For my birthday in October, I want a few friends and family (4-5 total) to take a short trip together. IT will be the first/mid of October for 4-5 days. I am currently in Dallas so air travel is easy. Would like to keep it domestic. Don't think I want to do NYC or Vegas again. I've been to NOLA and pretty much everywhere in Texas. We've talked about even little small resort towns. I'm not looking for the next BIG ADVENTURE just a nice time with friends and family. Small towns like Fredericksburg, TX and Saugatuck, MI. Staying domestic, not worried about the $, can find reasonable airfare out of DFW and work out the rest. After all, it's my Birthday!

If you haven't been there, you won't believe how beautiful the Big Bend, Texas, area is. Lajitas Resort is one of the places to stay there, and it is fun to explore Marfa and other little towns. The McDonald Observatory and a historic fort are also in the area.

The area around Tucson is beautiful, and there is much to do in that part of Arizona.

HTtY

PS It would help if your subject line gave a clue as to where you are or where you want to go: "Long October Weekend Flying out of Dallas," for instance.

San Francisco is spectacular at that time of year, not small town but excellent place to have a gathering.

Santa Fe is also wonderful at that time of year and your time frame outs you in town for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. A bucket list item for me.

Cape Cod is lovely.
Yellowstone would be fun if you go early in October.
Jackson WY and the Grand Tetons would be GREAT!

Thank you all!I've been to Marfa (brothers went to school in Alpine) but haven't explored too much of AZ here great things!We have actually discussed SanFran, and the Cape is on my bucket list! Such great suggestions!

Fly to Chicago, stay there or drive to Madison or a little town on the Michigan side of Lake Michigan.

Fly to Denver, stay there or go up into the mountains. Fall colors should be good in early October (maybe not if you wait til mid-October).

Minneapolis generally has good weather in early October.

New Orleans, Santa Fe, Nashville, Seattle, Portland

I vote for San Francisco, although the Cape would be great as well-- just after "the season", with the changing leaves of fall providing a lovely backdrop. If you do choose the Cape, I would suggest investigating the towns you're interested in regarding the degree that businesses close shop after "the season".

San Francisco is just fun and beautiful and crazy. And it's a foodie's Paradise, so you won't starve. Weather should be good, with a bit of autumn crisp in the air in the evening. Think about taking a day trip to Napa or Sonoma for some wine tasting; that will be harvest time, a perfect point to learn about wine-making. And oh, the wines...!!

Thank you again! We've done the Chicago/MI trip and love them both! Drove around Lake MI, picked apples, pumpkin patch, the whole nine yards. Stayed in Saugatuck, MI. So many choices!