Tranquil To Thrilling Travels

The dreading feeling of saying goodbye to bright sunshines and beaches, in return of dull schoolbooks and dry leaves. We all know for a fact what this means, summer is over. The end of the summer may be a bummer, (rhyme intended!) but that is no reason for anyone to be sitting around, already planning for the next summer. You can put whatever activities you had in mind for the summer into good use this fall, why should you wait? Go out, play games, or even travel! Speaking of travel, fall may just be the best season to travel. Seriously! Technicolor leaves, instagram-worthy views, halloween, sweater weather, what is there to not love about fall? 

"In the entire circle of the year there are no days so delightful as those of a fine October, when the trees are bare to the mild heavens, and the red leaves bestrew the road, and you can feel the breath of winter, morning and evening -- no days so calm, so tenderly solemn, and with such a reverent meekness in the air.”

Travelling during the fall is pleasantly warm and blissful. With the summer crowd gone, hotel rates are cheaper and the weather being perfectly cool with a hint of summer lingering in the air, travelling can't get any better than this. Whether you are going on a cruise, hiking up a mountain, making a trip to the city or even as simple as taking a stroll in the park, there will always be something going on in the season of pumpkin spice latte. 

Fall, no matter where it is; be it America, Europe, Asia or even Africa, offers a slightly tamer weather that seems to be a boost for families to travel. Maldives would be one of the places to be, with a relaxing beach aura. Away from the usual noisy uproar of the city, families would definitely get to spend much-needed quality time there. Apart from that, India offers an extravagant time in October as well. It may not exactly be your typical fall with dry and coloured leaves looming everywhere, but the weather is deemed the best that month; and with that period being packed with tons of exciting events, this country will not only bring families closer together, but it will also educate these families on the colourful culture of India. Other family friendly vacations in fall include a fun day trip to the maize crops and maybe a picnic by the lake surrounded by, if I may ironically add, coloured greeneries. 

For those who prefer to be more adventurous with their travels, Yellowstone may just be the answer. The place doesn't exactly have a reason to boast over famous designers or tall skyscrapers as much as other major places do, but there are plenty of wildlife-watching opportunities that would bring delight to extreme travel junkies. The weather is also relatively mild, and with dramatic peaks being paired with pristine lakes, Yellowstone during fall is definitely an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. 

Places that may sound unfamiliar such as Dubrovnik has made tourists coming with zero knowledge of what the place may be in fall, to leaving in such awe and hopes of returning. The peak season for swimming in Dubrovnik is, you guessed it, fall! They say even a walk around the city is more pleasant in fall, when the sun is not penetrating.

We all know the heavenly state of Sabah is on top of the travel list, regardless of any month of the year, but something about the incongruity of the rainfall and the sun that happens in October makes the travelling temptation stronger. Hiking up the Mount Kinabalu just seems a whole lot better. Other places being recommended is New Orleans as many have justified visiting the Big Easy in autumn is a must. This city keeps locals and visitors busy with countless of events, one of them being Oktoberfest.

Of course, the classic San Francisco and New York City is an absolute must on our travel bucketlist. Cool and crisp atmosphere, with occasional spottings of people already dressed up in the spirit of Halloween. The only thing better than New York City and San Francisco is New York City and San Francisco in autumn. 

So, the next time you see a burst of multicoloured leaves and people in sweaters on your instagram, muster up the courage to ask them where they are and maybe, who knows, their location isn't as out of reach as you think. 

Written by Fildzah Farhana and Lydia Leong