Sure it’s September, but who says it’s time to put away the flip-flops and suntan lotion? If you’ve still got the travel bug in you as the seasons change, pack your bags. There are plenty of places where you can go to catch summer’s second wind.

Travel to these destinations is even better in the late summer and early fall months of September, October, and November. The weather is mild and the crowds are even milder. 

1. Indian Summer in New England
“Indian summer” refers to the one- or two-week period of warm and pleasant weather that interrupts the season’s transition into fall. It’s like summer’s last hurrah before retiring for the year. In North America, this second summer is caused by southern winds that carry warm tropical air masses northward over the continent.

The term’s exact origin is a matter of debate, but it’s pretty certain that it originated in New England. Some find the term offensive, as one explanation has it that “Indian summer” is akin to “Indian giver,” in that its meaning rests on the prejudice that Native Americans are false and deceitful, hence a fake summer. But it may also refer to the period in which, depending on who’s telling the history, Native Americans peacefully laid in corn and squash for the long winter, or they raided European camps while the weather was still warm enough to do so.

In any event, many people look forward to this period of spontaneous warm weather every year. They don’t always get it; the beauty of a second summer is that it comes and goes when it pleases and sometimes not at all. But when it does make an appearance, that last chance at summer fun is worth the wait.

Second summer, if it comes, usually arrives in New England between Halloween and Thanksgiving, and often follows a touch of frost. New Englanders consider the late-arriving Indian summers the best. They bring greater relief from the harsh winter cold that has begun to set in, and arrive during the rich foliage season, when the colors are brighter and the air crisper. Locals celebrate with plenty of fall festivals, which are destinations in themselves. So plan a trip to the Northeast for October or November and you just might be pleasantly surprised.

2. The Best of Fall in Chesapeake Bay
A little farther south, Chesapeake Bay locals enjoy all the beauty of fall with milder weather. The Atlantic currents keep the bay from heating up and cooling down too quickly, so summer’s warmth lingers long after people have started donning sweaters elsewhere. Maryland, Virginia, and the Bay region offer plenty to do in the fall months including boating, fishing, and visiting historical sites like the historic Maryland State House, the oldest state capitol building in the United States still in legislative use. Don’t miss the Yorktown battlefield or the Jamestown settlement either.

3. Florida’s Tropic Thunder, Summer Wonder
Head down even farther to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico for a year-round festival climate. Sure, the area is plagued by hurricanes and tropical storms during September and October, but November is the second driest month of the year for Floridians with a mean precipitation of only about 1.8 inches. The month also features mild temperatures and a break from the oppressive southern humidity. Late autumn highs and lows range from 78 degrees to 57 degrees Fahrenheit, on average.

There’s a joke that says you can only tell it’s fall in Florida when the colors change on the license plates. You don’t get the brilliant late-summer, early-fall colors you’d get in, say, New England, because autumn in Florida simply isn’t cold enough for the chemical reaction that causes leaves to turn. But fall does come as a huge relief from oppressive summer heat, and Floridians celebrate with plenty of fall festivals, like the Seafood Festival in Apalachicola from November 6–7 and the Riverhawk Music Festival in Brooksville from November 5–8.

4. Great Shakes in the Great Lakes
Late summer and early autumn is also the best time to visit the Great Lakes region, as the dry Canadian air clears the heat and humidity that cause frequent thunderstorms during the summer months.

That’s not to say that the weather isn’t plenty warm from September to mid-November, ranging in highs from the 70s to the 50s, and in lows from the 50s to the 30s. There’s usually no snow until November, so autumn around the Great Lakes is characterized by clear air, sunshine, and mild weather. That suits locals just fine, since it makes sitting on those football bleachers much more comfortable. Catch university games at Ohio State, Michigan, or Wisconsin, or head to Milwaukee for the huge Indian Summer Festival from September 11–13.

5. I Love L.A.
Who wouldn’t? The year-round mild weather is enough to make you drop everything and say, “I’m heading to Hollywood.” L.A. is classified as having a Mediterranean climate, which means mild, wet winters and hot, moderately humid summers. That’s thanks to the Pacific Ocean breezes, which keep things cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Visit L.A. in September or October, before the rainy season begins in November. That’s when you’re most likely to encounter the quintessential California day: sunny and mild. Fall also has a major advantage in its predictability; temperatures can vary by more than 20 degrees on any given day during a Los Angeles summer but hold steady later in the year. Not to mention the fact that you’ll beat the crowds at popular destinations like Disneyland and Universal Studios. Don’t forget to pack a bathing suit, either, since L.A.’s beach weather lasts all year.

6. San Francisco: Frisky in the Fall
San Francisco’s summer is famous, but not for its sun; the “fog city” suffers from the murky, chameleon-like blanketing that can roll in without warning, especially in July.

Not to worry, though. The city’s gorgeous Indian summers (as they’re locally known) more than make up for summer’s dreary first round. September, October, and early November are the best times to visit because the fog has cleared and the temperatures are mildest. Because it’s surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay on three sides, the region takes longer to warm up and cool down than inland. Fall temperatures usually hover around the mid to high 60s, but can climb up to the 80s and 90s.

Take advantage of San Francisco’s beautiful outdoor attractions, like Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach, Baker Beach, and Crissy Field.

Summer’s End Is Just the Beginning
Sure, school’s starting and beaches are closing, but that’s no reason to despair over summer’s end. Catch a second summer at one of these nearby (and affordable!) destinations, and say goodbye to one season while embracing the next.