocktails at Little Palm located in the Ryder Hotel, which debuted on King Street in 2021. Other popular spots include The Loutrel, a 50-room boutique hotel in the French Quarter, and Brasserie la Banque, a French brasserie by James Beard Award–nominated restaurateur Steve Palmer.

Louisville, Kentucky

Famous for its classic bourbon, Louisville invites visitors to uncover another essential aspect: its vibrant community. The city is home to various museums, exhibitions, and programs that celebrate the remarkable stories of Black Americans who shaped its history. The Muhammad Ali Center, located in downtown, honors the legacy of the boxing legend who made his mark in the city, featuring not only his life story but also rotating exhibits like We Don’t Wither, showcasing local women’s art that intersects with activism.

In 2021, Louisville initiated a Black Heritage tour program known as the Unfiltered Truth Collection. This immersive experience uses costumed actors to connect visitors with Black Americans who have contributed to Bourbon City’s prosperity. Highlights include the Black Americans in Bourbon tour at the Frazier History Museum and the Ideal Bartender Experience, which highlights Tom Bullock, the first Black American cocktail book author, featuring tastings at a secret speakeasy. Additionally, the exhibit Proud of My Calling: An African American Experience in the Kentucky Derby delves into the impact of horse racing on Black Americans' lives.

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio is one of Texas's most visited cities, and autumn is a perfect time to explore with fewer crowds and pleasant weather. The city hosts a free, two-day Día de los Muertos festival, featuring an altar competition, a lively procession, poetry readings, and musical performances.

For a distinctive artistic experience, head to Hopscotch in downtown San Antonio, a sprawling 20,000-square-foot gallery showcasing a dynamic range of interactive installations. The venue also includes a bar and lounge, a gift shop, food trucks, and a patio with live music overlooking Travis Park.

Scottsdale, Arizona

As October arrives, temperatures in Scottsdale begin to cool, averaging around 75 degrees in November, making the inviting Sonoran Desert perfect for both outdoor adventurers and culture enthusiasts. Under expansive Arizona skies framed by rugged mountains, there are numerous ways to explore—on foot, bike, or horseback. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve features nearly 35,000 acres of pristine desert waiting to be explored. Hike its extensive trails, rent a fat-tire mountain bike for deeper exploration, or ride among the majestic saguaro cacti. All Trails lists 90 options for exploration, and REI Co-Op provides bike rentals and guided tours.

Scottsdale’s popular outdoor public art event, Canal Convergence, returns from November 3 to 12, transforming the city’s waterfront district with installations focused on the intersection of art and technology. Additionally, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2019, is a must-see if you haven’t yet experienced his former winter residence.

This article was originally published online in 2021 and was updated on October 5, 2023, to reflect the latest information.