By David R. Wheeler, Editor
Travel and Leisure has ranked the top cities for fall travel this year. They include Denver; Nashville; Portland, Maine; New York City; Santa Barbara; Salt Lake City; and Louisville in my native Kentucky.
Concerning Louisville, T&L writes, “A third of the world’s bourbon whiskey comes from this Kentucky city, and locals toast their output during September’s National Bourbon Heritage Month. You can celebrate all fall, however, along Lousiville’s 34-stop Urban Bourbon Trail. One new stop is the Down One Bourbon Bar & Restaurant, which serves 160 bourbons, a pecan pie cocktail (bourbon with praline liquor and spiced cherry bitters), and whiskey brisket chili. For a non-alcoholic stroll, check out the foliage in Iroquois Park (designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, best known for NYC’s Central Park), and stay until after dark during October, when the annual Jack -O’-Lantern Spectacular features 5,000 carved pumpkins.”
But not all the cities on T&L’s list are far away. Orlando makes the list, too: “If you want to bring your preschoolers to the theme parks—or better yet, just ride Space Mountain over and over, without any kids in tow—the beginning of the school year is the prime time to come to Orlando, when prices dwindle just like the lines. The city is more than just turnstiles, too. Check out the ever-expanding dining scene in downtown and Winter Park. You’ll find artisanal pies and Lowcountry shrimp-and-grits at The Coop (opened by the chef behind local favorite 4 Rivers Smokehouse) and tapas-style pintxos at Txokos Basque Kitchen, run by James Beard Award-nominated chef Henry Salgado.”