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Top 5 U.S. Cities To Visit This Fall Revealed By Alaska Airlines – One Will Surprise You!

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One of the West Coast's most popular airlines just revealed the top 5 U.S. cities to fly to this fall.

Of course, they're a little biased, as each awesome destination is within their network.

Full transparency: Alaska Airlines actually revealed 9 fall getaways, but we've assembled the 5 best because, quite honestly, I've written over 700 articles and these fingers need a break!

Central Park NYC in fall

Although, with a name like ‘Alaska', you would think you already have your answer where to go for peak autumnal bliss – wrong!

Okay, to be fair, Anchorage checked in at #7 on the list, so America's last frontier didn't quite make the cut.

Good news is there are 5 other incredible places that will rock your socks off this fall, far easier to reach with plentiful flights and stunning sights.

5) New York City: The Big Apple Transforms Into The Big Pumpkin

Vibrant fall foliage in Central Park NYC

Surprise! Kidding – there's no way NYC should be skipped come fall. New York is iconic for a reason, and fall is one of the best times to pay a visit.

All 5 boroughs, well, 6 if you include Jersey City, just a stone's throw across the Hudson, begin to pop in vibrant colors backdropped by one of the most recognizable skylines in the world.

A city hustling and bustling all through the night, there's never a dull moment in the ‘Big Apple'.

With events constantly popping up, including the world-famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, there's always something fun to do.

Vibrant foliage at Roosevelt Island park

Then, of course, there's Central Park. There's simply no place like it, which is why it draws such a huge crowd.

But hey, if crowds aren't your jam, check out Manhattan”s secret fall escape exuding all the fall splendor you can muster, making the perfect place to grab a PSL in your own urban oasis.

4) San Diego: So Much More Than Sun And Sand

‘America's Finest City' may lure most tourists in for seemingly endless miles of paradisal coastline, but if you spend all your time at the beach, you're missing out on an incredible city!

San Diego skyline views from Coronado

There's a reason why so many vacationers end up becoming locals (like me!). Ask most people here where they're from, and more often than not, it's nowhere near San Diego.

While summertime is undoubtedly peak tourist season, fall still holds up to the city's '75 and sunny' reputation… most of the time.

Better yet, hotels tend to drop in price making one of America's most expensive cities an affordable vacation.

San Diego isn't exactly known for leaf-peeping, but just an hour away is San Diegans' favorite fall escape.

Beach in San Diego at sunset

The tiny mountain town of Julian is home to delightful boutique shops, scenic foliage-lined cideries, crisp mountain air, and mark my words, the best pie in America!

Tip: Julian Pie delivers nationwide – the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table!

3) Portland: Stay Weird This Fall

Oregon's shining star is the biggest surprise on Alaska's list, for sure. Often dubbed the ‘Austin of the Northwest', this quirky city just keeps on quirkin' right into fall.

Let's just say family gatherings aren't your cup of tea, or maybe GamGam's cranberry sauce would gag a maggot.

Portland fall foliage and riverfront

Well, good news is Portland is one of the top U.S. cities for solo travelers. There's always something going on in this booming arts community, both culturally and culinarily.

This robust riverfront city is beaming with colorful foliage and can easily be used as a gateway to some of Oregon's most gorgeous natural sites like Latourell Falls or the Mount Hood National Forest.

2) Boston: Discover Beantown's Bliss This Autumn

Boston is great any time of year, but a warm bowl of clam chowdah hits hardah in the fall.

Right behind New York in terms of the East Coast's fantastic array of cities, Beantown isn't quite as action-packed, but it comes close.

Boston skyline in fall

One could argue that the fall colors liven the city even more, especially in the pretty city parks.

Summer can bring blistering temps to Boston, making fall much more tolerable to explore top sites like the Freedom Trail, the scenic harbor, and the timeless streets of Beacon Hill, a quintessential Boston neighborhood.

Half an hour outside the city is Salem – yes, home to the historic Salem Witch Trials. Let's just say there's no better place for an epic Halloween trip.

1) Seattle: Your One-Stop Shop For PSL's

What better place to spend fall than the birthplace of Starbucks?!

Okay, okay, Seattle boasts far more than overpriced coffee concoctions; it's truly a beautiful city despite its gloomy reputation.

View of needle in Seattle in the fall

But hey, even if the skies are gray, it's all the more reason to celebrate sweater weather. With one of the eye-catching skylines and mountainous backdrops, you won't be paying attention to the sunshine anyway.

Seattle is great for getting out and exploring, whether by water or taking a gorgeous hike, like Rattlesnake Ledge, home to panoramic views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains.

While gray skies may not usually equate to beach weather, Seattle's Alki Beach offers some of the best fall foliage photo-ops in the city.

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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.