Discover your autumn adventures when you stay with IHG® Army Hotels this fall. Whether you’re looking to admire the fall colors, enjoy the thrills of Halloween, or cheer on the Army Black Knights as they move the ball down the field, there’s an IHG® Army Hotel nearby!
Follow the Fall Colors
As summer fades into fall and the leaves begin to change, road trippers make their way along the East Coast to admire the artistry of Mother Nature.
One particularly stunning display of fall foliage is in the Great Smoky Mountains during the month of October. The trees explode in a burst of color starting from the peaks and moving down the mountainside into the valleys as the fall days go by.
A drive south along the Blue Ridge Parkway, then east through the charming southern towns of Asheville and Charlotte will get you in the mood for bonfires and s’mores.
Make Fort Bragg the final stop on this autumn adventure with a stay at IHG Army Hotels Moon Hall or IHG Army Hotels Normandy House & Carolina Inn.
North Carolina State Fair
Fort Bragg is also just a short drive to Raleigh, home of the North Carolina State Fair. Though most state fairs are held in summer or early fall, North Carolina’s runs for ten days from October 17th to October 27th.
This annual blue-ribbon event has judged exhibits of everything from agriculture to antiques and offers live music at the Dorton Arena, a nightly fireworks display, a demolition derby, classic carnival games, and exciting rides.
The HQ of PSL
Nothing says fall more than Pumpkin Spice Latte, which was developed in the Starbucks “Liquid Lab” at the company’s headquarters in Seattle, Washington. The re-appearance of this iconic drink on the menu signals the end of summer and the beginning of sweater season.
When the chill in the air calls for something warm to sip on, make your way to the company’s flagship coffee shop at 1912 Pike Place.
If you need somewhere to stay while you’re in the area, there are four IHG® Army Hotels properties on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Grab a Brew with Your Crew
Lattes aren’t the only things that get the pumpkin treatment every fall. While you’re in Seattle, be sure to stop by a local independent brewery for a pint or two.
Try a glass of Punkuccino with a shot of coffee from the Elysian Taproom, a bottle of Pumpkin Spice Ale from the Two Beers Brewing Company, or a can of gluten-free Lunar Harvest Pumpkin Ale from the Ghostfish Brewing Company.
You can even bring a six-pack back to your lodgings at the Holiday Inn Express Rainier Inn & Rainier Complex on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Have a Frighteningly Good Time at Fright Fest
For a frighteningly good time, head to the nearest Six Flags for their annual Fright Fest event, which runs on select days in the fall at parks throughout the country.
This celebration of all things spooky is fun for the whole family, with kid-friendly events and activities during the day and spooky sights and sounds once the sun goes down.
IHG® Army Hotels, less than an hour’s drive from Six Flags theme parks, include properties on Fort Sam Houston in Texas, Fort Belvoir and Fort Myer in Virginia, and Fort George G. Meade in Maryland.
Día de los Muertos
San Antonio’s Muertos Fest takes place on the weekend of October 26th and 27th this year. If you’re taking part in this annual event, you’ll appreciate being able to stay for both days of festivities at the Candlewood Suites®, Holiday Inn Express®, or IHG-branded hotels on Fort Sam Houston.
The free public festival celebrates the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, with entertainment and exhibitions for children and adults.
Visitors can buy traditional art and handcrafted gifts, enjoy live music and poetry readings, watch the festive parade, attend workshops, and vote for their favorite living altar.
Are You Ready for Some Football?
Fall is synonymous with football and you won’t want to miss the next home game for West Point’s hard-charging Army Black Knights.
The October 26th game against the San Jose State Spartans is the perfect excuse to stay at one of the two properties on West Point—the IHG Army Hotels Beat Navy House, a Historia Collection hotel or the IHG Army Hotels Five Star Inn.
Can’t make the game? No worries, you can watch the team go toe to toe with the Air Force Academy at their next away game on November 2nd.
The academy is less than nineteen miles from the Candlewood Suites on Fort Carson.
Two additional home games this season give you the chance to watch the Black Knights square off against the University of Massachusetts Minutemen on November 9th and the Virginia Military Institute Keydets on November 16th.
Halloween with the Headless Horseman
Just down the road from West Point is the place where Washington Irving’s Ichabod Crane encountered the Headless Horseman in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. With Halloween happenings that include haunted hayrides, cemetery tours, dramatic performances and hair-raising re-enactments, Sleepy Hollow is the place to be on October 31st.
After a chilling time in this small village, you can hide under the covers in your suite back at West Point’s Five Star Inn or the Beat Navy House.
The holidays are often labeled as the most wonderful time of the year, but perhaps, the most wonderful time of the year is fall.
