Your family’s guide to maximizing fall school breaks

I love traveling with my little family of three in the fall (we’re big fans of Quebec’s Mont Tremblant). The summer heat has cooled, crowds have thinned out at top attractions, and best yet, I can usually find a great deal and save money on a family vacation in the shoulder season. For our bougie crew, that means using discounts to splurge on a suite or visit a top restaurant with my gourmand-in-training pre-teen.

Looking for your own family-friendly fall break? Here are a few great spots to take your kids—whether they’re babies to teens—during those clutch fall long weekends.

Amenities are key at this age. Look for hotels that offer free diapers, bottle warming, and cribs—and check age restrictions at kids’ clubs and activity centers ahead of time. It’ll make traveling with your youngest even easier.

A fall trip to Scottsdale, with its cool desert temps and vibrant art scene, is a cinch with a baby in tow. Be sure to pack your favorite carrier or sturdy stroller for maximum gallery-hopping at spots like the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA).

How to get here: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is easily accessible from across the country, and is just a 15-minute drive from Scottsdale Old Town.

On your to-do list: If you make it out on a Thursday flight, be sure to stop by the free Scottsdale ArtWalk, which transforms Old Town Scottsdale’s stroller-friendly streets into an open-air art gallery once a week. Take a quiet moment in the library in the Scottsdale Civic Center Park which features an enormous play castle, and cozy areas to snuggle up and enjoy the free storytime sessions. Or get all aboard the train at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park where kids under two ride for free.

Where to stay: The luxurious Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North offers an upscale retreat for parents with all the convenience of complimentary cribs, strollers, highchairs, diapers, wipes and bibs.

Outdoorsy (or outdoorsy-ish) families can make a home base in northern Vermont (think towns like Stowe and Burlington) and spend their weekend exploring the colorful hiking trails, toddler in tow.

How to get here: You’ll be mountainside in Vermont in no time with connections from major interstate highways in under six hours from New York City or just two hours from Montreal (just make sure you’ve got your kiddo’s passport on hand).

On your to-do list: Make a fall farm trip to Burtt’s Apple Orchard to enjoy cider donuts, pick your own apples, and get some adorable autumn photos of your little one in a pumpkin patch. In October, celebrate Vermont's state vegetable—the turnip—at the Gilfeather Turnip festival with free admission for all.

Where to stay: The ultimate family-friendly resort in Vermont, Smugglers’ Notch offers childcare for babies starting at six weeks so parents can get plenty of rest and relaxation in, too.

The Keys cover 30 inhabited islands, so you’re flush for choice. Not sure where to start? Key Largo’s Far Beach warm shallow waters perfect for an ocean intro, Hawks Cay on Duck Key is home to a toddler-approved pirate ship splash zone, and Marathon’s large, shaded playground at Sombrero Beach is a local fave. All make for great family-friendly picks.

How to get here: You’ll need a car, so rent one at the Miami or Orlando airports and then head south. You’ll hit Key Largo first, about an hour south of Miami. If you’re especially short on time, fly directly to Key West International Airport, at the south end of the Keys.

On your to-do list: Take a stroll (or stroller ride) through the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory (which is free for kids aged three and under) to see flowering plants, waterfalls, and hundreds of butterflies and colorful birds. Marathon also has a stellar aquarium, which offers a more controlled environment for little ones to see and interact with what’s below the water.

Where to stay: Choose the Hawks Cay Resort where you have five swimming pools to choose from including a pirate ship-themed pool. It’s also on Duck Key, which is centrally located in the middle of the Keys for easy access to other islands if you want to head off-property.

Want to keep your kids engaged when they’re out of school? Plan your family fall trip around educational, kid-friendly attractions—think museums, walking tours, and more—that’ll bring their learning to life. Bonus: There’s plenty for parents to learn (and enjoy) in these spots, too.

You might think New York is more suited to adults, but you’ll find tons of world-class family-friendly attractions across the city that will make your kiddos first trip to NYC a core memory.

How to get here: The city’s three airports—John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport—are all easy hubs to fly into. If you’re planning to take the subway from the airport to your hotel, fly into JFK for access to the A train.

On your to-do list: Plan at least a full day to explore Central Park. There are tons of playgrounds—from the Adventure and Heckscher playgrounds on the park’s southwest end to the Ancient Playground just off the Met. (The Billy Johnson Playground’s slide is also a local family fave.) You can also see a marionette show at the Swedish Cottage weekly Thursdays through Sundays (just grab tickets in advance). If you’re here around Halloween, pack costumes for the annual Pumpkin Flotilla, where kids can make crafts, cheer the costume parade, and watch as goblins and witches send jack-o'-lanterns float across the Harlem Meer at twilight. Looking for more things to do? Check out our fuss-free family guide to NYC.

Where to stay: The Loews Regency New York Hotel is rare because it offers free stays to kids under 18 years of age. They also have complimentary board games, toys, coloring books, night lights, and kid-centric activity guides.

While there are plenty of kid-friendly options among the U.S.’s national parks, the vast Great Smoky Mountains offers tons of easy-to-moderate hiking routes, incredible fall foliage, and great gateway mountain towns for a weekend away.

How to get here: The park straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, with major entrances near Gatlinburg, TN, and Cherokee, NC. If you’re flying in, the closest major airports are McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, TN, and Asheville Regional Airport in Asheville, NC.

On your to-do list: Explore the kid-friendly trails like the gentle-sloping Kephart Prong Trail; the Laurel Falls trail, which rewards you after your hike with a beautiful waterfall; and the wide, paved Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail, perfect for strollers or kids' bikes. Or, join park rangers on a Junior Ranger Ramble—a free, accessible walk, talk, or activity—every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday through October from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Note: Fall is a great time for wildlife viewing, so whether you’re with a ranger or on your own, bring binoculars for spotting elk, deer, and black bears.

Where to stay: The nearby towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge offer a range of family-friendly spots to stay. Consider somewhere with amenities like indoor pools and easy access to park entrances, such as The Park Vista—a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel with stunning mountain views.

Canada’s charming east coast capital is packed with family-friendly museums and tours—plus the leaf-peeping is next level at peak season in mid-October.

How to get here: There are direct flights to Halifax Stanfield International Airport from multiple Canadian cities as well as Boston, NYC, Orlando, and DC. It’s easy to get to the Halifax Harbourfront on public transport or by car.

On your to-do list: Get into the Halloween spirit on a spooky walk on the Halifax Ghost Walk or check out the Discovery Centre for hands-on science activities including a musical staircase and giant bubbles kids can get inside. For a real taste of the region, visit the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, where kids can learn about the ill-fated Titanic voyage and see models from the TV show Theodore Tugboat.

Where to stay: The stylish Muir, Autograph Collection, is on the waterfront in Queens Marque, around the corner from the Discovery Centre and Maritime Museum. Bonus: It has free kayaks and ocean access for easy exploring—and a spa swimming pool perfect for discerning kids who appreciate the finer things.

When it comes to older kids and teens, visiting destinations that offer opportunities for independence and exploration—including outdoor adventures like zip-lining or snorkeling—that’ll pull them away from their phones are a must.

Quebec’s Eastern Townships are perfect for an active fall family vacation, with stunning foliage and plenty of activities like hiking, biking, and local festivals that teens and tweens will love.

How to get here: There’s easy access from Vermont, or you can fly into Montreal and drive the less-than-two-hour drive to the charming townships.

On your to-do list: Experience the Mont Sutton Fall Festival on weekends from mid-September to mid-October, where your family can enjoy guided hikes, outdoor concerts, and tons of time on the mountain, with chairlift rides, giant ziplines, and mountain bike initiation classes. For more time outside, hike the Lake Mohawk Loop in Parc d’environnement naturel de Sutton.

Where to stay: Power down those screens and immerse yourselves in nature in a cliff cabin or treehouse at Au Diable Vert in Sutton.

Not far from Cancun, Puerto Morelos is a charming fishing village that offers family-friendly activities in a relaxed and safe environment. Your itinerary will be stacked with trips to local markets, the beach, and nearby adventure parks, like Selvatica, where kids can get their adrenaline pumping in cenotes, on jungle zip-lines, and on off-road ATV rides.

How to get here: Fly into Cancun International Airport (about a four-hour flight from NYC), which is just 20 minutes north of the town on Highway 307.

On your to-do list: Playa de Puerto Morelos is less crowded than Cancun’s beaches and still boasts very warm temps throughout the fall. Take a boat tour to snorkel and discover the National Reef Park of Puerto Morelos, a protected area where teens can learn about marine conservation while enjoying the stunning underwater scenery.

Where to stay: The Grand Residences Riviera Cancun is on the beach and close to the town of Puerto Morelos. It also has a full roster of fun things to do on property, including kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, cooking classes, and arts and crafts workshops.

Tweens and teens will enjoy hiking the scenic trails of Shenandoah National Park and exploring the towering stalactite columns in Luray Caverns to connect with nature and enjoy quality family time.

How to get here: Easy to reach from east-coast states, you’ll want to rent a car and head to Interstate 81, which runs through the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, providing easy access to the area's attractions and hotels. Flying in? You’ll want to book in and out of Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.

On your to-do list: Visit the State Fair of Virginia in Doswell in early October for live concerts, amusement rides, and all the deep-fried sweet treats you can eat. Or for culture-loving kids, visit the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, to see world-class theater. If you’re focusing on the national park and have tweens in tow, take advantage of the Junior Ranger program, which is open to kids up to 12 years old. They’ll earn badges as they learn about Shenandoah’s nature, wildlife, and conservation.

Where to stay: Massanutten Resort, about two hours from the fringes of D.C., is an all-season destination with water park access on Saturdays throughout September, as well as a family adventure park to explore.