Best Shoulder Season Travel Destinations This Fall

Savvy travelers understand the importance of planning trips during the shoulder season. What does this term mean, and how can you take advantage of it for specific locations? More importantly, how does traveling during shoulder season impact the weather? Read on for all of the secrets.

Understanding Shoulder Season

Shoulder season is the time immediately before and after the peak travel time for a specific destination. For example, a destination sporting beaches, or national parks naturally attracts more visitors during the summer months. Conversely, places such as ski resorts see the bulk of their annual visitors during the winter months.

As a result, the shoulder season for warm-weather destinations would be in the spring and the fall. Meanwhile, a ski resort's shoulder season would be later in the fall months or at the end of the spring season.

Traveling during the shoulder season provides numerous perks. Many travelers choose this time because the prices are generally considerably lower. You are also likely to experience fewer crowds, translating to shorter lines and a more pleasant travel experience overall.

The downside of traveling during the shoulder season is that some attractions may be closed or have shorter operating hours. For example, traveling to Disneyland during the shoulder season may mean that the parks do not offer fireworks or parades every day like they would during the busy times.

Many people choose destinations specifically for the weather. What will traveling during the shoulder season mean for the type of weather that you experience? Let's look at some of the most popular travel destinations around the world and what type of weather you can expect when traveling during shoulder season.

Florida and Arizona

The fall is typically considered to be the shoulder season for Florida. Travelers during this time of the year will avoid the worst of the summer heat and humidity while also dodging the throng of snowbirds that descend on the Sunshine State during the winter.