Keep reading for our top ten travel destinations in October.
October is a great month to travel because of the comfortable temperatures, fewer tourists, and off-season deals that you can take advantage of. There are countless destinations that you could hit up but its not possible to go to every single one so we’ve compiled a few of the best vacation spots.
Be sure to check events you may have arranged or planned as they may be cancelled or postponed. In addition, you can check out our best credit card bonuses here to maximize savings.
1. Alberta (Canada)
Alberta (Canada)
| Average Temperature | 57°F high; 31°F low |
| October Events | Edmonton International Film Festival Jasper Dark Sky Festival Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival |
Alberta is a province in western Canada and is home to Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies. There are tons of things to do outdoors such as hiking, boating, cycling, fishing, whitewater rafting, golfing and more. For a beautiful view, hop on the Jasper SkyTram, the Banff Gondola or the Lake Louise Gondola. If you like trains, experience Alberta through the Vacations by Rail programs.
October’s in Alberta begin with the Edmonton International Film Festival where over 150 films will be screened. Then, the Jasper Dark Sky Festival, featuring music, a photography workshop, lectures and plenty of stargazing. Foodies will have a blast at the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival, a two-day event with wine, spirits, beers and tastings from local restaurants.
2. Sonoma County, California (USA)
Sonoma County, California (USA)
| Average Temperature | 79°F high; 46°F low |
| October Events | Sonoma County Harvest Fair |
The weather during the month of October in Sonoma County is comfortably warm, with the trees and vines turned gold-ish and orange, and the grape harvest nearly finished.
Known for their amazing wine tasting, check out the Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens in Fulton, the Flowers Vineyards & Winery in Healdsburg, and Bricoleur Vineyards in the Russian River Valley.
If you’re a comic strip fan and love Peanuts, pay a visit to the Charles M. Schulz Museum to meet cartoonists, mess around wtih crafts and browse Snoopy’s Gallery and Gift Shop.
Finally, the Sonoma County Harvest Fair in Santa Rosa celebrates October with tastings and fun competitions.
3. Nashville, Tennessee (USA)
Nashville, Tennessee (USA)
| Average Temperature | 72°F high; 50°F low |
| October Events | Breakaway Music Festival Grand Ole Opry |
October in Nashville is quite pleasant with cooler weather and the summer tourists gone back home. Live music is something you should definitely check out here. In October, there’s the Breakaway Music Festival and the Grand Ole Opry.
Other Nashville activities include cheering at a Tennessee Titans game and enjoying on some local foods, especially their famous hot chicken!
4. Sicily (Italy)
Sicily (Italy)
| Average Temperature | 76°F high; 64°F low |
| October Events | Le Vie dei Tesori Ottobrata Zafferanese Funghi Fest Sagra del Pistacchio Ibla Buskers Scale del Gusto Ballaro Buskers I Sapori degli Iblei |
The air and sea are still warm in Sicily around October. Travel should be significantly less than the busy summer months. This is around harvest season so there will be plenty of fresh olives, almonds, chestnuts, wild mushrooms, prickly pears and festivals.
La Vie dei Tesori is an eight weekend celebration between September and November for the heritage of Palermo. Here you can visit 400 sites, including palaces, secret terraces, monasteries, churches, crypts, gardens and science museums, with a single pass.
Ottobrata Zafferanese, Scale del Gusto and I Sapori degli Iblei are great events if you want to see the various food and produce of the region. The Funghi Fest and Sagra del Pistacchio celebrate with mushrooms and pistachios, a Sicily specialty.
If you are tired of the food, Ibla Buskers and Ballaro Buskers are festivals where you can see the street performances from acrobats, bands, jugglers, actors and more.
5. Chicago, Illinois (USA)
Chicago, Illinois (USA)
| Average Temperature | 63°F high; 50°F low |
| October Events | Chicago Marathon Chicago International Film Festival Open House Chicago |
Chicago is the home to deep dish pizzas, hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches. After a quick bite, go on a sunset river cruise, walk along the Chicago Riverwalk, or pay visit the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Science and Industry.
Thousands of runners and millions of spectators migrate to Chicago for the Chicago Marathon which routes through 29 neighborhoods. The Chicago International Film Festival showcases over 150 short/full length films from 50 different countries. The annual Open House Chicago allows visitors free, behind-the-scenes access to over 250 significant sites of Chicago.
6. San Francisco, California (USA)
San Francisco, California (USA)
| Average Temperature | 70°F high; 55°F low |
| October Events | Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival San Francisco Fleet Week |
San Francisco weather in October is to die for, especially with the amount of outdoor activities available. Take a stroll over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, ride in a cable car, tour Alcatraz, walk through Fisherman’s Wharf, and explore Chinatown, Union Square and Haight-Ashbury.
The annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival takes place at Golden Gate Park which lasts three days with five stages of live music, all for free. San Francisco Fleet Week showcases the largest parade of ships on the West Coast with a choreographed air show by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.
7. Bayan-Olgii (Mongolia)
Bayan-Olgii (Mongolia)
| Average Temperature | 36°F high; 16°F low |
| October Events | Golden Eagle Festival |
The Golden Eagle Festival in Bayan-Olgii is a one-of-a-kind event that is a colorful celebration dating back centuries to the old Kazakh hunting tradition. The weather in Mongolia can drastically change so be sure to pack accordingly.
8. Sun Valley, Idaho (USA)
Sun Valley, Idaho (USA)
| Average Temperature | 58°F high; 26°F low |
| October Events | The Trailing of the Sheep Festival Sun Valley Jazz and Music Festival |
Sun Valley has chilly mornings that gradually warm up as the sun comes up. You can bike on paved, car-free paths, taking on single-track mountain biking trails, hiking, fly-fishing, golfing, horseback riding and more.
In October, the Trailing of the Sheep Festival begins to celebrate the coming of season and the migration of sheep to their winter pastures, thrown with a parade, sheep dog competitions, demonstrations, food, storytelling and wool products.
The Sun Valley Jazz and Music Festival features swing, big band, vintage jazz, zydeco, blues, folk and doo-wop performances.
9. Dallas, Texas (USA)
Dallas, Texas (USA)
| Average Temperature | 79°F high; 59°F low |
| October Events | State Fair of Texas Dallas Festival of the Arts Terlingua International Championship Chili Cookoff Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering |
October is a great month to travel to Dallas for comfortable temperatures and autumn foliage. Kidd Springs Park is where you can take full advantage of the fall season, especially during the Dallas Festival of the Arts, a free, two-day arts and crafts event.
The State Fair of Texas is an event where millions of visitors come to celebrates all things Texas. There are carnival rides, games, cooking contests and demonstrations, Instagram-worthy food, and a variety of shows featuring everything from cows to cars.
Close to Terlingua, the International Championship Chili Cookoff is a four-day food festival with live music, margaritas, barbecue and the world’s best chili contest.
For the Texan experience, head to the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering and Western Swing Festival for a rodeo, trail rides, wagon train, cowboy music and poetry, and more.
10. Munich (Germany)
Munich (Germany)
| Average Temperature | 58°F high; 41°F low |
| October Events | Oktoberfest |
Germany’s most famous festival is around October. Oktoberfest in Munich presents traditional German music, beer and tons of fun. On the contrary, this event is very family-friendly with days dedicated to the family with discounted carnival rides for children, and parades featuring traditional German attire.
After all the brews and beers, take a look around the Black Forest. The Germany’s wine region is a must-stop for a taste of Riesling.
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Top Destinations By Month
To start accumulating more miles & points, below is a list of the top destinations for each month during the calendar year:
- Top 10 Travel Destinations in January
- Top 10 Travel Destinations in February
- Top 10 Travel Destinations in March
- Top 10 Travel Destinations in April
- Top 10 Travel Destinations in May
- Top 10 Travel Destinations in June
- Top 10 Travel Destinations in July
- Top 10 Travel Destinations in August
- Top 10 Travel Destinations in September
- Top 10 Travel Destinations in October
- Top 10 Travel Destinations in November
- Top 10 Travel Destinations in December
Bottom Line
Prepare for some great weather by planning a trip this October. Be sure to consider some of the spots we’ve mentioned if you want to head to one of the top travel destinations this October.
If you want to save even more money on your travels, then be sure to check out our Best Travel Credit Cards. Check our list on Discounted Gift Cards and get the best bang for your buck with the Best Cash Back Shopping Portals and our eBay Gift Cards list offered here at HMB!
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