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Top fall weekend getaways for a family escape

Plan a memorable fall weekend getaway with these destinations, from colorful Reno-Tahoe and historic Charleston to Boston, Maine and upstate New York

Fall has a way of making a weekend away feel more inviting. The temperatures cool down, the leaves begin to change and familiar destinations take on a completely different character. For families, the season also brings plenty of activities that work for both kids and adults, from pumpkin picking and bike rides to ghost tours, museums and cozy evenings by the fire.

Reader’s Digest rounded up fall weekend getaways that give families plenty to do without requiring a packed itinerary. The destinations range from the mountains and lakes of the Reno-Tahoe area to the historic streets of Charleston, South Carolina. Others offer a classic autumn experience, with pumpkin patches and colorful foliage in upstate New York, cultural attractions in Boston and a quieter escape on Maine’s Chebeague Island.

Each destination has its own way of making the most of the season from fall foliage, to active bicycle rides along the river, to a spooky twist on historic charm with ghost tours, to pumpkin patches, wineries, and fireplaces surrounded by autumn color. 

The best part is that these trips do not require families to agree on exactly what makes a great vacation. Kids can burn off energy on a bike trail, learn something new at a museum or enjoy Halloween stories by a bonfire. Adults can take in the scenery, explore local food and enjoy a slower pace. 

With fall activities ranging from adventurous to downright cozy, these five getaways offer plenty of ways to make the most of the season.

1. Reno-Tahoe turns fall foliage into a family bike adventure

Deepak Adhikari / Unsplash

Reno-Tahoe gives families a more active way to enjoy the changing leaves. The Tahoe area is known as one of the best places in America to spot fall foliage, and a bicycle ride offers a simple way to take it all in without asking children to sit still for hours. According to Reader’s Digest, families can rent bikes and follow the Truckee River, where the trees put on a colorful display of red, yellow and orange.

The bike ride also solves a common family-travel problem: kids have somewhere to direct all that energy. Instead of simply admiring the scenery from a car or sitting on a deck, children can race and play in........

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