Third week of October - where to go
 

Have the third week of October off. Would like to go someplace by the beach. Not interested in sunbathing, just walks on the beach, good seafood, and if there was someplace nearby to see some fall foliage, that would be great. Would be coming out of Phoenix, but we can go anywhere in the US. Suggestions?

Oregon! The most beautiful foliage minus the crowds of New England. Cannon Beach is glorious! Any coastal town has great seafood-but favorites are Lincoln City or Newport. Maybe go out on whale watch trip out of Depoe Bay. Portland has a lot to offer and is only 2 hours away!

Hi what about The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. The colors are beautiful in October and there is lots to do and see with alot of good restaurants.There is also Dollywood in Pigeon Forge and you could even drive over to see The Biltmore Home in Asheville,NC and Foders highly rates Asheville.Enjoy your trip where ever you go.

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm

http://www.discoverthesmokies.com/

Just so you know that is hurricane season in Florida and east coast beaches. It is one of my favorite times though to visit the beaches on 30A on the Florida panhandle

Think about the east coast, maybe the Finger Lakes in NY, Maine down to New Jersey on the coast... October is amazing in the Northeast...

i agree with gatlinburglover, the smokey mountain fall foliage is breathtaking. My family and i stayed there at MountainLoft last year it was such a quiet and serene little getaway
http://www.bluegreenrentals.com/land...ount-loft.aspx

Thanks for your ideas. Have never been to the Smokey Mountains, and it sounds great, but also looking for a place where we can see the coast, as well.

How about Newport RI? It's gorgeous, good seafood and there should be nice foliage the third week in October.

The Oregon coast and Newport RI are the two suggestions we are considering. Have been to Newport before and we loved it. Have never been to the OR coast but want to go. Will see where we get the best plane fare and best hotel rates and go from there.

By the 3rd week in Oct., our rainy season has already started here in Oregon. Walking on the beach at our coast will consist of being bundled up quite a bit by that time, if that matters to you. BTW, our foliage is ok if you get up into the mountains, otherwise it isn't very spectacular at all. Especially compared to the NE...no comparison at all really. Don't get me wrong, I love it here in Oregon, but I just didn't want you to plan with any misconceptions:)

Charleston, SC is glorious in mid-late October. You could do a day trip into the mountains of Greenville or Spartanburg or even Asheville, NC to see fall colors.

The northern California coast is gorgeous during the fall. It might be raining near the Oregon border but the further south you go, the more likely it is to be dry. The air temperature will probably be in the 60s and the water is always cold so it definitely won't be sunbathing weather but will be great for walks. There's lots of possibilities - Mendocino, Sonoma Coast State Beach, Big Sur are a few.

Here's a link for info on fall colors: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23487

But some of these locations probably won't have much color until November. Hope you have a great time wherever you go.

hmm. if you want to fall foliage, the beach & great seafood, how about cape cod? my sister-in-laws parents go there every year around that time and love it.

i'm still partial to the smokey mountains though :)

Even though I now live in Oregon and love it, your best bet might be NW Pennsylvania. I used to work for the PA Bureau of Forestry. Fly to and stay in Erie. Presque Isle SP is nice. It has Cottonwood trees and a nice sandy beach on Lake Erie.
You are within a few hours of Niagara Falls or Cleveland and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. You could also visit the Allegheny National Forest.
You probably would be disappointed in Oregon with all the green Pine trees when you are looking for colors other than green.

Thanks for all these suggestions. Looks like I have a lot of research to do.