[category]
[title]
Not everyone is ready to swap a swimsuit for a sweater the minute Labor Day passes. While much of the fall travel conversation turns to foliage, pumpkin spice and apple picking, plenty of domestic destinations still have warm, sunny days well into September and October (and in some cases, even November and December!).
As a bonus, traveling after the traditional summer rush can also mean fewer crowds, lower hotel rates and an easier time scoring restaurant reservations. From San Juan to Scottsdale, these six destinations offer a few more weeks—if not months—of summer before fall fully takes over.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Thanks to its Caribbean locale, San Juan stays warm through much of the fall, so beach days are still very much in play. Condado Beach is steps from the eponymous neighborhood’s many hotels and restaurants, while the wider sands of Isla Verde stretch along the coast just east of the city. Meanwhile, in Old San Juan, cobblestone streets and brightly painted buildings surround Castillo San Felipe del Morro, the centuries-old Spanish fort overlooking the entrance to San Juan Bay. The piña colada was born in San Juan, though exactly who invented it is still debated. Barrachina credits bartender Ramón Portas Mingot with creating the cocktail there in 1963, while the Caribe Hilton traces its version to 1954. Either way, the tropical libation is practically required while you’re in town.
Where to Stay: The storied Fairmont El San Juan Hotel has occupied a prime spot on Isla Verde Beach since 1958. Four pools make it particularly well suited to an endless-summer type of escape, while live entertainment in its elaborate lobby keeps things going after the sun goes down.
San Diego, California
Sunny Southern California doesn’t pay much attention to the arrival of fall—especially in San Diego, where the beautiful beaches can stay in play well past Labor Day. The swanky neighborhood of La Jolla is an easy place to spend much of the day: Swim or surf off the wide sandy beach at La Jolla Shores, then walk over to La Jolla Cove, where sea lions gather along the rocky shoreline. Farther up the coast, trails at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve wind along sandstone cliffs above the Pacific. Away from the water, spend a few hours in Balboa Park, home to Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, lush gardens and many of the city’s major museums—including its iconic zoo.
Where to Stay: Overlooking Coronado Beach, the aptly named Hotel del Coronado has been welcoming guests since 1888. Affectionately known as “The Del,” the iconic resort completed a six-year, $550 million-plus restoration in 2025.
Key West, Florida
Drive far enough down the Overseas Highway to Key West, and fall begins to feel very far away. Ernest Hemingway lived here for much of the 1930s, and you can tour his former home (now a museum) before having a drink at Sloppy Joe’s, one of his old haunts on Duval Street, the destination’s main thoroughfare. Alternatively, spend an afternoon snorkeling or sailing offshore, or join the crowds at Mallory Square for the nightly Sunset Celebration. And save room for key lime pie: Blue Heaven tops its version with a towering layer of meringue, while Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shop serves traditional slices as well as frozen pie bars dipped in chocolate.
Where to Stay: Former U.S. Navy headquarters turned luxury hotel Casa Marina offers Key West’s largest private beach: a 1,100-foot stretch of shoreline reserved for resort guests. Two oceanfront pools provide another place to soak up the sun between outings.
Fairhope, Alabama
Fairhope brings a small-town alternative to the beach resorts farther south on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. The city sits on a bluff above Mobile Bay, with Fairhope Avenue running through its compact downtown toward the water. Browse the shelves at longtime independent bookstore Page & Palette or pop into Ole Bay Mercantile for locally made art and gifts before continuing to the Fairhope Municipal Pier and the small bayfront beach beside it. When hunger strikes, head to Sunset Pointe at Fly Creek Marina for fresh-caught seafood—think shrimp, snapper and grouper—and views of the sun setting over Mobile Bay.
Where to Stay: Dating back to 1925, the six-room Fairhope Hotel—the city’s oldest hotel—reopened in summer 2026 following a restoration. Custom cypress beds handcrafted by a local woodworker are among the new additions, while the original heart-pine floors remain. Its Fairhope Avenue location puts downtown restaurants and shops outside the door and Mobile Bay just a few blocks away.
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale proves an anti-fall trip doesn’t have to mean a beach vacation. September is still hot in the Sonoran Desert, so plan hikes for early in the day and save the afternoon for the pool. McDowell Sonoran Preserve is one option, with more than 30,000 acres of protected desert and miles of trails through saguaro-studded terrain. By October, temperatures begin to ease, leaving more time to explore. Tour Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and studio in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, then stop by Native Art Market in Old Town, where more than 400 Indigenous artists sell handmade jewelry, pottery and other works.
Where to Stay: At the base of Camelback Mountain, The Phoenician has a multi-level pool complex with views of the surrounding desert. Cabanas and poolside dining turn Scottsdale’s lingering summer heat into part of the appeal rather than a hindrance.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston pairs a historic city break with easy access to the Atlantic, and early fall is still warm enough to enjoy both. Walk the Battery along Charleston Harbor, where antebellum homes face the water, then continue to nearby Rainbow Row, the colorful stretch of historic houses along East Bay Street. To see the city from the water, take a harbor cruise past Fort Sumter and beneath the Ravenel Bridge. You can make a beach day of it, too: Sullivan’s Island is just across the harbor, with Isle of Palms a little farther up the coast. Back downtown, 82 Queen spotlights Lowcountry cuisine like She-crab soup, BBQ shrimp and grits and fried green tomatoes in a series of historic buildings and garden courtyards—and, yes, it’s still warm enough to dine alfresco.
Where to Stay: Opened in March 2026, The Cooper is the only luxury waterfront hotel on the Charleston peninsula. The 191-room property faces the harbor beside Joe Riley Waterfront Park and features a rooftop infinity pool and private marina.