I hope that you’re squeezing the last bits of goodness out of summer 2016, with the anticipation of a beautiful new fall season looming on the horizon. As the leaves prepare to change colors, we also prepare to change up our wardrobes and ways — football and fall TV hit the airwaves, sweaters hit the racks, chili hits the stove, pumpkin spice everything hits everywhere you can imagine, and festive fall holidays line up in the distance.
So, where will you spend your leaf peeping, boot wearing, hot cider drinking days this magical fall season? To help inspire you to fall for an awesome location this autumn, we suggest these 8 exciting fall locations for Travel Nursing jobs!
Oregon
The Beaver State is known for colorful fall foliage that spectacularly pops against a background of dark evergreen. From the fiery hues of Portland’s picture-perfect Japanese Gardens to the abundant golden Aspen leaves studding the leash-free hike to Tumalo Falls (that’s right, dog lovers!), fall is one of Oregon’s best looks. Autumn is also a great time to visit the well-known Cannon Beach — AKA the famously rock-studded beach from The Goonies! The harvest is bountiful, the days are sunny, and the nights are crisp — the perfect backdrop for hiking, biking, rafting, camping, fall drives, train rides and other adventures that let you escape the city. Winos will love touring Oregon’s South Willamette Valley wineries and craft beer connoisseurs will appreciate Portland’s Bike and Brew Tour.
Click here to find Travel Nurse jobs in Oregon.
Pennsylvania
The Keystone State loves a good fall festival. Get your fall apple fix at the annual Applefest in Franklin or go one step further at Canton’s yearly Apple ‘n Cheese Festival. Celebrate the fungus among us at the annual Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square, known as the “Mushroom Capital of the World.” If you’re hungry for more be sure to check out Philadelphia’s Philly Cheesesteak Festival, a celebration of the cheesy, meaty masterpiece of a sandwich that the City of Brotherly Love is so loved for! While you digest, you can take in historic sites like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the Gettysburg Museum and National Cemetery. If art’s your thing, you’ll love the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Pittsburgh’s Andy Warhol Museum. Whisk yourself away to the beautiful Poconos and keep New York and other east coast hotspots in mind for future fall getaways!
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Iowa
You may have missed the famous Iowa State Fair, but don’t fret. There are plenty of autumn activities to keep you busy in The Hawkeye State. College football is a popular fall tradition, so you might want to experience a proper tailgate in Ames or Iowa City before cheering the home team to victory. Adventurers will want to make the trek to Iowa’s picturesque outdoor areas, like Waubonsie State Park, Mines of Spain State Recreation Area, Maquoketa Caves State Park, and Pikes Peak State Park. Iowa also boasts a lot of wonderfully quirky destinations, like the Future Birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk in Riverside and West Bend’s Grotto of the Redemption. The Halloween season is the perfect backdrop for visiting the Villisca Axe Murder House, the scene of unsolved murders in the early 1900s and now rumored to be a real-life haunted house. You can also pass the time until “The Walking Dead” returns this fall by dining at the aptly named Zombie Burger restaurant in Des Moines!
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Virginia
You know what they say, “Virginia is for Lovers.” Fall lovers that is! Take a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and experience one of the most beautiful autumn drives in the nation. Other leaf-peeping opportunities abound at Shenandoah National Park, Back of the Dragon (Route 16), Smith Mountain Lake, Big Walker Lookout, Breaks Interstate Park, and many other beautiful locations. History buffs will be in heaven with sites like Mount Vernon, Monticello, Arlington National Cemetery, Historic Jamestown and Williamsburg, and a wealth of awesome museums. Coastal Virginia offers still-warm sand as fall begins, sailing, fresh seafood, and views of migrating birds. Ghost tours, corn mazes, fall wine festivals, and pumpkin patches round out the fun fall activities in this multi-faceted state.
Click here to check out Travel Nurse jobs in Virginia.
Tennessee
The Volunteer State is famous for vibrant fall hues throughout the Great Smoky Mountains, that eventually give way to mild winters. Music-lovers can take in a show at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry or explore the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum there. Fans of the “Smoky Mountain Songbird” AKA “Backwoods Barbie” AKA Dolly Parton, will definitely want to make the trip to Pigeon Forge for a visit to Dollywood. Over in Memphis, audiophiles can make the famous pilgrimage to Elvis Presley’s home-turned-museum, Graceland, and catch some current tunes down on Beale Street. Speaking of Memphis, Tennessee is home to some of the country’s best barbecue, which comes in traditional form like ribs, brisket, and pulled pork but also branches out to incorporate barbecue pizza, nachos, and spaghetti!
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California
While California is truly an all-season champ of a state, it’s still no slouch when it comes to fall colors. In fact, because of the state’s geographic diversity, various parts of Cali see fall colors from August all the way through December! Fall in The Golden State brings an abundant harvest, so there are tons of great food festivals celebrating delicious delights like apples, avocados, eggplant, olives, pumpkins, almonds, grapes, and more. Speaking of grapes, a fall trip to Napa is always a great way to check out the winemaking experience in its full, harvest swing. Napa Valley is also known for some of California’s most colorful fall foliage from late September to late November. The fall weather in southern California is beautifully mild and all the hotspots like Los Angeles and San Diego beckon year-round. If you’re the type that’s not into a traditional fall, make like a local and hit up San Diego’s less-crowded beaches all the way into October!
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Georgia
You’ll want to make it down to The Peach State in time for its famous annual Oktoberfest in the adorably picturesque Bavarian town of Helen. Foodies will be in heaven at events like October’s Taste of Atlanta and November’s Savannah Food and Wine Festival. A milder climate allows for great weather for hiking and biking in the beautiful Georgia Mountains, and, speaking of mountains, the popular, multi-faceted Stone Mountain Park hosts events and has select activities open throughout fall! Sports fans enjoying a fall assignment in Atlanta can watch the Braves wind down their season and the Falcons wind theirs up! There’s also a wealth of shopping, museums, dining, and sights to explore in Atlanta. Fall is also the perfect backdrop for another fabulous Georgia city, Savannah, which is said to be chock-full of haunted places and offers ample ghost tours!
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Texas
The Lone Star State is a vast playground to explore and fall is a great time to enjoy perfect Texas temps in the high 70s/low 80s. Perhaps no state is more into its football than Texas, so it’s a wonderful opportunity to catch some games — whether that’s under the local high school’s Friday Night Lights, watching one of the state’s many division one college teams, or even catching the big league Dallas Cowboys on their home turf. You may be living like a local, but don’t be shy to get your tourist time on at one of Texas’ many historic, beautiful, or otherwise significant sites like the Alamo, San Antonio Riverwalk, Six Flags, Houston Space Center, Padre Island, Austin’s many music districts, and much, much more!
Click here to see Texas Travel Nurse jobs.
Did we leave out your dream location? Not to worry! Click here to choose your own adventure and search Travel Nursing jobs by title, specialty, and/or state.