If you want someone else to take charge of your fall trip, sign up for an excursion by train on the American Orient Express. This luxurious train will take you along the Pacific Coast through San Francisco, the Napa Valley and the Columbia River Gorge where you'll see fall foliage and breathtaking views of the coastline. Side trips include a stop in Napa for wine tasting, a tour of Hearst Castle, a walk through Muir Woods, a day in San Francisco, and a tour of Portland, Oregon.
The train travels from Los Angeles to Seattle, or vice versa, and lasts eight days and seven nights.
The cost of $2,890 to $4,990 includes most meals. The Orient Express also offers an "Autumn in New England and Quebec" trip.