The last week felt like FALL here in Galveston, and I’ve been soaking up every minute by rolling the windows down on my commute to the office and blasting Red (Taylor’s Version) while I drive. I even wore my favorite orange cardigan to the office to bring the fall vibes with me.
If you couldn’t tell just from that intro, I love fall. It’s easily my favorite season – the crisp air always brings me so much energy, the changing colors are absolutely gorgeous, and it becomes time to get cozy. Plus, I love pumpkin spice and apple cider. Match made in heaven. (It’s also my birthday season. Lucky me!)
If you love the coast AND fall foliage like I do, these five towns offer the best of both worlds.
Lubec, Maine
Looking to really get away for your fall trip? This is about as far north as you can get on the east coast and stay in the U.S. Not only will you enjoy the colors of fall as the leaves turn, you’ll appreciate a rainbow of fishing buoys and lobster boats as you walk along the coastline.
Get swept away by the colors by choosing a short day hike, or trekking to the Quoddy Head Lighthouse to appreciate the Bay of Fundy. If you’re a fan of lobster, this is your sign to enjoy one of the many restaurants offering a sea-to-table experience – the best way to know where your seafood is coming from.
Sylvan Beach, New York
Sylvan Beach is a quiet town on Oneida Lake in upstate New York, a short drive away from lush forests. The lake is surrounded by trees and residential area, with a downtown strip with restaurants and hotels.
While you’re in town, you have to visit Captain John’s Seafood for a delicious meal and fun take-home ceramic cups for the kids (I loved drinking my virgin Shirley temple through a shark’s nose as a kid). Near the beach is a small amusement park and marina if you’re able to bring your boat, or launch your own kayak or paddle board. If you’re looking to hike, you’re just a few hours away from the Adirondack Mountains.
Traverse City, Michigan
Okay, Traverse City is really a point on the M-22 scenic fall foliage drive – it can be your start or end point of this iconic trip.
M-22 is a highway that runs along Lake Michigan, offering delicious coastal fall foliage views. If you do take the full 116 mile coastal drive, end your trip in Traverse City to fill your cup delicious, fruit-forward wine. The Traverse City region boasts over 40 wineries, thanks to the great growing conditions. If alcohol isn’t your thing, you’re in luck – Traverse City is also known for its cherries! While you’ll be visiting outside of cherry season, there are still tons of places to find processed cherries – think dried cherries, chocolate covered cherries, maraschino cherries, and more.
Old Saybrook, Connecticut
One of my favorite places is Old Saybrook, as I’ve been visiting family here for the last 7 years. You have a beautiful view of the Long Island Sound and gorgeous salt marshes, which are also beautiful as the seasons change.
Go for a drive along the shore to enjoy the fall foliage, and circle back through town. The main street is packed with delightful shops with coastal-themed knickknacks, boutiques, and an excellent second-hand bookstore. New to town is a gorgeous Italian market with fresh pasta, freshly made food options for lunch and dinner, decadent desserts, and delicious coffee (get the cortado, you won’t regret it). The town is a short, gorgeous tree-lined drive from an excellent farmer’s market which is hosted on the farm – you won’t want to miss the seasonal fresh flowers, or the feta pesto (that’s right – Feta. Pesto.).
St. Michaels, Maryland
Truthfully, visit anywhere along the Chesapeake Bay in months that have an ‘r’ in their name to have two of your best seafood experiences – oysters on the half-shell and blue crabs.
While you’re here, you’ll want to experience blue crabs three ways: as a crab cake, as a soft-shell crab sandwich, and as a crab bake. Soft-shell crab sandwiches are made by harvesting crabs between molts – while the crab sheds its too-tight shell, it’s delicious fried whole. And the crab bake – you’ll want to come hungry, and prepare to stay a while. The Chesapeake has a rich history of watermen working the water for oysters and blue crabs, in addition to fish, and you can learn about this history at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD.
Not sure when to plan your trip?
Use the 2022 Fall Foliage tracker to visit the town closest to you at *peak* season: https://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map/.