Seven Great Places to Extend Your Summer

Hold out a bit longer for savings on Nantucket Island. In October two legendary historic inns reduce their rates with a Hot Dates, Cool Rates promotion. At the White Elephant, rooms that fetch $730 per night in August go for $195 in October. At Jared Coffin House, a $300 room in August is only $125 in October. It’s too cool to swim this time of year, but beach walks are still pleasant. Rent a bike and pedal the island’s scenic pathways to the Harvest Fair. The Cranberry Festival also happens in October, the same month the members-only Sankaty Head Golf Club opens its doors to the public for low season. Best of all, not one of the above requires looking good in a bikini.

The deal: $125 to $195 per night


The rooms: Patio/deck (White Elephant); period-inspired furnishings (Jared Coffin)

The ratings: Fours and fives on TripAdvisor

Daily highs in PCB still hit 87 degrees in September, but now you don’t have to elbow out the competition for a beach or pool chair at 9:30 a.m. The season’s most often overlooked benefit? Absolutely. The Calypso, a condo-style resort directly on the beach, is a gorgeous place to work on preserving your tan throughout autumn. You can also rent wave runners, go parasailing, or take a banana boat ride. The season’s best deal, though, is the resort’s Sterling Rocks Fall Package. For less than $200 night you can stay at the Calypso or any of its 17 sister properties in town and get two free tickets to the outdoor concert series: a country music festival (September 23 through 24) or iCarly pop star Miranda Cosgrove (October 9).

The deal: $178 per night

The rooms: Ocean views, condo-style rooms, kitchens, balconies

The ratings: Fours and fives on TripAdvisor

Want to see how the other half sleeps in Vegas? Here’s your chance. In the weeks after Labor Day, temperatures settle back into the 90s and hotels drop their rates. It’s one of the most affordable times of the year to visit. Book by September 30 and you can stay in a luxury suite at the five-diamond Venetian for $149 per night. These sprawling 650-square-foot suites with bed chambers and remote-controlled Roman shades are double the size of the average Vegas hotel room. Not that you actually sleep much when you visit Vegas—but you could, and royally. While you’re at this business of living large, check out the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction at Mandalay Bay September 22 through 24. You might just get the urge to bid on a muscle car or prewar antique.

The deal: $149 per night

The rooms: Sunken living room, Roman tub, robes in luxury suites


The ratings: Mostly fives on TripAdvisor

Few drives compare with a California coast road trip. When fall hits, comfortable temperatures hold, the congestion eases, and, well, even the quick cruise from Carlsbad to the San Diego Zoo feels glorious. Ward off any potential are-we-there-yets with West Inn & Suites' basket of road games and goodies, part of the hotel’s On the Road Again package. The deal also includes a $25 gas card and a double king deluxe room for $189 per night. The West is only four blocks from the beaches of Carlsbad and a free five-minute shuttle from Legoland and an outlet mall. If you head out, just be back by 8:00 p.m. The kids’ bedtime snack, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and milk, goes fast.

The deal: $189 per night

The rooms: Fresh orchids, Egyptian-cotton linens, fridge/microwave

The ratings: Solid fives on TripAdvisor

Early fall is the perfect time to get your boardwalk fix in Atlantic City. Temps are warm enough that you still crave salt-water taffy, but not so hot that your back sticks to roller coaster seats. And the crowds have dissipated. For less than $100 per night the Sheraton puts you within a few blocks of the boardwalk, casinos, and restaurants. That new fall wardrobe? Find it next door at one of The Walk’s 100 outlet stores. The hotel’s Shop Your Way package gives you coupons. With its Stay & Play package, new Caesars reward program members get $200 in slot play plus free meals when they play $100.

The deal: $89 per night

The rooms: Skyline views, luxurious bedding

The ratings: Mostly fours on TripAdvisor

For those of us travelers who struggle with sitting still, this authentic working-ranch getaway is the remedy. On the grass prairies of north-central Nebraska’s Sand Hills region, the best ranch-hand weather arrives in September. Temps in the mid-70s are ideal for every chore under the prairie sun: moving cattle to new pastures, roping, and penning—all on horseback. At Rowse’s 1+1 Ranch you spend most of your day in the saddle helping out, riding with a purpose. It doesn’t get any more authentic than this. You eat three home-cooked meals (ranch-raised beef, farm-fresh eggs) family style and sleep in a log cabin with cowboy-inspired decor. The office feels like a world away, but there is Wi-Fi access for the hopelessly devoted.

The deal: $217 per person per night, all-inclusive

The rooms: Log cabin rooms, individual bathrooms, front porches, rocking chairs 


The ratings: Solid fives on TripAdvisor

Inevitably, it happens every fall. My calendar jams up with after-school activities, meetings, and other obligations that take me back into a frenzied routine. One month in, I need a quiet beach town escape. Enter: Shell Island Resort in Wrightsville Beach, 30 minutes from Wilmington. This newly renovated family resort is at the end of the road along one of the area’s widest beaches. It’s quiet. There’s no traffic and no obnoxious minigolf course or souvenir shop on every block. September brings two big annual fishing tournaments to Wrightsville Beach, including one with $24,000 in prizes. And free Audubon birding tours run through the end of the month. But an agenda-free day on the beach to soak in the season’s lingering warmth will do just fine.

The deal: $199 per night

The rooms: Oceanfront suites, kitchenettes, private balconies

The ratings: Solid fours and fives on TripAdvisor