Ahh shoulder season, aka my favorite time to travel! And no, I’m not talking about my actual shoulders but those months in between low and high season when the weather is nice but the crowds are few and the prices still reasonable.

Shoulder season happens twice a year. The first is that sweet spot right after the spring break rush and right before Memorial Day weekend, aka the start of summer. The second is in fall right after Labor Day weekend but before peak fall foliage.

Both are great for different reasons. Spring shoulder season means nature has come back to life and the weather is warm but not as sweltering as it’s about to get. Fall is great because kids are back in school and most people are thinking of fall travel rather than taking advantage of the last days of summer weather.

If you can swing a trip, here are some ideas of where to go!

Where to Go for Shoulder Season

Amusement Parks

Best: Fall Shoulder Season

Did you know one of the cheapest months to visit Disney World is in September? Since most amusement parks cater to families and teenagers, their busiest times tend to be starting around winter and lasting through the summer. If it isn’t families booking their trips, it’s teenagers on high school and college graduation trips during the spring shoulder season. Plus most places these days still reach summer temperatures in September even if they’re not in perpetually warm destinations like southern California or Florida.

Amusement Parks to Check Out: Disney World, Disneyland, Universal Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood, California’s Great America, Six Flags, Hershey Park, Dollywood, Busch Gardens, Legoland

Busy National Parks

Best: Later Spring Shoulder and Fall Shoulder

There are 63 National Parks in the USA and 433 units of the National Park Service. While some are more underrated, others are insanely popular and see thousands of visitors daily, even more in the summer. The Grand Canyon alone saw around 5 million people last year!

Shoulder season is the perfect time to plan a visit. I prefer the fall one because you’re more likely to have warmer temperatures and can almost guarantee kids will be back in school. Parks that usually close during winter will have spent spring and summer thawing out, so they’ll be temperate even if you plan on hiking up high.

Spring shoulder season can be beautiful but just double check how things are looking. If you’re too early, you may even encounter winter conditions at parks in higher elevations. And on the reverse side of fall, some of the parks have spent the last few months frozen, so you’re getting those early days of thawing out.

Popular Parks to Consider: Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Glacier, Zion, and Acadia.

Beach Vacation Destinations

Best: Fall Shoulder Season

There’s something almost magical about a beach town right after the summer rush. If you go early enough in fall, you’ll still reap the benefits of summer. Seasonal eateries and ice cream shops might still be open and the weather should be warm enough to swim in the ocean. Even if you go later, there’s nothing like sitting on the beach and losing yourself in a good book or strolling along the shoreline – without breaking a sweat. Pair that all with lower hotel rates, shops posting up their end-of-summer clearance deals, and no boardwalk crowds? Sign me up!

Where to Go: Crystal Coast, NC; Hilton Head, SC; Traverse City, MI; Nantucket, MA; Watch Hill, RI; Cape May, NJ

The Alps

Best: Fall Shoulder Season

If you’re looking to explore the Alps, you’ll definitely want to plan for the fall shoulder season. Like with higher up US National Parks, The Alps are still thawing out during the spring. You’re almost guaranteed to still encounter snow when you get up higher. Not so in the fall! This time of year typically means less rain, more temperate weather, less hikers, and long days (the sun doesn’t set until around 7:30pm). You may even get a glimpse of fall colors.. Some restaurants and tourist-driven places will be closed for the season, but those still open will be thrilled for your business.

Where to Go in the Alps: Interlaken, Switzerland; Lucerne, Switzerland; Aosota, Italy; Chambéry, France; Bressanone, Italy; Innsbruck, Austria; Lake Geneva, Switzerland

Beloved European Cities

Best: Either shoulder season

Everyone and their grandmother heads to Europe during the summer. And that includes Europeans, who, enviably, spend weeks vacationing in August. These days, however, the heat soars in many of the popular, southern European destinations. And if you know anything about most European countries, you know they don’t have central A/C. Honestly, most Europeans I’ve met don’t seem to feel humidity the way most Americans I know do! This means an 80F day in Paris is going to feel a lot worse than an 80F day at home. When you factor in crowds and the lack of ice in drinks, your Euro trip might go south real quick.

Spring and fall shoulder seasons, though? Idyllic! You’ll have great weather, locals won’t be so irritated with the influx of crowds, and I can almost guarantee hotel and tour rates will have some sort of discount. Make the trips even better by including what I like to refer to as B-side cities.

Where to Go: Rome, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; London, England; Berlin, Germany; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Prague, Czech Republic; Florence, Italy; Lisbon, Portugal

Have you ever traveled during shoulder season? Let me know about your trip below!

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