U.S. Destinations That Come Alive in the Fall

From Halloween to fall colors in mountain towns, there are several reasons to visit these places in the fall.

Some places can be enjoyed any time of year, but the fall has something unique about it. Fall colors in the mountains, harvest festivals, or towns that go all out for Halloween are just a few reasons to travel during the fall.

Here are 5 spots in the U.S. that are great to visit in the fall.

Jim Thorpe, PA

Jim Thorpe is in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. The historic downtown and Victorian architecture, along with the mountains around it, are just what you would expect to see in a fall photo. It is also a great place to see fall colors.

Take the scenic Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway that runs along the Lehigh River and through beautiful fall foliage.

Jim Thorpe also hosts a Fall Foliage Festival in October. There are vendors, live music, and seasonal events throughout the town.

Salem, MA

Salem is definitely a town that embraces Halloween.

Salem is known for the witch trials of 1692. During October, the town hosts Haunted Happenings. There are Halloween events, ghost tours, festivals, and costumes throughout the town.

There are also many historic sites in Salem. Visit the Peabody Essex Museum and Salem Witch Trials Memorial.

A town that hosts both Halloween and history.

Door County, WI

If you are looking for a peaceful fall vacation, try Door County.

Door County is full of fall colors, peaceful towns, and festivals.

Door County is a peninsula between Green Bay and Lake Michigan in Wisconsin. During the fall, there are apple farms, farm stands, and fall festivals.

Peninsula State Park is also a great place to view the fall colors. There are scenic overlooks and beautiful hiking trails through the fall colors. Towns such as Fish Creek and Egg Harbor also have plenty of fall activities, shops, and restaurants.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC/TN

The Great Smoky Mountains are amazing during the fall.

The Great Smoky Mountains cross into both North Carolina and Tennessee. During the fall, the mountains turn bright orange, red, and yellow. Because of the changes in elevation, the colors can last for several weeks.

The Foothills Parkway and Cades Cove are scenic places to drive during the fall. There are also many hiking trails in the fall to see the fall colors in the mountains.

Leavenworth, WA

If you want to try some Bavarian-style food without traveling to Europe, then check out Leavenworth in Washington.

This Bavarian town is surrounded by the Cascade Mountains. During the fall, the mountains turn beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow.

In October, there is Oktoberfest in Leavenworth. There is traditional Bavarian food, dancing, and music during Oktoberfest.

There are also scenic areas around the town, such as Tumwater Canyon, the Wenatchee River, and Lake Wenatchee.