15 Best Places to Travel to in October If You're Craving a Fall Getaway

Nassau is home to gorgeous blue waters, cotton candy sunsets and a variety of tropical resorts, giving tourists a large variety of lodging. Make sure to check out local culinary tours and straw markets as well as the rum distilleries. And for those who want to enjoy a more laid-back kid-free trip, the Sandals Royal Bahamian is an adults-only resort with 10 restaurants, eight bars, seven pools AND a private island.

The colorful houses on Charleston's infamous Rainbow Row make for a spectacular photo background. Check out this row of 13 historic homes on East Bay Street, just along The Battery, that have been around since 1740. Other top activities include the city's harbor, Frankie's Fun Park (for the kids), farmers' markets, museums and shopping. Luckily, you can still enjoy the warm temperatures of South Carolina in October without any of the harsh summer humidity. Hotels typically start as low as $100 a night and get more expensive the closer you are to the center of Charleston. Airfare starts around $140 for a round-trip ticket.

RELATED: How One Designer Turned a Charleston Fixer-Upper into Her Dream Home

There's nothing quite like New York in the fall. Enjoy some truly stunning fall foliage in Central Park while walking, biking or boating. Its 800+ acres also has a zoo, where you can get tickets as cheap as $20. Central Park also boasts eight different restaurants and cafes in addition to the snack carts scattered throughout the park. If you want more of a true-city experience, check out one of the city's 145 museums. See a Broadway show (Wednesday matinees often have the cheapest tickets), experience new cuisines, go shopping, catch a concert and so much more. Bonus: A trip in October also lets you beat the summer crowds and long lines at big attractions, like the Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty.

RELATED: 38 Best Family Vacations That Everyone Will Love, From Babies and Toddlers to Teens

Take advantage of the off-season, and say "ciao!" to Italy. The weather is still warm, while hotels and local attractions are more affordable (and manageable). If you're a whiz at budgeting, you might even be able to find hotel lodging and vacation rentals for as low as $94 per night. October is the perfect time for sightseers to enjoy long walks exploring one-of-a-kind architecture, like the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore Piazza Duomo (pictured here). Honeymooners can have a romantic meal for two with tasty bites from the famous San Lorenzo Market. Meanwhile, festival-goers will love exploring the many food and art festivals going on around the city.

RELATED: The Best Carry-On Luggage to Buy in 2022

If you're the kind of person who prefers to spend your vacation primarily in a bathing suit, then you'll want to book a quick flight to Puerto Viejo. October is the month to get the cheapest flights to Costa Rica. Puerto Viejo has everything you could want on vacation — water sports, hiking, zip lining, snorkeling, nightlife, shopping and even animal sanctuaries you can visit. It's the perfect pick whether you're going with your family, girlfriends or partner. The only thing you'll have to worry about is what cocktail you'll be sipping on the beach come happy hour.

If you love fresh air, nature and wildlife, a trip to Yellowstone sounds like the ideal vacay. Not only do hotels in the area start at $90 a night ($15 if you're camping), but the impending winter means that wildlife is on full display. Bears, wolves, moose, elk, bison, otters and fox can be seen in almost every area of the park. Hike, walk, or fish and spend your time taking photos to show your friends and family when you get back home. Certain camp grounds start to close in October (or earlier) so make sure you check ahead of time to confirm your sleeping arrangements.

You'll have to venture little ways north to find this idyllic spot. Before the temperature drops to a frigid 19°F come December, take a drive up the East Coast to enjoy the picturesque nature of Bar Harbor. The stunning coastal view is only enhanced by the changing leaves, which hit their peak colors around mid-October. The town's quick-and-easy access to Acadia National Park as well as the Bar Island Trail, Lulu Lobster Boat Ride, Atlantic Climbing School, and whale watching make Bar Harbor the perfect place to take the entire family.

As the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh has a rustic European beauty that stuns locals and tourists alike. Known for the Edinburgh International Festival and The Fringe, the latter being the world's largest annual international arts festival, Edinburgh boasts good weather, smaller crowds and longer daylight hours in October. It's a great time to explore medieval architecture, the Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh Castle, and Inchcolm Abbey while enjoying a sip or two of whiskey between the excursions thanks to the Scotch Whiskey Experience. Lodging can cost as little as $14, with the most expensive part of your trip likely being airfare. Fun fact: Edinburgh is often known for having a "nutty, toasty" smell that wafts through the streets due to all the local breweries and distilleries.

If you enjoy the warm weather but don't want to be subjected to humidity, a visit to St. Augustine in October is your ideal getaway. As the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the United States, the city is chock-full of historic landmarks, like the Castillo de San Marcos Monument, the Fountain of Youth National Archaeological Park and the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. The kids will especially enjoy the Sea Dragon Airboat Adventure, the Alligator Farm Zoological Park and the Tag! Children's Museum of St. Augustine. The only snag about this trip? The closest airport (Jacksonville International Airport) is 50 minutes away.

The gorgeous views and beautiful fall foliage make the Grand Canyon a great vacation in the outdoors before the winter temperatures hit. Since the crowds decrease dramatically after Labor Day, you and the family can go hiking and spend a night or more camping, rafting or simply enjoying a scenic drive. Flights can cost as little as $281 round trip and lodging can cost as little as $15 if you're planning on camping inside the park.

Lake Tahoe rarely has a time of year when it's not busy. But the best time to visit is, you guessed it, October. Roundtrip airfare can be found for as little as $68, hotels as low as $110 a night and camping for a fee of around $41 per night. In addition to running, walking or hiking one of Lake Tahoe's many trails, you can also go apple-picking at a local orchard, take some pictures of the truly stunning fall foliage in the area or attend a local concert. There's also the annual Freakers Ball Annual Halloween costume party. Occasionally, snow can start falling as early as October or November, but if you're fine with a few flurries then book away.

Enjoy a relaxing getaway to Newport if you want to enjoy cool fall weather and fun autumn activities. Pick a pumpkin at the Trinity Church Pumpkin Patch while enjoying a homemade pumpkin baked good and live music, take a ghost tour at night through town, or attend one of the many fall festivals like the Rogue Island Comedy Festival, Festa Italiana or Newport Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival. If you're planning a trip with the kids, there's even a Hocus Pocus party on October 5th to celebrate the new sequel, which was filmed in Rhode Island. You can also see the autumn leaves at their most vibrant since peak fall foliage occurs around mid- to late-October in Newport.

RELATED: 20 Stunning Places to See Fall Foliage in New England in 2022

The stunning orange sunrises and sunsets in Oranjestad are enough of a reason to vacation in Aruba. Try activities with the kids like cliff jumping, UTV island tours, submarine expeditions, visits to the local animal sanctuary, snorkeling, fishing and so much more. There are also plenty of exciting adult-friendly activities like nightlife barhopping tours and dinner-and-drink sunset sails.

September and October are two of the best months to visit Portugal because you're able to score beach days without large crowds around. With flights priced as little as $293 and a variety of highly-rated yet cheap hotels costing about $72 a night, Lisbon is the perfect vacation for those who want an international trip on a budget. Enjoy local cuisine at the Time Out Market or enjoy a trip around the city to see monuments. Notable attractions include the massive Cristo Rei Christ statue that overlooks the clear blue waters of the Tagus and the Monument to the Discoveries. Other tourist must-sees include the Jerónimos Monastery, Alfama architecture, São Jorge Castle and Belém Tower.

Santorini is calling for those who want stunning ocean views, fewer crowds and cheap airfare. Smaller airlines often offer roundtrip tickets for as little as $108 per person. Stay at a hotel or cut costs by renting an Airbnb, some for only $100 a night. With wineries, museums, hiking trails, beaches and boat tours, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Plus, the island makes a romantic getaway for those on their honeymoon with its intimate coastal restaurants, sunset sails, hot springs and Virginia's Cave Villas Oia.