20 Ideas for the Perfect Romantic Fall Getaway

Middleburg, Virginia

Featuring quaint streets lined with 18th-century buildings, the town of Middleburg makes a charming introduction to Loudoun County, northern Virginia’s bucolic horse country. You can spend the morning browsing antique shops and local galleries, then head a few streets over to horse farms and wineries that offer a spectacular backdrop of fall foliage from mid-October to the beginning of November.

The Salamander Resort & Spa often has packages just for couples, like the Season of Romance special, which includes a bottle of sparkling wine, handmade pastries, and a $100 nightly resort credit "to be used on romantic dining, couple's massages, intimate trail rides, and so much more." The resort’s spa features a two-person suite with a private wraparound stone patio and garden, an outdoor hot tub, and a fireplace.

After a bit of pampering, go for a four-course locavore dinner at the Red Fox Inn's tavern, set in a 1728 stone building with period furnishings.

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Just 45 minutes from Portland, the Willamette Valley promises exceptional restaurants, hiking trails, hot-air balloon rides, wine tours by helicopter or horse, and scenic countryside prime for picnicking. There are roughly 700 wineries in the area, including Anne Amie in the rolling hills of the Yamhill-Carlton District and Ardiri Winery, where you can sit fireside and gaze at the Chehalem foothills.

After a day of tastings, retreat to The Allison Inn, where you can unwind with a couple’s treatment in the 15,000-square-foot spa, complete with landscaped garden terraces and fire pits. You’ll be refreshed for dinner at Jory, which boasts dishes sourced from the hotel’s 1.5-acre vegetable garden and an 800-bottle wine list.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Hike hand-in-hand through Acadia, Maine’s only national park, while keeping an eye out for broad-winged hawks and moose along the pine-fringed trails. It’s worth starting early to see the sunrise from the top of 1,530-foot Cadillac Mountain.

Spend the rest of the day exploring Acadia attractions like the scenic Schoodic Byway, granite sea cliffs, and carriage roads around Eagle Lake that are perfect for biking. The park teems with crowds during the summer high season, so visiting in autumn means a higher chance of getting the trails to yourself. Soak up more rugged New England scenery from the Bar Harbor Inn, a shingled lodge on Frenchman Bay with eight acres of gardens, a spa, and proximity to Bar Harbor’s shops and restaurants.

Greenough, Montana

Food, romance, and adventure are in the air at The Resort at Paws Up, a 37,000-acre Montana ranch. For foodies and wine lovers, Montana Master Chefs is the event of a lifetime with world-class cuisine and exquisite vino. Get up close and personal with a group of James Beard Award winners, finalists, and nominees every September.

For a thrilling date, hop aboard a private helicopter to Glacier National Park (otherwise a three-hour drive from the resort) and peep the changing colors. For something more relaxing, spend an afternoon at Spa Town, the resort’s cluster of white tents surrounded by nature, for luxurious treatments, yoga classes, and pure bliss.

Bradford, Pennsylvania

In northwest Pennsylvania, the small town of Bradford erupts in vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red each fall. A chill rolls in at night, encouraging couples to snuggle up by a bonfire around Skipper Lake. Settle in at the Lodge at Glendorn, where you can stay in the main lodge — with its impressive two-story sandstone fireplace, beamed cathedral ceilings, stained-glass windows, and sunporch — or in a private cabin by running streams.

Enjoy a picnic spread for two prepared by the lodge’s chef, or take matters into your own hands by attending a custom cooking class (think deboning stream-caught trout and preparing vegetables freshly picked from the culinary garden).

Big Sur, California

Big Sur shines brightest in the fall when the forecast calls for clear, warm days and cool, starry nights. Do your stargazing at the Post Ranch Inn, which has not only an enviable position overlooking the Pacific Coast but also one of the largest hotel telescopes in the United States. Epicureans will also appreciate the hotel’s romantic restaurant, which hosts a four-course wine-pairing experience 1,200 feet above the breaking waves. Back in your guest room, you can settle in by the fireplace and watch migrating whales — with some help from the supplied binoculars.

Head to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park in time for a romantic coastal sunset, or time your visit to October’s Big Sur River Run, known as the most beautiful 10K in the world.

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston’s cobblestone streets and moss-draped live oaks set the scene for romance. A dynamic food scene has been brewing here, and you can take a culinary tour that starts with sweet tea and grits and ends with Carolina barbecue. Couples who stay in one of the five historic buildings (all circa 1804) at Zero George can also sign up for a Lowcountry cooking class with a guest chef in the kitchen carriage house.

Finish your tour of Charleston with a romantic dinner at Husk or Circa 1886. Then, toast your good fortune while gazing at the city from Market Pavilion Hotel's rooftop bar.

Park City, Utah

The slopes don’t open until the end of November, so fall is the time to enjoy Park City’s still-temperate weather and other outdoor adventures like hiking and mountain biking. This is also a mountain town with serious culture, demonstrated by the Kimball Art Center and live-music venue Eccles Center.

Treat yourselves to a stay at one of the Natural Retreats in Deer Valley, The Canyons, and Silver Star. Some of these properties come with stocked private bars, hot tubs, gourmet kitchens, and pool access. But if a boutique hotel is more your style, check in to Washington School House's 16-foot-ceilinged King Room, which features a wrought-iron bed dressed in crisp white linens, an antique crystal chandelier, and a white marble bathroom with heated floors.

Barnard, Vermont

At the all-inclusive resort Twin Farms, couples are treated to an upscale cabin experience complete with a hot tub and a crackling fire. You can picnic among the 300-acre property’s meadows and apple orchards or feast on dinner in the 20,000-bottle wine cellar. Get your hearts racing with a round of tennis, a canoe outing on Copper Pond, or a bike ride along area trails. You can even play croquet or try your hand at fly-fishing at the resort’s fully stocked pond. Rejuvenate any sore muscles at the Bridge House Spa, where amenities include glass-brick steam rooms and a furo — a Japanese hot soaking tub — with views of Vermont’s brilliant fall foliage.

Asheville, North Carolina

Extreme elevations and more than 100 species of deciduous trees give the Blue Ridge Mountains one of the most vibrant leaf seasons worldwide. Thrill-seeking couples can glide above the forest side by side on Navitat's mountaintop zip line. Other Asheville area adventures include biking, horseback riding, and river floating trips from the Biltmore Estate. The historic home hosts an array of activities, including a Red Wine and Chocolate Tasting. And for more sweetness, the Chocolate Lounge at French Broad Chocolates has an outrageous menu of handcrafted cakes, brownies, bonbons, and drinking chocolate (think ganache-based liquid truffles in creative flavors such as cayenne and cinnamon, Indian kulfi, or steamy Oaxacan hot chocolate with almonds, cinnamon, and almond milk). You can also fill up on seasonal treats at the Urban Orchard Cider Co. tasting rooms, which feature unique ciders inspired by desserts like chocolate-covered strawberries and bananas Foster.

Missouri Wine Country

The area around Hermann and Augusta — 40 miles apart by car — counts a handful of boutique wineries. It’s one of Missouri’s leisurely wine trails and comes with the bonus of rich fall colors, peaking in mid-October. Plan your itinerary with stops at Chaumette Winery and nearby Cave Vineyard's biscotti bar (flavors range from traditional anise and almond to modern snickerdoodle and bacon chocolate chip). Then, head to Katy Trail State Park, the nation’s longest rails-to-trails conversion, before ending your adventure at Les Bourgeois Blufftop Bistro with a romantic meal overlooking the Missouri River Valley.

Saugatuck, Michigan

Saugatuck has been a haven for artists since the 19th century, with plenty of galleries, as well as beachy pursuits like paddlewheel boat cruises and open-air Jeep dune rides. Go for beer tastings at Saugatuck Brewing Company, and pick from dozens of apple varieties at Crane Orchards. This is bed-and-breakfast territory, and romantic options include The Belvedere Inn & Restaurant and Wickwood Inn, which hosts evening candlelight cocktails.

Make dinner reservations at The Southerner, an Appalachian comfort food restaurant founded by two-time James Beard-nominated chef Matthew Millar. Try the shrimp with grits or split Nana's fried chicken with your date.

Washington, Connecticut

With gardens, a pond, and woodland, the Mayflower Inn & Spa is a place for couples to take things slow. You can admire the changing leaves from a wraparound porch, dine on locavore dishes prepared by the culinary team, or enjoy a facial with organic local ingredients in the 20,000-square-foot spa. The 30-room inn also makes a convenient jumping-off point for exploring Mount Tom State Park or Lake Waramaug, antiquing in Litchfield Hills, or driving to the prerevolutionary village of Kent or the beautiful covered bridge at West Cornwall.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

At the southern gateway of Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park, couples are greeted with crisp autumn air, golden aspens, a bundle of activities on their doorstep, and wildlife galore. The ultra-luxurious Amangani does its part to pamper visitors; you can lounge in deep soaking tubs or get an après-hike foot massage. The resort also arranges excursions, including private trips to Jenny Lake (a favored spot for elk, which mate in fall).

Alternatively, the Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa offers packages that take advantage of the season's renowned fly-fishing. Outings include a leisurely float trip along the Snake River for unbeatable views of the foliage, the grandeur of the Teton Range, and — of course — honey holes teeming with cutthroat trout prime for the catching.

Alys Beach, Florida

Mediterranean-style white buildings line the walkable streets of Alys Beach, a private community along a beautiful stretch of the Florida Panhandle. It’s easy to while away the day with your partner at the white-sand beach or the 100-foot, saltwater Caliza Pool and its candlelit alfresco restaurant. You can also go paddleboarding, bike in search of butterflies, or take a walk in the rare coastal dune lakes nearby. Autumn ushers in the lowest vacation rental prices of the year, moderate temperatures, and outdoor food and area wine events like Rosemary Beach Uncorked and the Seeing Red Wine Festival.

Kohler, Wisconsin

One of the Midwest’s most luxurious resorts, The American Club at Destination Kohler, happens to be strategically located two hours from Chicago and one hour from Milwaukee. You can retreat to a room in the Carriage House or splurge on the Eau de Vie Suite with a glass fireplace adjacent to your overflowing chromotherapy bath.

Kohler is known for golf courses like Blackwolf Run, and fishing is excellent in the fall. (For a more indulgent water experience, the spa offers hydrotherapy services, plunge pools, a whirlpool, and the sound of nearby waterfalls.) Hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and horseback riding are other popular pastimes. Enjoy a romantic dinner outdoors at Whistling Straits Clubhouse, which overlooks the golf course and Lake Michigan.

Greensboro, Georgia

Get acquainted with the southern town of Greensboro by strolling together down Main Street, past antique shops and elegant mansions. Along the shore of Lake Oconee, you’ll find The Ritz Carlton Reynolds, which lures couples with its plush rooms (featuring Frette linens and marble baths), 99 championship golf holes, and a 30,000-square-foot spa. Biking, kayaking, fishing, tennis, and exploring by Segway are also on the agenda. On a cool evening, warm up by the campfire for sophisticated s'mores.

Texas Hill Country

In Sonora, where the Texas Hill Country and the Chihuahuan Desert meet, JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa sets the scene for romance with horseback riding, wine tastings, live music, and spa packages. For a touch of true Texas, participate in a "cowboy cookout," whisky tasting, or guided stargazing while sharing a blanket with your significant other.

Take a road trip down Highway 290, aka the Texas Wine Trail, to discover dozens of wineries, such as William Chris Vineyards and Barons Creek Vineyards. Looking to make a day of it? Book a private wine tour leaving from Fredericksburg so you can both indulge in tastings.

Hocking Hills, Ohio

Caves, sandstone cliff overlooks, waterfalls, and hiking trails like the Rim Trail at Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve are yours to explore in this section of southeastern Ohio. You can rent a rustic cabin at Hocking Hills State Park, which features rock formations like Old Man’s Cave, a narrow, deep gorge with waterfalls. Or, stay in a yurt or geodome at the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls, where you can indulge in delicious meals and spa treatments. Add a dash of fairytale-like romance to your getaway at Ravenwood Castle, a 12th-century turreted hotel that hosts murder-mystery parties in the fall.

Rancho Santa Fe, California

Thirty miles north of San Diego, you’ll find the rarefied small town of Rancho Santa Fe, the former hangout of 1930s stars like Bing Crosby, with mansions, a world-class golf course, and traditional horseback riding to show for it. Still, the vibe here is laid-back. You can browse Main Street’s boutiques and the Rancho Sante Fe Farmers Market, held each Sunday morning.

At Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, explore coastal trails along dramatic sandstone bluffs. The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe feels like a romantic country retreat, with cottages set along garden pathways. Kick back with cocktails on the croquet lawn in front, and take advantage of the couple’s spa suite with a private outdoor courtyard featuring a shower and tub.