Hello, Reader.

Fall is right around the corner and while we have our sights set on Europe, there are some great peak- and off-season destinations right here in the U.S.

Last fall, we spent a week in South Carolina. The days were warm, the evenings were comfortable, and Myrtle Beach was quiet. If off-season travel pulls at your heart (and budget), this is a great option. We wrote a whole blog post about it, featuring 16 Fun Things to do in Myrtle Beach, ranging from golfing to hiking to the classics: beach and boardwalk.

And, with fall being a slower travel time for Myrtle Beach, hotels cost less and are more readily available. Consider booking an “ocean front” room where you can enjoy views of the Atlantic anytime, including an early-morning coffee while watching the sunrise. But word to the wise, avoid booking a room that says, “ocean view.” These are often more obscured views that don’t give you the same experience.

We stayed at the Anderson Ocean Club & Spa. Our ocean front room had a balcony that we enjoyed daily; there was a pool, hot tub and lazy river perfect for relaxing after a full day of exploring; and it was just a short walk along the beach to get to the Boardwalk.

If you're chasing that big travel high of classic fall colors, New England is about as good as it get, and I say that as someone still chasing it myself.

We got a taste of the region a few summers back, a quick one-day adventure into southern New Hampshire and Maine on a road trip out of Massachusetts. Even in August, with none of the foliage doing its thing yet, it was enough to plant the seed. A proper fall trip through New England has been on my bucket list for years now, and it's staying there a little longer, but that doesn't mean you have to wait.

Here's the thing about New England in the fall though: it's not a last-minute kind of trip. Leaf-peeping season is short, the good inns book up early, and popular destinations in Vermont or coastal Maine fill fast, long before the color reports start rolling in. So if it's calling to you, this is the week to start looking at dates, not October.

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And now, the part where my heart is this week… Europe.

I told you earlier that we’d been tentatively planning a big birthday trip and it’s finally coming together. Later this year we’ll be headed to Crete, Venice, and Ibiza. Can you say A-MAZ-ING?

A quick side note: I looked into the status of the new ETIAS requirement for travelers from the U.S. visiting several European countries. The good news? The official Q4 2026 launch target has quietly been dropped, with no replacement date yet. A 2027 start now looks more likely.

Back to the planning: Much like Myrtle Beach in the fall, Crete and Ibiza are just starting to slip out of peak season, too. That suits us perfectly. The markets, boat rides, hikes and beaches are still open but should be less crowded. And, of course, the food is still sure to delight Todd (think island seafood delicacies). Don’t worry, I’ve been scouting out local dishes perfect for my non-seafood palate as well.

Ibiza was a bit of a wildcard in our early planning. We found a beautiful resort available during our approved time off work and jumped to book it, but then started reading about Ibiza’s “party island” reputation. Now, that’s not our travel vibe, but the more I’ve dug into my research, the more I’m finding there’s so much more to Ibiza. Quiet coves, centuries-old towns, a river walk along the only freshwater river in the Balearic Islands, and artisan markets that have been operating for decades. That's the version I'm planning for, and the one I can't wait to bring back and share with you.

Until next time,

With love,

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