Three Ideal U.S. Destinations for Fall Travel

If you thought New England was the only place you could get a real taste of the harvest season in the United States, you thought wrong. There are some ideal cities in the west where you can experience beautiful autumn leaves as well as some of the best fall festivals in the nation.

Denver, Colorado

Colorado is known for its spectacular Aspens that blanket the mountains across the state with beautiful hues of golden bronze and bright yellow. Denver is an ideal city to visit in the fall, with acres upon acres of pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and some of the best autumn festivals in the country.

Anderson Farms in Erie, Colorado, just north of Denver, is the home to the Rocky Mountain state's longest running pumpkin patch and corn maze. Their fall festival begins on September 24 and runs through Halloween each year. The farm offers hayrides out to the pumpkin patch with 30 acres of pumpkins.

At Anderson Farms, you can visit with buffalo and Scottish Highland cattle, as well as animals at the farmyard petting zoo. There are lots of activities for kids, including a barrel train, tire mountain, and rides for both kids and the kid-at-heart. Everyone will love the pumpkin launching, where pumpkins are sent up to a quarter mile into the air.

Denver's Great American Beer Festival is listed on one of the top things to do in the U.S. before you die. Although the 2011 festival has already taken place, you can plan for next year's festival that will take place from October 11 - 13, 2012.

At sunset in Elitch Gardens, Denver's premier amusement park, the park is transformed into a "scream park" with haunted houses, ghosts, ghouls and zombies. Visit from September 25 through Halloween in 2011.

During the week of October 9 through 13, 2011, Denver's restaurants present Harvest Week. The week celebrates Colorado's best produce and products, with some of Denver's best restaurants participating. Menus include items such as farm-raised bison, pork and lamb, combined with Colorado-grown peaches, tomatoes, and other local delights.

Denver is known as the beer and brewing capital of the U.S., and a fall visit wouldn't be complete without experiencing special autumn brews and some good food at the Denver Chophouse & Brewery or Wynkoop Brewing Co.

For accommodations, while you'll find lodging cheaper near the airport, be aware that it's a 45 minute driver, or longer in traffic, to downtown. The Brown Palace is a luxurious historic hotel that sits in a convenient downtown location, or if you're looking for something more budget priced, consider the Hyatt Regency or Ramada, both in downtown Denver.

Taos, New Mexico

To me, Taos exemplifies the state's nickname, "The Land of Enchantment." The area is not only filled with beauty, there is a mystical and almost magical quality to northern New Mexico. Taos is in a high desert mesa at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, and autumn is one of the best times of the year to experience that beauty.

There are many artists who call Taos home, and here you'll find many paintings that are filled with the oranges, reds, ambers and yellows that can be seen across the surrounding mountains in the fall. During the last weekend of October, the skies will be filled with hot-air balloons that lift off at sunrise, and in the mountains above Taos, at Red River, you can attend Oktoberfest, with authentic German food and beers, music, games, and much more.

For those who like the haunted aspects of fall, Taos offers a Paranormal Symposium, that will be held from October 25-30, 2011. The symposium offers a wide variety of workshops, from Native American prophesies to cosmic changes, angels, UFOs, and more. There will also be nightly Native American dances.

True New Mexican cuisine can be found at Orlando's in Taos, offering some of the best chile rellenos that can be had anywhere. The Dragonfly Cafe offers not only the most delicious breakfast that I've ever had in my life, much of it is healthy and homemade.

For lodgings in Taos, consider a stay at Old Taos Guesthouse, a Bed and Breakfast that sits in a peaceful grove of cottonwood and spruce trees. It's not only affordable, but offers spectacular sunset views, and comfortable rooms.

Portland, Oregon

Though the City of Roses may not come to mind in conjunction with the fall, Portland is a great city for an autumn vacation, especially for families. If you're looking for the dazzling colors of autumn leaves, take a scenic drive from Portland through the Columbia River Gorge, where you'll find bright reds and yellows among dozens of cascading waterfalls.

The Portland Zoo, is one of the best in the nation, and there you can watch the elephant herd pulverize gigantic pumpkins, let the kids trick-or-treat in their costumes, or go hunting for Halloween treasures.

Just 15 minutes from downtown Portland you can visit a haunted corn maize, pick a perfect pumpkin, take a hayride, get up close to farm animals, and much more.

Portland is known for being a city filled with great restaurants, and Paley's Palace is one of the best. They offer Northwest cuisine that is local, sustainable and organic, like wild salmon from the Columbia River and Kobe Beef from Idaho. Everything is served right out of the comfort and warmth of a Portland neighborhood Victorian home.

The Hilton Portland offers the best value for accommodations, and is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Portland.

K.C. Dermody is a freelance writer and a Featured Contributor for Yahoo!Travel. She has traveled to nearly all 50 states, and many countries worldwide, and has a passion for imparting what she has learned from her experiences to others.

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