Ready for a taste of fall after our scorching summer?

We’ve scouted four high-altitude getaways—small-town Clayton, Georgia; family-friendly Chattanooga, Tennessee; historic Charlottesville, Virginia; and arts-filled Spruce Pine, North Carolina—that will satisfy your yearning for charming places to stay, interesting things to do, delicious regional dining, gorgeous autumn scenery and a bit of soft outdoor adventure—all against the backdrop of refreshing cooler climes. Most importantly, none of them is farther than a day-and-a-half road trip away.

So pull those sweaters out from the back of your closet. We’re going leafing.