Where to travel in September in the US
Sip wine in Central California or eat your way through Chicago this September.


With kids heading back to school and temperatures starting to drop, you might feel sad to see summer in the rearview mirror. But don’t sleep on September, that blissful, in-between time filled with warm days, cool nights, and subtle shifts in nature. In many parts of the country, September is when the leaves start to turn colors and farmers harvest their delicious crops. Below, a few of our favorite U.S. destinations for making the most of the month.
Looking to head overseas? Visit our guide to the best places to travel in September around the world.
Central Coast, CA

In September, summer crowds along the coast of Central California’s Highway 1 are long gone, but the weather is still be warm and breezy—the perfect combination for exploring the charming small communities along this 100-mile route, including San Simeon, Cayucos, Oceano, and Avila Beach. It’s also an ideal time for watching elephant seals at the Piedras Blancas Rookery, as September marks the start of the “fall haul-out,” when juvenile seals flock to the beach.
September also marks the beginning of harvest season for the region’s many award-winning wineries. Stop by the Sinor-LaVallee tasting room in downtown Avila Beach, where you can taste and smell the coastal terroir of grapes grown a little more than a mile from the Pacific. We recommend snagging a seat on the colorful, sunshine-y patio (which is great for people-watching) and treating yourself to shuck-them-yourself oysters and caviar. Biddle Ranch Vineyard in Edna Valley and Hearst Ranch Winery in San Simeon (located just a few minutes from the iconic Hearst Castle) are also great options.
Travelers say: “The vibe [at Biddle Ranch] was laid back hippie-ish, and they were very dog-friendly, which we very much appreciated. The truly amazing part was the snack box with a mushroom pate that was divine! It was so good that I topped my filet mignon with it the next day and went to heaven.”—@warrenbruin
Make your home base at The Pacific Motel, a brand-new boutique hotel that’s just a few minutes walk from Cayucos State Beach. Book one of the private bungalows, which have a patio, a fireplace, and a sun-drenched window seat that’s ideal for reading a book with a cup of local Spearhead coffee in hand (complimentary for all guests). Outside your room, pedal around Cayucos on one of the property’s Linus bikes, play ping-pong, or cozy up around a firepit. There’s even an outdoor shower and foot wash station for rinsing off after a day at the beach.
Golden, CO

In 1868, Adolph Coors boarded a ship in Germany as a stowaway and made his way to the United States, finding a home in Golden, CO, a small mining community in the foothills of the Rockies. The brewer’s apprentice thought the snowmelt running through town in Clear Creek would make crisp, delicious beer and, in 1873, he opened a brewery. Since then, Coors has become a household name and Golden continues to produce more beer than any other town in the world. This year, the brewery—located 20 minutes from downtown Denver—is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a big street festival on September 30, complete with live music, brewery tours, and, of course, plenty of beer.
Even if you can’t make it for the anniversary party specifically, you can still enjoy a beer-centric vacation. Coors offers brewery tours and tastings most Thursdays through Sundays (check the website for the latest availability), but there are also many local craft breweries to sip your way through. Pull up a seat at the spacious, dog-friendly beer garden of New Terrain Brewing Company, where you can order snacks from a rotating food truck, or head to Holidaily Brewing Company, which crafts delicious brews using millet and buckwheat, meaning gluten-intolerant travelers can sip with abandon.
Travelers say: “We went [to the Coors Brewery] in a group of four and had the best time!! We did a morning tour (10:40 a.m. on a Saturday) and it was perfect. Great to go before it started to get crowded.” —@820faithf
Book a room at The Eddy Taproom & Hotel, located right along the banks of the very same Clear Creek that first inspired Coors. Invite your friends along and snag the haystack junior suite, which has two twin beds lofted over two queens, as well as a sofa sleeper. After a day spent exploring Golden, head to The Eddy’s spacious outdoor lawn for a game of giant chess or cornhole while munching on a warm house pretzel with beer cheese and mustard.
Chicago, IL

September in Chicago is all about food, with multiple food festivals throughout the month that suit nearly every palate imaginable. First up is Taste of Polonia, which runs September 1–4 and is the largest Polish festival in the nation. As you might imagine, Polish food plays a starring role in this four-day affair, and we recommend eating as many pierogis, potato pancakes, sausages, blintzes, and paczki as possible.
This year, Taste of Chicago was postponed from its usual July dates until September 8–10. This beloved annual festival has been a staple for more than 40 years and features concerts, local food vendors, and gorgeous lakefront scenery in Grant Park. Take public transit or ride a bike if you can, as more than a million people attend every year and parking can get a little hairy. As if that wasn’t enough, Chicago’s German-American Oktoberfest and the Lincoln Park GyroFestival are also happening over the same weekend.
If you can’t take PTO until later in the month, plan your trip around Chicago Gourmet from September 21–24. Events range from a rooftop tacos and tequila party to a decadent “Grand Cru” tasting. And if you’re still hungry after all that, make a reservation at Virtue Restaurant in Hyde Park—the restaurant’s chef, Damarr Brown, won this year’s James Beard Award for best emerging chef.
Niagara Falls, NY

If you’ve never been to Niagara Falls—or if it’s just been a while since your last visit—make this September the time to go. Once students head back to school, the crowds thin out, meaning you won’t be elbowing quite other travelers for a good look at the falls. Plus, the free Niagara shuttle runs on weekends throughout September and into early October, which makes getting around easy.
There are two Travelers Choice Award–winning tours we’d recommend to see the falls at their finest. The first is the Maid of the Mist boat tour, which has been giving sightseers an up-close view of the rushing water for more than 150 years. The second? Cave of the Winds, where you can feel the power of the 181-foot-tall Bridal Veil Falls from a viewing platform built practically beneath the rushing water. Be sure to pack your passport too, for a quick trip across the Rainbow Bridge to the Canadian side to check out the 2,000-foot-long tunnel that runs beneath the falls at the Niagara Parks Power Station.
Travelers say: “Soaked is an understatement. Great ride—I swear it’s like riding into a hurricane in a good way. My suggestion is to do Cave of the Winds first, [since] you get a bag for your shoes and you can keep the sandals they give you for Maid of the Mist. …[The water] is very cold, [so] dress in layers. …It’s about 20 degrees cooler near the falls and windy. Bring a warmer jacket just in case.”—@maries476
The region also has several fun food-centric festivals in September, like the Niagara County Peach Festival—which features a parade and plenty of decadent peach shortcake—and, later in the month, the Harvest and Hops Festival, where you can sip craft beer and peruse the wares of more than 100 artisans. Love wings? The zesty buffalo chicken wings this region is so famous for are the stars of the National Buffalo Wing Festival held at Highmark Stadium over Labor Day weekend.
Jackson, WY

As summer fades into fall but before the ski lifts start up, Jackson comes alive with color: Visit Grand Teton National Park (the southernmost visitor center is about a 20-minute drive from Jackson) and keep your eyes peeled for the region’s many aspen, cottonwood, and willow trees, whose leaves usually start to turn in the middle of the month. For the best view and photo ops, head to the Snake River Overlook, where you’ll see dazzling aspens contrasting against darker evergreens, with the craggy Tetons in the background.
What’s more, September marks the return of the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, a beloved annual gathering that includes more than 50 events in 12 days. One of the most popular is the “Quickdraw,” during which 30 artists have just an hour and a half to complete a masterpiece inspired by the town’s rugged natural setting—all under the watchful eyes of an audience. When time is up, their pieces hit the auction block, making for one-of-a-kind souvenirs.
Just know, no matter what time of year you visit, a stop at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, where you can sit on a saddle-clad barstool or dance the night away to live music, is practically compulsory—cowboy hats and boots are recommended.
Cincinnati, OH

Can’t make an overseas trip to Munich for Oktoberfest this year? Head to Cincinnati instead, host to one of the biggest celebrations in the U.S. Slated for September 14–17, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati includes all the Bavarian-inspired activities you could imagine, from stein-hoisting competitions to a “running of the wieners” costumed dog race. Of course, you’ll find plenty of beer and food around too, including potato pancakes, bratwurst, soft pretzels, and strudel.
And even if you can’t make the trip for the festival itself, you can still get a taste of German cuisine and beer by visiting Cincy restaurants like Mecklenburg Gardens Restaurant and The Lübecker. And speaking of beer, the city also has a thriving craft brewery scene: Enjoy the September sun on the patio at MadTree Brewing’s Oakley taproom, a massive, dog-friendly spot with plenty of room to spread out. In the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, venture to Rhinegeist Brewery for a relaxing afternoon filled with beer, corn hole, and ping pong in a historic warehouse.
Travelers say: “I have had so few authentic experiences at German restaurants, but [Mecklenburg Gardens] made my year! They served truly authentic sauerbraten and I loved every single bite. They also offered so many kid-friendly options that you really have no reason not to go.”—@Mianellasmom