As the leaves turn gold and the mercury slowly drops, our natural instinct is to move indoors and prepare the proverbial nest for the depths of winter. But for those of us who live for the summer and prefer to remain in the great outdoors for as long as possible, fall is the perfect season for an alfresco adventure. The throngs of high-season tourists disappear; the weather becomes pleasantly temperate; and travel costs drop substantially, too. Herewith, five great getaways that are sure to ignite a new-found appreciation for fall.
MARTHA SPEAKS
Small, quaint and a foliage-seeker’s heaven, Martha’s Vineyard ranks high on our list of getaway destinations. A short seven miles from the Cape Cod coast and encircled by Nantucket Sound, Vineyard Sound and the Atlantic Ocean sits the picturesque “Vineyard,” as locals refer to it. Just 20 miles long and nine miles wide at best, the island plays host to the rich and famous during the summer months, with the likes of the Obamas and Diane Sawyer vacationing there during the high season.
If stunning panoramas, high-end boutiques, gingerbread-style houses and traditional all-American seaside charm is what you’re after, then the Vineyard is the place for you.
Don’t miss: Edgartown. The elegant seaport — home to magnificent old whaling captains’ homes, chic clothing stores and charming restaurants — is a jewel of a town nestled amid the rolling coastlines of the island.
Where to stay: The Dockside Inn (www.vineyardinns.com). Located in the famously picturesque Oak Bluffs harbour, the Dockside is a handsome boutique hotel with a contemporary feel, yet is classically Victorian.
APPLE SEASON
What’s a fabulous fall getaway guide without a trip to the Big Apple? Those who crave the hubbub of the city will feel as though they’ve died and gone to heaven with a trip to New York City — and the city certainly won’t disappoint.
It’s the ultimate weekend trip, and in terms of excitement, few places can rival it. N.Y.C. is one destination that doesn’t require a great deal of inspiration to guarantee a good time, a simple amble through midtown Manhattan, Central Park and Greenwich Village is enough convey the city’s famous bustling energy and unrelenting hum of activity.
Don’t miss: The PS1 Contemporary Art Center. Housed in a refurbished public school, the museum showcases exciting exhibitions from the world’s most provocative artists of tomorrow.
Where to stay: Accommodation is costly, but if you’re going to do New York City right you might as well go for the gusto and stay right on the Park at what was once the legendary St. Moritz, and is now the ultra-chic Ritz Carlton Central Park (www.ritzcarlton.com/centralpark). Boasting a La Prairie spa, a club floor with gourmet food service and a telescope in every room that faces Central Park, it’s hard to imagine staying anywhere else.
WHISKEY A GO-GO
Cape Breton Island epitomizes island charm with its off-the-beaten-track location, idyllic vistas, rustic shorelines and, most importantly, its welcoming inhabitants — you haven’t partied until you’ve been to a Cape Breton ceilidh. So if your ideal getaway consists of cozy pubs, delicious seafood fare and quaint country charm, then this picturesque Maritime island should be at the very top of your wish list. With its rustic surroundings and folksy culture, many people think that fall is the best time to escape to the Nova Scotia seacoast for a weekend break.
The romantic headlands along Chedabucto Bay put on a show of red and yellow hues — the perfect attraction for leaf peepers — and the island provides a respite from the hustle and bustle of Toronto life.
But the island isn’t all scenery and peace and quiet. Cape Bretoners know how to have a good time. The island has a rich Celtic music culture, and that’s not to mention their annual festivities. Fall vacationers will make it just in time for the Celtic Colours festival, with dozens of concerts, art exhibits and workshops.
Don’t miss: The world-famous Cabot Trail. Considered one of the planet’s most beautiful drives, the trail winds around Cape Breton’s shore.
Where to stay: Home to Cape Breton’s own Glen Breton single malt whisky, the Glenora Inn & Distillery (www.glenoradistillery.com) is renowned for its good food, great local music and all-round hospitality.
LA BELLE VUE
The city of Quebec has it all — superb French fodder, fascinating historical attractions, impressive hotels and a spirited nightlife. Visitors should be sure to check out Quebec City’s Old Port, which has been a hive of activity since its heyday in the 19th century as one of the largest ports in the world. It’s now a popular cruise destination and hot spot for tourists and locals alike.
Those with a penchant for all things cultural will just love the charm of rue Saint-Paul with its inviting antique emporiums, art galleries and sidewalk cafés. Similarly, shopaholics will have a whale of a time indulging in a spot of retail therapy in the nearby Petit-Champlain District, home to a wealth of fashion boutiques and period buildings situated along small cobblestone streets.
Where to Stay: The Auberge St-Antonie (www.saint-antoine.com) — part of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux chain.
GOLD-MEDAL MOUNTAIN
In the year of the 2012 Summer Olympics, why not visit the village that played host to the
Winter Olympics, not once, but twice? A small town with a distinctly small-town feel, Lake Placid offers the perfect getaway location for lovers of the great outdoors. In the fall, the hills rising above lakes Placid and Mirror are draped with rusty hues of orange, red and yellow — making Lake Placid a must-visit location for those with a fondness for foliage.
Held this year on the weekend of Oct. 11 to 12, the annual Flaming Leaves Festival is a homegrown event with blues, beer, a craft fair and an Olympic ski jumping competition —which can all be enjoyed whilst basking in the stunning view of the Adirondack Mountains.
Don’t miss: The Olympic Center Museum, which, of course, is a must when visiting Lake Placid. Visitors can explore exhibits from both the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, with films, athletes’ memorabilia and oodles of history to take in.
Where to stay: Whiteface Lodge (www.thewhitefacelodge.com) is quite gorgeous and a mere six-and-a-half-hour drive from Toronto, is well worth the jaunt.
To start from top-to-toe, the hat is by Tiger of Sweden, which is not a Canadian brand, but was found at local e-tailer Shoppalu. The brainchild of two recent McGill graduates, Shoppalu is a labour of love focusing on new and vintage finds.
