Chasing Sunnier Skies This Fall
Do you hold on to the past? Before you answer Mr.-still-wears-acid-wash or Mrs.-these-shoulder-pads-make-my-waist-look-thinner, we’re talking to those of you still holding on to summer. The signs are in that fall is here to stay (the leaves are turning, kids are back in school and the Phillies/Mets blew their leads in the post-season race). But that doesn’t mean you can’t travel in search of summer. Before you complain about angry fall weather Dorothy, there are plenty of sun and sand destinations out of the hurricane and tornado path.
Santa Cruz, CA flights | hotels | cars
With 29 miles of beaches, 14 state parks, 50 wineries and over 300 days of sunshine, Santa Cruz offers the perfect setting for outdoor activities. Start your day with some delicious French toast at Aldo’s on the pier. Then head downtown to the cultural and social center of Santa Cruz on Pacific Avenue, where you can find information about outdoor activities, gallery openings and special events. Have lunch at Aqua Bleu Sushi where the fish is fresh and the drinks are strong. After lunch, head down to Cowell Beach for a surfing lesson or rent a bike and ride four miles to Wilder Ranch State Park for some mind-blowing trails. Reward yourself that afternoon with a bottle of wine from the local winery Bonny Doon (we love their whites) or a soak in a hot tub at Well Within. If you’re in Santa Cruz on a weekend, finish your day by going to the 100-year-old Santa Cruz Boardwalk and take a ride on the Big Dipper roller coaster.
Orbitz Package Deal: Experience the small bayside city of Santa Cruz for only $432 (Flight + 3nt Hotel)
Flagstaff, AZ flights | hotels | cars
With a wide array of hotels and other lodging, Flagstaff is an excellent location for several “dry” day trips including Sedona’s red rocks (an hour south) and the Grand Canyon (90 minutes north.) Drive down historic Route 66 and take in the charming cafes, motor courts, and the famous old watering hole, The Museum Club. Head a few miles west of the city to the 200-acre botanical garden at The Arboretum, where you’ll see one of America’s largest collections of high country wildflowers and a pretty cool Wild Birds of Prey program. Think your mother-in-law’s mouth is the largest hole on earth? If so, you’ll enjoy seeing a close second in the Barringer Meteor Crater, touted as the world’s best reserved crater. Visit the Interactive Learning Center for the inside scoop on the big ole hole. And at night, head over to the Lowell Observatory, an astronomical research center at which the planet Pluto was discovered. Let us know if you see Uranus. You might even be able to spot a tropical storm with one of the telescopes. Lucky for you, you’ll be safe and dry thousands of miles away.
Orbitz Package Deal: Visit the Grand Canyon or red rocks of Sedona; Flight + 3-nt Hotel from $515pp
Zanzibar, Tanzania flights | hotels | cars
If you’ve worked out all summer and you’re not about to let a little wind and rain keep you from showing off your fantastic body, then head over to the cluster of islands that make up Zanzibar, where it’s bikini season for everyone (especially large, hairy men from Eastern Europe). Stay on Mnemba Island, which is surrounded by humpback whales, dolphins and the occasional whale shark. Take a 90-minute jet boat ride to the main island of Zanzibar and then grab a taxi to the south coast to the Menai Bay Conservation Area which protects endangered sea turtles that come to breed on the island (how’s that for romance). Once on Zanzibar, you must also visit Stone Town, a UNESCO site blending Moorish, Middle Eastern, Indian, and African traditions and architectures, filled with mosques, bazaars, and 19th century dwellings. And be certain to have dinner on the wharf in Stone Town. For a couple of bucks, you can hear local music and sample local fish, food and drinks. They might even make you a Hurricane- a little fruit juice plus a lot of rum adds up to a very good time.
Orbitz Package Deal: Dr. Livingstone, I presume…5-Star Zanzibar Hotel for $196nt
Futaleufu River, Chile flights | cars
Miss outdoor sports about now? Spice up your fall vacation with a whitewater adventure with a trip down the Futaleufu River in Chile. It’s spring in Chile don’t forget and the snow from the mountains is melting into the rivers which means killer rapids! Clear waters, rainforests, alpine setting, boulders and waves also make for a coveted rafting experience. Plunge right in on the Bridge to Bridge and get warmed-up for your rough and rugged excursion. Then head to Inferno Canyon and explore the roaring whitewater and tranquil pools. Try the popular sport of canyoning by rappelling down the rocks and waterfalls after an afternoon of mountain climbing. Indulge in some bird watching, swimming, and relaxation. Then hit the rapids and try the Terminator Section, it’ll kick butt and take names so hold on tight. You can also combine your rough and rustic vacation with some horseback riding with Chilean cowboys and organic wine sampling of Chile’s finest. You’ll come back ripped, tan and maybe a little hungover.
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Did you know?
Interested in a past issue of Kayak Trip Ideas? Every issue, from the ones you love to hate like clothing optional beaches to the ones you ate up like world’s best street food, is archived in our Trip Idea section. Not only can you reread these classics but you can post comments as well.Whether you’d like to recommend another destination not included in an issue or want to share insider secrets on one of the destinations covered, our readers (and our employees) are interested in what you think.
Bring back some sun for us,
Steve and Paul, Kayak founders