IS there any place on earth as fun as the California Wine Country during the fall harvest? Sure: being there without the crowds.
Or how about the Florida Keys – it’s the same place in summer – in fact, summer’s when it finally gets warm enough for many people’s tastes, though they don’t necessarily go, as it’s warm everywhere. Too bad – there’s nothing like a lazy summer evening at a cottage in the Keys.
Smart travelers know that the key to happiness, particularly in this troublesome period where everything seems to cost so much it’s not even worth leaving home, is going against the grain. Figure out where the crowds are headed, then gun it in the other direction.
SUMMER
Key West
It doesn’t get much hotter in the Florida Keys than it did here in New York last week. We call that perfect weather for a) lying on the beach and b) drinking ourselves under the table after dark.
GOOD DEAL: We promise to behave while staying at the peaceful Marquesa Hotel, our favorite local address, for its wonderful rambling courtyard pool areas and smart interior decor. Summer midweek rates from $190, down from a winter high of $330 (marquesa.com)
INFO: fla-keys.com
FALL
Alaska
Is there a more perfect time to forsake the sweltering flatlands for a run through the Inside Passage and / or a visit to the famous (see it while it’s there!) Glacier Bay National Park? Sure – there’s September, when the cruise lines run an almost full schedule of trips to wrap up the annual season.
GOOD DEAL: A 7-night southbound fare from Anchorage (Whittier) to Vancouver, BC, on Carnival Spirit starts at just $479/pp for a Sept. 3 departure, found on cruisesonly.com (76 percent off the brochure price).
INFO: carnival.com
WINTER
Sonoma Valley
California wine country never goes out of season – some seasons are just busier than others. We’ve had sunny winter days and rainy winter days, sometimes side by side, but either way, it’s still gorgeous and, best of all, more peaceful than in peak season. With less traffic, you can explore more of Sonoma County’s offerings, from the wines of the Russian River region to vibrant Healdsburg to the oyster culture along the Pacific Coast.
GOOD DEAL: The four cottages comprising Les Petites Maisons in Sonoma town are smart and complete living spaces, with starting rates of $150-$175 from November to March, down from $195-$235.
INFO: sonomacounty.com
SPRING
Venice
Temperatures average in the mid-50s and there may not be quite as much sun as you’re after, but March is a perfect time to head to one of the world’s romantic cities (or should we say one of the most romantic living museums?), simply because rates are often 50 percent off peak – this is the tail end of the low season here. Lest you think you’re getting the shaft in March, it’s not even close to the rainiest month (that would be November). The acqua alta, Venice’s famous “high tide,” is possible, but that’s a trait March shares with five other months.
GOOD DEAL: At the charming Residenza Cannaregio we found a room for mid-March for $142 – a little over the published starting rates, but down from the published high of nearly $350
(residenzacannaregio.it).
INFO: turismovenezia.it