This Travel Pro Swears By This Charming Coastal California Town For a Perfect Fall Getaway

• Travel experts say Carmel, California, is an ideal fall destination with scenic coastal beauty, warm days, and smaller crowds.
• While there, visitors can explore beaches, redwood forests, and nearby Point Lobos State Park.
• There are also lots of cute stays in the area, including Carmel Valley Ranch, La Playa Carmel, and Glen Oaks Big Sur.

Monday, Sept. 22, marked the autumnal equinox—aka, the first official day of fall.

For many travelers, this means that a time to plot out those leaf peeping adventures to watch the foliage turn into a kaleidoscope of colors. And usually that means heading into the mountains, to spots like Vermont, the Adirondacks, and the Great Smoky Mountains. But a few travel experts want to let you in on a little secret: California is actually a prime fall destination, specifically, the tiny town of Carmel. 

“As someone who has spent decades in luxury travel—curating dream journeys to the far corners of the world—I can say with absolute certainty that my favorite destination is right where I live: Carmel, California, especially in the fall,” Melissa Krueger, travel expert and CEO of Classic Vacations, shared with Travel + Leisure. “Tucked between the rugged Big Sur coast and the gentle hills of the Carmel Valley, it’s where the country truly meets the sea, and where I’ve had the joy of raising my family. I cannot recommend it enough for travelers seeking a beautiful autumn vacation.” 

According to Krueger, Carmel is especially nice to visit in the fall, when the summer crowds have thinned out, but the days are still sunny and warm, with a few crisp evenings creeping in. 

“There’s a real calm to the season, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy the area’s natural beauty, exploring the scenic beaches, dramatic ocean cliffs, hiking trails, and redwood forests,” she said. “Even after decades spent traveling the globe with Classic Vacations, this is still my favorite place to be in the fall. It’s authentic, scenic, and grounded in community—just how travel should feel.” 

Laura Lindsay, the global travel trends expert at Skyscanner, also pointed to Carmel-by-the-Sea as her go-to fall favorite, calling it “a storybook seaside town.” Here, she said, travelers can visit the local farmer’s market, dine at award-winning restaurants, adding that “Carmel is chain-restaurant free,” and that visitors can also “explore hundreds of local art galleries, or walk along the beach and nearby hiking trails at Point Lobos State Park.” 

Krueger recommended checking into the Carmel Valley Ranch, which “combines luxury and laid-back charm. There’s incredible food, sunshine almost year-round with its location beyond the fog line, and plenty to do, like pickleball, golf, and hilltop yoga.”

She also noted that La Playa Carmel is a “lovely historic hotel located in downtown Carmel, just a short walk from some of the town’s best shops, galleries, and restaurants.” Though for anyone hoping to spend a bit more time in nature, there’s Glen Oaks Big Sur, which she called “a hidden gem with cozy cabins tucked into the redwoods, offering that ‘off the grid’ feeling, where you’ll wake up among the trees—it is a family favorite, owned by a local Big Sur family, at a price that feels right.”

Of course, she added that you can’t leave the area without exploring the hiking trails in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve,” where you may spot a few leaves changing colors. Then, take a walk down Carmel Beach’s white sands at sunset to see the sun dip below the ocean horizon, and realize that a fall break doesn’t always mean a “cold” break.