10 fall getaways from Miami for scenic foliage, new views and small-town vibes

Nestled 90 minutes north of Québec City between the mountains and soft shores of the St. Lawrence River is Club Med’s very first North American mountain resort. The all-inclusive, family-friendly spot opened in 2021 and especially comes alive during the winter months, with world-class ski slopes and gondolas ushering skiers of all skills here and there. 

But don’t skimp on fall—the slopes at Club Med Quebec Charlevoix and pristine mountain terrains evolve into hiking trails, where every shade of foliage shines. On-site, there’s a 23-meter heated pool, outdoor jacuzzi, yoga and meditation classes and variety shows aplenty to keep you entertained.

Don't miss: Amid its restaurant options, pop by Le Chalet for a charcuterie board (or three), showcasing local artisan cheeses, fruits and bites. 

Flight time: 5 hours and 45 minutes from MIA to Quebec City with a layover in Montreal, then a one-hour and 45-minute drive to Club Med Quebec Charlevoix.

Is now the time to fall for this down-to-earth yet burgeoning city? Possibly, with its annual Fall for Greenville festival. Slated for October 11 to 13, more than 80 bands perform on three stages throughout town, and it’s all free. More than 60 eateries—many of whom serve up Southern-inspired delights—line Main Street, too. Beyond the fest, a stroll through Falls Park on the Reedy, which includes a cascading waterfall in the middle of town with a stunning pedestrian bridge over it, dazzles any time of year. 

Don’t miss: Pair a stroll with some locally roasted Methodical Coffee (one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the country) and you’ve achieved fall Zen.

Flight time: 2 hours from MIA to Greenville nonstop.

Too often overlooked as solely a gateway to Banff and Jasper national parks, Calgary is as friendly of a major city as it gets on planet Earth. The Canadian Rockies ever loom in the distance, there’s a glacier river down its center and towering skyscrapers and cultural hotspots aplenty. Among them are the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Calgary Tower observation tower, Heritage Park Historical Village with 200 exhibits for history buffs and, for cocktail lovers, the birthplaces of Canada’s two most iconic drinks, the Shaft and Caesar.

Don't miss: The Calgary Stampede—the largest outdoor rodeo on Earth—garners a lot of buzz in July. For a fall event, ScreamFest runs October 11-31 on the Stampede Park grounds and is the largest Halloween event in the city.

Flight time: 7 hours and 45 minutes from MIA to Calgary with a layover in Denver.

A sign proclaiming “Coolest Small Town, USA” greets you at the entrance of this southeast West Virginia town. Indeed, it was named just that by Budget Travel magazine in 2011 and, here in 2024, Lewisburg remains pretty damn cool. It’s super-quaint downtown includes quaint inns and stays, with Washington Street Quarters being a colonial gem. Beyond town, WV Glamping Domes has set-ups along a creek, with a field primed for firefly-lit strolls. 

Don’t miss: America’s newest national park, New River Gorge, and the e-biking haven of Pipestem Resort Park are all within an hour. The stately-beyond-belief and pastel painted room-filled Greenbrier Resort is right outside of town, too.

Flight time: 4 hours and 15 minutes from MIA to Roanoke, Virginia with a layover in Charlotte, then a 1-hour and 45-minute drive.

Tokyo hustles and bustles year-round, but the fall months are best for seeing its serene gardens and parks pop. Rikugien Gardens is stellar for foliage lovers, particularly in late November. For a stay, check out Hoshino Resorts, which has six Tokyo properties, spanning the ultra-lux Hoshinoyo Tokyo resembling a high-rise ryokan to the sleek and business-oriented OMO 3.

Don’t miss: For ramen lovers, Tokyo Ramen Festa is going down from October 24 through November 4 in Komazawa Olympic Park, attracting 90 of the top ramen makers from across the country in one spot. 

Flight time: 17 hours and 45 minutes from MIA to Tokyo with a layover in Dallas.

Hear that thumpin’ coming from the north? It may be Electric Daisy Carnival Orlando 2024 come November 8 through 10. More than 120 EDM headliners are hitting Camping World Stadium including Fisher, Kaskade, Tiesto, Steve Aoki, Galantis and John Summit. For the more tranquil crowd, hit the Bonnet Creek Resorts area – a stone’s throw from the heart of all the Disney action, with JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek being a standout oasis. 

Don’t miss: Beyond a lux pampering at the Spa by JW or soaks in its two resort pools, catch panoramic vistas nightly of Disney fireworks from its rooftop Japanese restaurant, Illume.

Travel time: 1 hour and 15-minute from MIA to Orlando nonstop or 3-hour and 30-minute Brightline ride.

Some bourbon will warm you right up amid the cooler temps and Lou-vul (that’s how you pronounce it) is heaven for just that. Distilleries and tasting rooms abound in town, Angel’s Envy, Evan Williams and Old Forester among them. For a top-notch tour, venture to James B. Beam Distilling Co. in nearby Clermont. Beyond the friendliest of tour guides, grab lunch at The Kitchen Table on-site, which specializes in locally-bred culinary icons like bourbon balls, burgoo soup and even pizza with crust made from the same yeast strain as Beam’s bourbon. 

Don’t miss: Beyond food, hit Activate, an active gaming facility that has light-up room games that resemble Squid Game fun. You’ll be climbing around, dodging lasers, shooting hoops and more.

Travel time: 2 hours and 30 minutes from MIA to Louisville nonstop.

Calling all Florida Panthers fans: Our beloved Stanley Cup champions face off against the Dallas Stars November 1 and 2—in Finland! Nokia Arena in Tampere is where the action will go down, which is about a two-hour drive north of Helsinki. In addition to a possible excursion to Northern Finland to check out the Northern Lights, Tampere has more than enough to keep you busy. It’s known as the “Sauna Capital of the World” with Rajaportti being the oldest Finnish public sauna still in use. 

Don’t miss: Tampere Cathedral is also stunning to tour, with its wild art inside, including an altarpiece representing the future resurrection of the dead. 

Flight time: 12 hours from MIA to Helsinki with a layover in Oslo, plus a 2-hour drive or 2-hour and 30-minute train to Tampere.

If this Caribbean nation’s coastal cliffs, coral reefs aplenty and aqua blue waters aren’t alluring enough for you this season, perhaps some top-tier chefs (with Miami ties!) will do the trick? Chef Adrianne Calvo (of Miami’s Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Bar, among many other endeavors) and Phillip Frankland Lee (of Sushi by Scratch fame) headline this year’s Caribbean Food & Wine Festival, centering on Grace Bay Resorts’ properties. 

Don’t miss: Slated November 7 to 10, make sure to build in a couple of bonus days to plop it on the squeaky white and clean Grace Bay Beach, regularly voted by publications galore as the best beach in the world.

Flight time: 1 hour and 45 minutes from MIA to Turks and Caicos nonstop.

Yes, Munich’s Oktoberfest gets all the love from the thirsty, lederhosen-dressed peeps this time of year. For a quieter, less touristy version, hit Budapest’s City Park Lake and Ice Rink the weekends of October 4 to 6 and October 10 to 13. More than 300 brews from across Hungary and Bavaria will be available for sipping during its Oktoberfest. While there, there is a Castle District to explore with the Hungarian National Gallery and a changing of the guards regularly at the Royal Palace. 

Don’t miss: Book a stay at two just-opened boutique hotels with 19th-century roots, Kimpton BEM Budapest and Verno House Budapest Vignette Collection. 

Flight time: 15 hours and 15 minutes from MIA to Budapest with a layover in Warsaw.