Spring (April–June) and Fall (September–November) when the cities bloom and the autumn leaves turn Instagram gold. Summers can be hot and muggy, but this is still my favorite time to visit because I love sunshine! Winters can be, well, frigid.
Late fall to early spring (October–April) when humidity takes a vacation and hurricane season is safely at bay. Summers are hot and steamy, but hey, that’s what beaches are for!
Late spring (May–June) and early fall (September–October). Winter? Let’s just say unless you’re building a snowman, you might want to skip it.
Fall (September–November) and spring (March–May) when the desert heat won’t fry your flip-flops. Summer can reach serious oven status.
All year, depending on what you’re after! Spring and fall bring the best weather for cities and hikes, summer is glorious on the beaches, and winter is perfect for Northern California wine country.
Winter (December–March) for ski enthusiasts; summer (June–September) for hikers and national park junkies.
Alaska: Summer (June–August) for long days and mild temps.
Hawaii: Spring and fall (April–June, September–November) when it’s less crowded and still warm.
Embrace the road trip. Rent a car and hit the highways—some of the best experiences hide between the big cities.
Whether you’re chasing the bright lights of New York City or that off-the-beaten-path diner in Kansas, the USA makes getting there an adventure all its own. Touch down at the big hitters like JFK, LAX, or Chicago O’Hare—think of them as your travel launchpads. Domestic flights are everywhere, but if you want to take the scenic route, Amtrak’s long-haul train rides let you soak up the rolling hills, deserts, and small towns you might otherwise miss (pro tip: snag a window seat). For the ultimate road trip? Rent a car and get lost on Route 66, or take the Pacific Coast Highway—trust me, I’ve done it, and it’s worth every mile.
Ports like Miami, Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle welcome cruise travelers in style. You can dock in bustling cities, hop off for local excursions, and reboard with a sunburn and a smile. Popular cruise lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian) make it easy to start or end your journey by sea, perfect for those who want to see the skyline from a deck chair with a piña colada in hand.
Make Dynamic
Make Dynamic
Make Dynamic
Make Dynamic
Booked this Bryson City yurt for the ‘ber months and it’s already my top fall pick this year. 🍂
The Junaluska Yurt sleeps six but feels more like a stylish cabin than a yurt, two real queen bedrooms with actual doors, a full kitchen, and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. Check-in is just a door code texted to your phone, no lobby, no waiting.
The real win is outside: wraparound porch, private fire pit, free firewood, a gas grill, and Smoky Mountain sunsets that stop you mid-sentence, picture all of that with October color on the ridgeline. Heads up, the last stretch in is a gravel road, so skip the low-profile rental, and there’s no restaurant onsite, you’re minutes from Bryson City, Dillsboro, and Sylva for dinner.
Two to three nights is the sweet spot. (We actually stayed in the dead of winter and it was still stunning, fall just takes it up a notch.) Full review linked in bio.
Italian food felt like the last thing I expected to find in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains... until I sat down at Ilda in Sylva.🍝
They call it Italian-Appalachian, and that’s not just a tagline. Homemade pasta, craft cocktails, local ingredients pulled straight from the mountains around it, this is the kind of meal that makes you forget you’re two hours from the nearest city. It’s cozy, it’s a little upscale, and it is not a walk-in kind of place, call ahead, because tables go fast on weekends.
It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. But if you’re already making the trip out to Sylva, this is the one reservation worth planning your day around.
Full write-up, including what to order, link in bio.
Booked my fall cabin before September even started, and I’m not sorry about it. 🍂
These are the stays that make you actually want the cold to hurry up fireplaces, mountain views, the kind of porch you don’t leave. Not every one of these is going to fit every trip, but if a cozy fall getaway is on your radar, this is the roundup to start with.
One of my favorite travel seasons is almost here, and I have zero chill about it. 🍁✈️
There’s just something about fall trips cooler air, apple orchards, that first flannel of the season, food that actually makes sense with the weather again. I’m already mentally packing for it before September even starts.
If fall is your favorite time to travel too, tell me where you’re headed... I’m taking notes for the list.
Pack your bags... ✈️🧳My hiking and road trip gear shop just got a refresh, and this is everything that actually earns a spot in my bag. The dry bag pulls double duty for beach days and trail days, the Osprey backpack is the one I grab for anything motorcycle or day-hike related, and the GoPro comes with me literally everywhere at this point.
Nothing on this list is filler it’s all stuff I’ve used, packed, and repacked more times than I can count. Full shop linked in my bio if you want to build out your own kit before your next trip.
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
