Autumn Escapes Savor the Season of Change

Esther’s Follies — Enjoy live productions downtown — sketch comedy, political satire, award-winning magic. Come early to enjoy the full bar and taqueria attached to the courtyard.

A Christmas Affair — Austin Jr. League hosts the iconic November five-day holiday market event that helps 200+ small businesses from around the country.

Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In — Smaller is better: Watch indie, art house, cult, Gen X/Y, childhood favorite and drive-in classic films in an intimate setting under the stars.

Annual OktoberFest — Admire the changing foliage, hoist some steins and toss some kegs at Wachusett Mountain, just north of Princeton.

Connors Farm — Head to Danvers and wander the corn maze, take a hayride, pick pumpkins and sample freshly squeezed apple cider.

Parlee Farms — Take your autumn escape to Tyngsborough, where you can visit Annie’s Animal Barns, pick your own flowers, pumpkins and apples and cheer on the kiddos racing “tractors” around the track.

Archer’s favorite leaf-peeping locations in New England:

• • Woodstock, VT
  • Stowe, VT
  • North Conway, NH
  • Manchester, VT
  • Lenox, MA
  • Bar Harbor, ME
  • Bethel, ME
  • Franconia, NH

FRESHFARM Farmers Market — Sundays year-round, find locally grown fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, grass-fed meats and pastured eggs, dairy products, ferments, sweet and savory baked goods, pastries, kombucha, cold-pressed juices, coffee, ice cream, prepared foods, handmade dog treats and more.

Fall Festival — The Fall Festival in Fairfax presents 400+ arts, crafts, food, beer and information vendors. Plenty of amusement rides and children’s activities abound, and three stages host music and entertainment for all ages.

Halloween Carnival — Bring the littles to Cherry Hill Park Saturday, October 28, for spooktacular family fun, including games, inflatables, live music and snacks.

Alstede Farms — Enjoy breakfast or brunch on the farm, which includes a tractor-drawn wagon ride and admission to the seasonal pick-your-own fields and orchards, greet the variety of farm animals and enjoy an outdoor wine tasting.

Ort Farms — Peruse the farm store for fresh produce, take a walk along the Sunflower Trail, “get lost” in the corn maze, find your perfect pumpkin and try a freshly baked pie.

Stony Hill Farms — Explore the greenhouses chock full of plants (including their specialty: orchids), snap photos in the sunflower fields, listen to live music and try homemade flights of ice cream.

Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar — Groove to live music every Thursday, plus a rooftop view unlike any other in the valley.

Napa Farmers Market — Tuesdays and Saturdays, stop by the highly ranked farmers market for farm-fresh goods, specialty foods, artisan product and food trucks while supporting local nonprofits.

Skyline Wilderness Park — Plan your autumn escape and channel your inner adventurer via hiking, biking, horseback riding, disc golf, archery, fishing and picnicking surrounded by a variety of flora and fauna.

Silverado Trail — Follow this quintessential wine route for autumn leaf and vineyard peeping between Oakville Crossroad and Zinfandel Lane and along Hwy 29 traveling to Yountville and St. Helena.

The Met Cloisters — A local favorite: part museum devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe, part scenic overlook with beautiful views of uptown Manhattan.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden — Take a walking tour and enjoy the fall beauty in the Rock Garden, Cranford Rose Garden, Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden and stunning foliage throughout the property.

New York Botanical Garden — Hosting special fall events, including musical performances, woodworking and Shakespeare in the forest, the New York Botanical Garden makes a gorgeous autumn escape.

Bear Mountain State Park — A bus operates directly from Port Authority to the park. Enjoy a fun hike to the top, where Perkins Memorial Tower has beautiful views of the Hudson and the Palisades.

Golden Gate Loop Hike — The 4-mile loop at in Mt. Rainier National Park is a great place to see the seasonal change of colors and is a great family destination.

North Cascades Scenic Highway — Drive the 140-mile highway with many different spots to see along the way. It’s closed during winter, so this is the last chance to see the autumn beauty.

Bob's Corn & Pumpkin Farm — An amazing couples date or a family-fun event that includes a sunflower experience, apple cannon, huge corn maze and bonfires.

Remlinger Farms — Take the family for an autumn escape and check out the farm stand, u-pick fields, amusement park for kids and fire pit rental. Then try their famous mini pies at the restaurant.

Chateau Ste. Michelle — Savor Twilight Hours Friday and Saturday evenings with wine by the glass or bottle (no reservations needed) at one of the region’s favorite wineries. Or take the Grand Estate Tour (reservations suggested), which includes a tasting of four limited-release wines paired with a selection of small bites.

Wolf Trap — Choose from a diverse lineup of musical performances at The Barns. The space is intimate, the acoustics are phenomenal, the full bar serves light sandwiches and snacks and the parking is free.

Capital One Hall — The world-class arts venue hosts Broadway theatre, concerts, comedy shows and family-friendly productions. And it's a 2-minute drive and a 7-minute walk from Archer Hotel Tysons.

Great Falls Park — McLean’s scenic park is home to one of the country’s first canals, as well as hiking trails. A must-see is the Great Falls of the Potomac River, where water rushes over and down the jagged rocks, with the fall foliage creating a breathtaking backdrop.