RV Lifestyle Story and photos by Rex Vogel As September squeezes out the final drops of summer, it’s time to gear up for autumn. Cooler temps, campfires, pumpkins and cranberry sauce – autumn brings many reasons to celebrate or to go RV camping. Most notably, autumn is the season for leaf-peeping. Remarkable fall foliage brightens up the land, changing hues from green and brown to vibrant yellows and oranges and fiery reds and golds. There are great deals during back-to-school season and, if you time it right, you’ll get fantastic weather andminimal crowds, too. As much of Canada and the United States is wrapped up with the back-to-school season, travellers can take advantage of crisp fall weather and great deals. Best places to go this month include such favourites as Charleston, South Carolina – where you’re less likely to find tourists at this time of year, and can enjoy the cities as most locals do. Fall foliage is another major attraction at this time of year, and we recommend leaf-peeping in Vermont and northern New Mexico. Finally, wine lovers should pay attention to two locations this year: the Okanagan Valley (British Columbia), which can no longer be considered a young Napa as its wines are now celebrated on international lists; and the Gold Country (California). As the warmer days of September transition into the brisk afternoons of October, leaves begin to change and coat the sidewalks, menus swap lemonades for pumpkin spice lattes, and shorts and T-shirts are switched out for sweaters and scarves. October is a beautiful month to travel, when you can – and should – take advantage of the colours, scents and sights of harvest season, festival season and the chance to spend those last few comfortable days outdoors. Fall foliage peaks in October, especially in the Eastern United States. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a favourite for road trippers – leaves here turn vibrant shades of red, yellow and orange and the landscape exudes a golden glow. October brings festival season to many of America’s beloved towns. Thousands of people gather in New Mexico for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (October 6-14, in 2018). Art is a hit year-round in nearby Santa Fe. As the holiday season approaches, many are gearing up in November for U.S. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and opt to stay put for the rest of the month. But savvy travellers know that there are great places to take advantage of before the weather turns colder. America’s south is a great November destination. If you’re looking for a new area to explore, November is a great time to do it. THE BEST PLACES TO TRAVEL IN AUTUMN 36 | www.snowbirds.org
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