The Terrace Club at Busena. Credit: The Terrace Club at Busena
With fall almost upon us, it’s time to soak up those last rays of summer sunshine with one last warm-weather escape. Whether you’re looking for food-focused adventures, a seasonal shopping spree or memorable museum exhibits, these destinations deliver.
Okinawa
Focus on you this fall with a rejuvenating wellness retreat to The Terrace Club at Busena. With a spacious saltwater pool, a serene spa and ocean views for days, this health-centric Forbes Travel Guide Recommended resort is the spot for a seasonal recharge.
Plan your stay toward the end of the month to attend the property’s September Moonlight Concert. Beneath the full moon on the 25th, lounge by the pool as you’re serenaded by live music during an exclusive performance for hotel guests. Drinks will be available at the bar, though the soft lighting and romantic ambiance will be plenty intoxicating.
Lake Placid Lodge. Credit: Lake Placid Lodge
The Adirondacks
Get a head start on planning your leaf-peeping adventure with the Fall for Lake Placid offer from Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Lake Placid Lodge. Book a post-Labor Day escape to the scenic Upstate getaway and enjoy two seasonally themed cocktails upon arrival and a $100 credit to spend around the secluded property.
We suggest trying the fine farm-to-fork fare at the resort’s Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Artisans Restaurant or, for a more hands-on experience, hire a guide for a day of fishing on the sparkling lake before returning to the hotel, where the chef will cook your catch along with locally grown vegetables.
Hotel Murano. Credit: Hotel Murano
Tacoma, Washington
Have a well-crafted stay in the heart of trendy Tacoma when you check into Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Hotel Murano. Take in the glass-art-filled lobby and fill your Instagram feed with the vibrant colors of hand-blown chandeliers, suspended glass Viking boats and a life-sized horse lamp alongside the works of Dale Chihuly and Lucio Bubacco.
Pair your perusing with a tasty reprieve at the nearby 7 Seas Brewing taproom where, thanks to the hotel’s Brews and Views package, you can bring some local flavor home with you in the form of a complimentary growler fill-up.
If you can’t tear yourself away from the lobby’s spectacular exhibits, you should still book this special offer to receive a variety pack of 7 Seas beers (two cans each of three popular flavors), two branded pint glasses and matching koozies.
Garden Court Hotel. Credit: Garden Court Hotel
Palo Alto, California
For many, fall means football, and as one of the Bay Area’s top college teams gears up for another exciting season, fans of the Stanford Cardinal will want to book ahead at Palo Alto’s posh Garden Court Hotel. Less than a mile from Stanford Stadium, this attractive address provides an ideal huddling area for those planning to watch the home team take on USC (September 8) or UC Davis (September 15).
Pair your game-day excitement with some exceptional eats by booking the Taste of Silicon Valley package. In addition to cozy accommodations, the offer also includes two fresh-squeezed morning sips from Project Juice, full-day bike rentals to explore downtown Palo Alto and Stanford University’s campus, and dinner reservations at some of the area’s trendiest restaurants, including Pizzeria Delfina, Greek eatery Evvia Estiatorio and Vietnamese venue Tamarine.
The Surrey. Credit: The Surrey
New York
For the trendy set, autumn in the Big Apple is synonymous with New York Fashion Week. Running from September 6 through 14, the internationally renowned event sees the world’s hottest designers — including Carolina Herrera, Rodarte and Yajun — debut their latest lines for buyers, the press and the well-dressed masses.
When you need an escape from the fashion frenzy in Soho, head to the Upper East Side for a stylish stay at Four-Star The Surrey. The chic boutique hotel boasts a contemporary gray-and-cream color palette across the property, down to the Cornelia Spa and Daniel Boulud-helmed café. Artistic touches, such as Chuck Close’s massive tapestry of supermodel Kate Moss, complete the haute couture vibe.
Louvre Abu Dhabi. Credit: Louvre Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Culture lovers will want to plan a UAE escape this fall as the Louvre Abu Dhabi unveils its latest exhibit, “Japanese Connections: The Birth of Modern Décor.” Debuting September 6, this unique display is a designer’s dream, showcasing European artisans’ fascination with “Japonisme,” following Japan’s reintroduction to the Western world in the 1850s. Many of the works in the collection are being shown outside of France for the first time.
Pair your artistic getaway with a waterfront stay at Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island. In addition to its own 2,000-piece art collection and an alluring rooftop pool, the posh property is also home to six stylish restaurants and bars. Be sure to stop by Hideaway, an art-deco-inspired speakeasy two floors below 1920s-themed steakhouse Butcher & Still.
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam. Credit: Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam
Amsterdam
With its iconic bridges and charming rowhouses, the Dutch capital is a picturesque vacation destination any time of year. But to partake in a particularly unusual tradition, you’ll want to plan your getaway in the fall.
On September 9, more than 2,500 swimmers take to the city’s famous canals for the seventh annual Amsterdam City Swim, a 1.2-mile charity race for ALS (a progressive neurodegenerative disease).
Even if you don’t want to take the plunge, you can still get in on the fun by cheering on racers or making a donation. Either way, it ends with a massive after-party.
For a sumptuous canal-side stay during the festivities, check into the glamorous Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, just 15 minutes from the swim’s starting point. Don’t forget to make reservations at the hotel’s heralded restaurant, Librije’s Zusje Amsterdam — the eight-course tasting menu just might be the highlight of your trip.
The Hazelton Hotel’s One Restaurant. Credit: The Hazelton Hotel
Toronto
Get a head start on filling out your fall wardrobe with the Shopping Spree package from Yorkville’s Four-Star The Hazelton Hotel. Valet your car (complimentary, of course) and retreat to your vintage, Hollywood-inspired room, where a bottle of wine awaits to toast your glamorous getaway.
In the morning, you’ll have a gratis breakfast at the boutique hotel’s Four-Star One Restaurant before heading out armed with a CAD$100 (US$77) gift card to local luxury retailer Holt Renfrew.
After your retail therapy, return to your sumptuous room, where marble tubs and L’Occitane bath products await for a well-earned post-shopping soak.
Highball & Harvest. Credit: Highball & Harvest
Orlando
Who says theme parks are just for kids? This September, plan a grown-up getaway to Orlando to indulge in the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. Through November 12, the epicurean experience encompasses 75 days of celebrity-chef-led cooking demonstrations, beverage seminars and grand tasting events around the whimsical Epcot World Showcase.
When it’s time to sleep off your food coma, head back to The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, a Four-Star wonder less than 20 minutes from the park. And when you’re ready to imbibe after a long day in the Florida sunshine, head to onsite Highball & Harvest, where craft cocktails and hyper-local bar snacks are always on tap.
The Restoration. Credit: The Restoration
Charleston
Catch a glimpse of the South’s storied past during the grand opening of the South Carolina Historical Society Museum on September 22. Housed in a National Historic Landmark building (designed by the same architect behind the Washington Monument), the gallery offers a self-guided tour of six chronological exhibits detailing the state’s 300-year history.
While in town, experience Charleston’s local flavor with a stylish stay at Forbes Travel Guide Recommended The Restoration, just a 10-minute walk from the brand-new attraction. With rustic-chic décor and a central location, you can’t go wrong with a break at this boutique hotel.
Still, the real appeal here is found on the roof. Head up to The Watch: Rooftop Kitchen & Spirits to savor supremely fresh oysters — caught just off the Carolina coast — along with craft cocktails and postcard-worthy views over the charming city.
