<p>
No - San Diego has that. ;)</p>
<p>Actually, Charleston and Savannah are only a couple of hours apart. It would be easy to combine visits to both-the architecture,historic homes are lovely. I like both but if I had to pick only one to visit again,it would probably be Charleston.</p>
<p>We absolutely LOVE Monument Valley in October. And The View Hotel is a real treat. The hotel has local guides hang out in the lobby, where you can negotiate a wonderful Jeep powered trip through the valley. We stayed for three fantastic days, H hiked and toured while I painted. [The</a> View Hotel is the only hotel inside Beautiful Monument Valley](<a href=“http://www.monumentvalleyview.com%5DThe”>http://www.monumentvalleyview.com)
The Navajo people were wonderful hosts.</p>
<p>^^ That triggered a thought - what about Zion NP and Bryce Canyon NP in Utah and/or Grand Canyon in Arizona?</p>
<p>That’s funny GLADDad–we incorporated our last trip to Monument Valley into Bryce(2 days)Grand Canyon(1 day) and MV (3 days). Great trip. Fall is the best time of the year to visit the region.</p>
<p>We like to go to FL in late Oct and early Nov. The weather is better and the beaches are nice. We’ll be in West Palm Beach this year. There is always lots of things to do.</p>
<p>I second Charleston. We went there “only” because we were going to North Carolina for a college event. Yes, I am aware that Charleston in South Carolina. We stayed in the historic district for 3 days…and could have stayed longer…Other places in that area are lovely like Kiawah (friend was there for four months due to film production) Lots of golf in both North and South…GREAT food…oh, and southern manners…amazing.</p>
<p>Sevmom, we are opposites. We were in the two cities this spring and both dh and I loved Savannah more. Both, though, are wonderful cities with delicious food.</p>
<p>Seattle or Portland on the West coast has a bit of everything. Zion park is gorgeous too. All of Utah for that matter.</p>
<p>Onward, It’s been many years since I’ve visited and do hope to get back to both Charleston and Savannah some day. That’s what’s so great about them being so close-you really could visit both . I just looked on Tripadvisor and saw the reviews of Mrs. Wilkes’ are still very good. Loved Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil also so really may need to try to get back to Savannah someday! Glad you enjoyed your visit this spring to both cities!
anghad,Just was in Seattle in May and loved it. Portland many years ago. However, it sounded like the OP (post #18) is looking more at the east coast because of travel time.</p>
<p>Austin, Texas. Weather is beautiful in October and November. Lots of trails and rowing and easy drive to Enchanted Rock. And, yeah, WE have the best Mexican food – upscale Fonda San Miguel, fun Chuy’s, cheap Juan in a Million, featured on Man vs. Food. You could catch the Austin City Limits music festival if you plan your trip right. Easy day trip to San Antonio if you want to do that.</p>
<p>I have to second emeraldkitty’s suggestion of the San Juan Islands. For people who love the outdoors, it’s paradise.</p>
<p>How about FL? Weather is perfect, sunny and dry by the end of Sept. Fly into Ft. Meyers, spend 2 nights in Naples on the beach. Naples is a charming town with great restaurants, galleries and antique shops. Rent a car, go to Cork Screw Sanctuary, beautiful boardwalk through cyprus swamps. Take an Everglade airboat tour. You can hike the Everglade trail in Shark Valley. Drive up to St. Petersburg, stay at the Vinoy. Dali and Holocaust Museums, Chilchully Gallery. Rent kayaks, learn how to wind surf. There are lots of hiking and biking trails.</p>
<p>Great Smokey Mountain National Park is beautiful in the fall.</p>
<p>Lots to do on the east or west coasts of Florida. West coast has Tampa, and Tiera Verde Island as well as St. Petersburg Beach, further down the coast there is Marco and Sanibel Islands & Naples, the air boat rides through the Everglades are great…</p>
<p>I also like the Savannah/Charleston idea…anyone I’ve talked to said those areas are great…can’t wait to go myself!</p>
<p>Can you prolong your trip to do the west coast? San Diego, definitely, or Seattle/Portland areas…</p>
<p>Also always wanted to go to Sante Fe area…wasn’t Sedona the best? Loved it! Good luck, let us know where you end up! :)</p>
<p>There are lots of great islands in North Florida and South Georgia. Sept/Oct is the nicest time of the year and the Jacksonville airport is an easy flight from New England. Check out Amelia Island, Little St. Simons Island, St. Simons Island and Sea Island Cloister.</p>
<p>Colorado is nice in the fall. (We get Aspen golden leaves though, not the multi-colored autumn of the Northeast.) It can get cool sometimes in the upper elevations. I can give more hints ideas if needed - with only 5 days, you’d have to set priorities since there is a lot to see. </p>
<p>The CO mountain bikers like to head to Utah in October because there are great mountainbike trails that are too darned hot in ths summer. The Utah parks are really beautiful - I hope to get there some year in October.</p>
<p>^^ They can be nice in winter as well. One time I went to Bryce Canyon around Christmas and each of the orange rock spires had a white ‘hat’ of snow on top. The contrast of the white snow with the orange colored rock was really beautiful. It’s also virtually empty of people at that time of year.</p>
<p>Second (or third) Florida - Sarasota - Ringling Museum is really unique. Siesta Beach one of the best in the world. Tampa/St. Petersburg about 1.5 hours (Salvador Dali anyone?) Good weather in the fall, and in the same time zone! What’s not to love? You can probably get good rates at condos on Siesta that time of year.</p>
<p>Repeating my earlier post about my recommendations for San Diego:</p>
<p>San Diego is Calfornia’s second-largest city. Many people assume San Francisco is second since it is so famous. But San Franciso is actually only 4th-largest. San Diego is also California’s oldest city. Juan Cabrillo was the first European here. He sailed into San Diego bay in 1542, only 50 years after the first voyage of Columbus.</p>
<p>Places to Stay</p>
<ol>
<li>The Hotel Del Coronado (called “The Hotel Del” by the locals) which is on Coronado Island (actually a peninsula). It’s a fabulous old hotel and supposedly the largest wooden structure in the US. Several movies have been filmed there.</li>
<li>The Grand Colonial Hotel. 910 Prospect Street in La Jolla. An old hotel in downtown La Jolla that has been completely refurbished up to modern standards. Great location next to the beach and great ocean views. Terrific gourmet restaurant on the premises. Good location for touring and shopping in trendy downtown La Jolla.</li>
<li>Beyond that there is the usual selection of Hyatts, Marriotts, etc and of course the vacation motels too.</li>
</ol>
<p>Places to Eat</p>
<p>Italian
Lorna’s – My favorite place. 3945 Governor. Moderately priced. It’s a caf</p>