Travelers Say This Tiny Town Is the Best Place to Visit in the Fall — and It’s Nicknamed ‘America’s Prettiest Town’

In the summer, the most idyllic place to be is on a lake with a good book. In the winter, it’s all about watching the snow fall from a ski lodge. But where in the U.S. has the best fall experience? What cities put on a show of fall foliage coupled with autumnal treats like cider donuts?

One Reddit user posed the question and the travel community, r/travel, responded. And a tiny Vermont town of less than 3,000 people was repeatedly mentioned and upvoted, making it easily the thread’s top pick. 

Woodstock, Vermont, which claims the moniker, “America’s Prettiest Town,” may be home to just a few thousand people, but when fall comes, leaf peepers flock to the area.

“Woodstock Vermont was absolutely gorgeous when I visited last October. The entire state was beautiful,” said user Most-Initiative-7787. The response received over 320 upvotes at the time of writing. It spurred an onslaught of replies, including one from a user who said they live in Vermont and can confirm: “Woodstock is amazingly beautiful!! A lot of places here are beautiful lol we have many pretty towns, great foliage and we go all out for fall! For cider donuts try Allen Brothers off Exit 5 in Westminster.”

We did some digging here at Travel + Leisure and Allen Brothers Farms checks out. In addition to a bakery case of “award-winning” cider donuts, there’s a farm stand and garden center. The deli serves made-to-order sandwiches on homemade bread and their signature baked mac and cheese. How’s that for fall vibes?

While Woodstock was a clear winner, the thread highlighted several other fall destinations. One user suggested driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is often referred to as “America’s Favorite Drive.” The route stretches 469 miles through the Appalachian Mountains, running between Cherokee, North Carolina, and Afton, Virginia. The drive passes through parts of both Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park. (Reddit user wanderingdg confirmed, “Everyone saying New England is right, but anywhere on the Blue Ridge Parkway & particularly the Shenandoah Valley are amazing in the Fall!”)

Another user, funkmon, threw the state of Michigan into the mix, receiving over 140 upvotes at the time of writing. Rather than calling out specific towns, they said, “Fall is a feeling in Michigan. I haven’t felt it anywhere else I have ever lived.” They added: “In Michigan we all go to the cider mill constantly in the fall. It is in our blood. … You ain’t had apple cider doughnuts until you have seen the apples squished into juice and bottled right there for you to drink unpasteurized while you’re waiting to grab the doughnuts right out of the oil, still hot.”

Other users mentioned Duluth, Minnesota; Georgia (specifically, Dahlonega, Ellijay, and Blue Ridge); Beacon, New York; and Bend, Oregon.