AMA Insider Fall 2018/ Under 55 | Page 20

2 1 Top 10 Awesome Autumn Destinations and events that prove fall is a fabulous season for travel by craig moy 5 1 | napa valley, CalifoRnia Plan a multi-day cycling trip among the Golden State’s famous vineyards. Hundreds of wineries offer tours and tastings, while accommodations— from charming B&Bs to brand-name hotels— cater to all types of traveller. Should your ambitions go beyond sipping chardonnay, pedal to Sonoma to spy Mexican colonial architecture, or Bodega Bay for rugged coastal scenery. 20 Fall 2018 2 | JaspeR, alBeRTa 3 | Reno, nevada 4 | Tofino, B.C. 5 | Kelowna, B.C. The Rockies draw our eyes upward, but in Jasper National Park there’s reason to look even higher: The park is protected from light pollution and perfect for stargazing. Jasper’s Dark Sky Festival (Oct. 12–21) hosts pho- tography workshops, astronomy activities with TELUS World of Science–Edmonton, and an appearance by twin astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly. Find your Jasper hotel at AMATravel.ca/Hotels. Nevada’s second city is an adventure-seeker’s dream. Close proximity to Lake Tahoe and a chain of national forests make it a great base for outdoors enthusiasts. For those who’d rather see than do, there’s the thrill of the National Championship Air Races (Sept. 12–16)— like NASCAR, but with planes—and the Great Reno Balloon Race (Sept. 7–9), the world’s largest free hot-air ballooning event. Autumn is a great time to visit this rainforest- fringed community on Vancouver Island’s west coast. The roiling ocean has made Tofino popular for surfing— the Queen of the Peak women’s surf champi- onship (Sept. 28–30) is a local highlight—but you can also ply calmer currents on a sea kayak or dugout canoe tour. Foodies are in fine fettle too: restaurants pay tribute to the Pacific bounty of oys- ters, salmon and more. Verdant B.C. wine country is a fab year- round destination, and it’s even better during the autumn grape harvest. The Fall Okanagan Wine Festival (Sept. 27– Oct. 7) hosts events for toasting the latest, lauded vintages paired with culinary delights by top chefs. For more wine tasting, book a Naramata Wine Tour with Gourmet Lunch through AMA Travel, from $149/person: AMATravel.ca/Activities. AMA InsIder MARx/ALAMy 4 3