I'm a Travel Writer, and This Is My Favorite Time of Year to Travel

Shoulder season is all about gorgeous scenery, great prices, and fewer crowds.

As someone with the good fortune to travel and write about it as a career, I feel very lucky to get to visit some truly incredible destinations throughout the year. Because of my lack of ski skills, snow-capped mountain towns don’t quite have the same appeal for me in the winter as for other travelers. And while I absolutely adore a summer getaway (ahem, Provence and the sun-splashed Algarve), there’s something really special about exploring a place after the crowds thin. That’s what makes shoulder season one of my absolute favorite times to go away, whether that’s seeing a different, less touristy side of a busy metropolitan city or strolling around a beach town when it’s quiet after peak-season.

I love a city break, so when it came time to plan a solo weekend getaway in early September, the choices were between Amsterdam and Toronto. What ultimately gave the lakefront capital of Ontario the edge? It’s a shoulder season sleeper hit that’s a short flight from the East Coast, which gave me more time to explore the leafy parks, sample the renowned culinary scene, and indulge in spa treatments at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto in the upscale Yorkville neighborhood. On the topic of easy weekend trips, I recommend Cape May to walk along the near-empty beaches, savor field-to-fork fare at Beach Plum Farm, ride the historic trolly, and snooze at Congress Hall. If you have a few more days to spare, Vancouver wows in autumn with its gorgeous green spaces and local produce for sale at Granville Island Public Market.

Last year, I went to Park City for the first time with my husband and our then 18-month-old son. It was so incredible with the changing leaves and crisp mountain air that I booked another trip for late September. On the itinerary? Catch the last Park Silly Sunday Market of the season, hike the foliage-framed trails, and eat at the seasonally driven restaurants along Main Street. I’m also looking forward to staying at the luxurious slopeside Montage Deer Valley and Washington School House, a beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of downtown.

Aspen is a four-season recreation destination that draws travelers throughout the year. Enthusiasts sing the praises of Colorado’s chicest mountain town during the slower — albeit even more scenic — shoulder season. I’m off to discover the photogenic charms of this time of year. The fact that I was able to snag a room at both The Little Nell and Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection and didn’t have trouble making dinner reservations are certainly selling points as well. Fort Collins gets lauded for livability but tends to fall under the radar for travel. I especially like this northern Colorado city in autumn, given the changing leaves, family-friendly seasonal events, and affordable rates at The Armstrong Hotel.

On the horizon for the end of shoulder season? We’re journeying across the pond to London and Paris in November, which is the perfect time admire the famous landmarks without droves of tourists and peep the color-changing trees in the city parks.

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