fall weekend getaways

Escape to Butchart Gardens. (Photo: Getty Images)

Weekend Getaways

The Best Fall Weekend Trips to Take with a Significant Other

All relationships could benefit from a break in routine, and a weekend trip is the perfect way to do that this fall. Whether you and your partner are brand new to the let’s-travel-together stage or have been together for years and want to reconnect in an unfamiliar setting, these small towns, outdoor escapes, and fascinating cities will provide the perfect opportunity.

From the Midwest to Europe, read on to discover our favorite fall weekend trips to spark some romance.

Victoria, BC

Spend a Canadian weekend with your partner in Victoria for the perfect combination of gorgeous views and well-deserved pampering. For the former, you can’t miss the Butchart Gardens, where golden maples emerge in the Japanese Garden, or the Inner Harbour, where you’ll enjoy a long waterfront stroll.

As for the pampering, relax in the Boathouse Spa, which offers three heated outdoor mineral baths on the edge of the Salish Sea. Enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner at Il Terrazzo, voted Victoria’s best Italian restaurant, and explore the Cowichan Valley’s family-owned wineries on a guided tour through scenic landscapes.

Eastern Sierra, CA

Nature-loving couples will love all the outdoor wonders in the eastern Sierra, which stretches from Lone Pine in the south to the Nevada line in the north, including Mount Whitney and the eastern entrance of Yosemite National Park.

fall weekend getaways
Canoe around Mono Lake. (Photo: Getty Images)

Canoe or kayak around the salty Mono Lake to best see the tufa towers—the spot’s unique limestone formations that add an otherworldliness to the lake. To continue on the nature path, drive half an hour to Mammoth Lakes and hike to the breathtaking Rainbow Falls, named for the spectacular rainbows reflected off the water in the sun.

Since the hiking trail isn’t too shaded, early fall is the perfect time to make the trek without feeling overheated. And don’t leave the area without seeing the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains, about a two-hour drive from Mono Lake. It’s home to the oldest trees in the world, and open through mid-November.

You’ll lose cell reception along the way, but that just makes it easier to simply enjoy one another’s company.

Hocking Hills, OH

Need a break from the Midwest’s cities and suburbs? Take your partner to Hocking Hills, home of the state park recognized as the best campsite in the country.

Spend your days hiking the numerous trails, admiring Cedar Falls, and walking through the impressive Ash Cave, before stargazing the night away at John Glenn Astronomy Park, where you can experience the sky by telescope and see a nearly pristine view of it by eye.

fall weekend getaways
See the waterfalls near Hocking Hills. (Photo:Getty Images)

As for food, pack a picnic, or head to the nearby Historic Downtown Nelsonville for yummy dining options like Rhapsody, which prides itself on locally-sourced ingredients.

Reims, France

A 45-minute train ride from Paris, French couples (or those visiting!) must travel to Reims for a weekend escape. Aside from the fact that there are jaw-dropping historical sites, monuments, and cathedrals everywhere—like Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims, Basilique Saint-Remi, and Palais du Tau, to name a few—the area embodies romance with its signature champagne.

fall weekend getaways
Visit a Champagne vineyard and sample the wares. (Photo: Getty Images)

For the ultimate experience, book a tour to learn everything about the French bubbly, and make sure a tasting is included to sip it for yourselves. We recommend a Moët et Chandon and Taittinger tour, both must-see champagne houses.

Sullivan Catskills, NY

Leave the stress of New York City behind with a 90-minute trip to the Sullivan Catskills, where you can reconnect with your significant other amidst pretty foliage, farm-to-table eats, and fun fall activities.

The region is jam-packed with autumn festivals for couples who like to stay busy—there’s the Oktoberfest at Roscoe Beer Co. (voted the best craft brewery in New York); the Wine Festival and Craft Beer Festival at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts; and the annual Catskills Wine and Food Festival (complete with celebrity chefs, live music, private tastings, and over 25 live cooking demonstrations).

The area is also chock-full of outdoor activities, with plenty of places to hike and optimal leaf-peeping. For foodie couples, the local, family-owned Northern Farmhouse Pasta is a must-try, as is the Pickled Owl, an upscale gastropub that sources ingredients locally. Top off the meal with drinks at Abandoned Hard Cider, a historic barn cidery that reclaims apples from wild and abandoned orchards.

This article was published through a partnership with Jetsetter magazine. Read the original story: The Best Fall Weekend Trips to Take with a Significant Other by Jackie Homan, a regular contributor to Jetsetter.

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