Our Favorite Early Fall Trips + Affordable Travel Essentials

Now that we are starting to travel more, I’m excited to start planning a fall trip! Fall is easily my favorite time of year and also the most beautiful, in my opinion! We try to do a fall trip each year, and these are our favorite early fall trip ideas! Plus, I am sharing a few affordable travel essentials that we use to keep us prepared and safe.

Early Fall Trip Ideas

Portland, Maine

Neither of us had visited New England before and we were blown away by its beauty! This coastal town is filled with lighthouses, breweries and plenty of options for a delicious lobster roll. We were fortunate to have good weather throughout most of our stay, so we did a lighthouse bike tour, strolled around downtown Portland, explored local coffee shops and visited outdoor breweries and the headquarters of L.L. Bean. We spent three days there which was the perfect amount to soak in the Portland culture.

Our favorite activity: Lighthouse bike tour
Dining recommendation: Eventide Oyster Company
Lodging: The Press Hotel

Vail, Colorado

While it’s know for its world-famous skiing, don’t underestimate the autumn season in Vail. It’s spectacular! There are less crowds but its natural beauty is at its peak for the year! We love hiking under canopies of yellow Aspen trees and taking strolls along Gore Creek. In fact, this created a picturesque setting for our wedding last year. The best time to visit is during the foliage change, which typically takes place at the end of September and trails off in early October. (If you go in early October, be sure to take advantage of Vail-Beaver Creek Restaurant Week!)

Our favorite activity: Hiking along Vail Mountain
Dining recommendation: Splendido; hot chocolate at The Remedy Bar
Lodging: The Sebastian

Seattle, Washington

We have visited Seattle a few times, but in the early fall, the city blossoms! There are several amazing farmers markets with seasonal produce and gorgeous florals at affordable prices. The urban areas are home to both Starbucks and Amazon headquarters, and include the famous Pike’s Market and Space Needle. We love taking the ferry across to Bainbridge Island and strolling around, browsing different boutiques! For a very scenic attraction, trek out to Snoqualmie Falls!

Our favorite activity: Starbucks Roastery and Pike’s Market
Dining recommendation: Il Nido
Lodging: Thompson Seattle

visiting seattle in the fall, farmers market

Banff, Canada

One of the most beautiful places I have ever visited in the world, if you gravitate towards seeing the mountains, I cannot recommend Banff enough! Nestled in the mountain valleys are vibrant blue lakes. The views are breathtaking! Because it sits further north and is higher elevation, I would recommend visiting Banff in September to take advantage of the fall temperatures with less chance of snow. For the ultimate dining experience, take the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain and enjoy dinner in the Sky Bistro. Allow extra time to walk around the top of the mountain prior to dinner, and request a reservation at sunset. You will love it!

Our favorite activity: Hiking Lake Louise
Dining recommendation: Sky Bistro
Lodging: Fairmount Banff Springs (even one night is worth the splurge!)

5 beautiful fall vacations | banff, canada

Mount Washington Region, New Hampshire

Nestled in a rural area of New Hampshire is Mount Washington, with several neighboring villages to explore. If you enjoy fall foliage, this region ignites with pops of red, orange and yellow autumn leaves in early October! The foliage is straight out of a magazine! We enjoyed hiking some of the numerous trails in the region and taking photos with the covered bridges. If you prefer driving, take the historic Mount Washington Auto Road to the summit for incredible views.

Our favorite activity: Hiking trails along Mount Washington
Dining recommendation: White Mountain Cider Co.
Lodging: The Glen House (if you enjoy being near the trails and auto road)

Affordable Travel Essentials

Traveling in the fall also tends to be more budget-friendly since it’s not peak season for flights and hotels. We have become pretty consistent with our travel routine and found a lot of success. For example, Walmart carries several different affordable home and travel essentials so you can save your wallet for adventurous excursions! Walmart’s new Wow & Now section features stylish home and travel items at a great price! I personally love keeping compact travel cubes in my luggage so that I can separate my clean and dirty clothes. On my list are these travel pillows that unzip into a blanket – I personally prefer my own clean blanket rather than using hotel blankets. The passport holders are a must, and I love the added security with RFID blocking technology.