October means one thing: fall getaway season.
But “fall” doesn't look the same to everyone.
For some of us, it's colorful leaves, crisp mornings, cozy sweaters, and an excuse to order another warm drink. For others, it's finally time to get outside without melting — hiking under blue skies, lingering on the patio, and watching the sun set over the desert.
So which kind of fall traveler are you?
Grab a piece of paper (or keep track in your head), answer the questions below, and find out whether you belong to Team Desert Sun 🌵 or Team Sweater Weather 🍂.
And no cheating. Your perfect October getaway is at stake.
🍂🌵 The Great Fall Getaway Quiz
1. It's Saturday morning and you have absolutely nowhere you need to be. Where are we finding you?
A. Outside with coffee, soaking up the sunshine and deciding on today's activity.
B. Curled up somewhere cozy with a warm drink, and your favorite reading material.
2. Pick your ideal October outfit.
A. Athletic wear, sunglasses, and maybe a light jacket.
B. Jeans, fuzzy socks, boots, and a cozy oversized sweater.
3. You have an entire afternoon free. What's the plan?
A. A hike or a round of golf, and then a few hours by the pool.
B. A trip to a local pumpkin patch or apple orchard, grabbing a hot latte, and exploring a cute town.
4. Choose your October scenery.
A. Mountains, cacti, blue skies, and a desert stretching out in every direction.
B. Tree-lined roads covered in red, orange, and gold.
5. It's 6:00 p.m. Where would you rather be?
A. Outside watching an incredible sunset and grabbing a drink before heading out to an amazing new dinner spot.
B. Heading back from a day of exploring, ready to cook your favorite cozy meal or order carry out.
6. Choose your fall vacation photo backdrop.
A. A ridiculously beautiful desert sunset in variations of orange, red, pink and purple.
B. Standing underneath a tree that's basically showing off.
7. What's on your fall getaway playlist?
A. 1901 by Phoenix - or something upbeat to keep you energized for the next adventure.
B. Stick Season by Noah Kahan - or something acoustic that makes staring out the window at trees feel cinematic.
8. You're packing for a long weekend getaway. Which item makes the suitcase first?
A. Sunscreen.
B. Your favorite football team's sweatshirt.
9. Pick an evening activity.
A. Hot tub under a sky full of stars.
B. Games, drinks, and nowhere else to be.
10. Complete this sentence: “The best thing about fall is…”
A. Finally being able to spend ALL DAY outside.
B. Everything. The weather. The leaves. The clothes. The food. Don't make me choose.
Time for Your Results
Count up your As and Bs.
Mostly As: 🌵 Team Desert Sun
Your ideal fall getaway has a little less pumpkin spice and a lot more sunshine.
While everyone else is pulling out their winter coats, you're wondering why October can't involve a swimsuit.
Your perfect fall day starts slowly: coffee outside while the desert wakes up around you. Once you're sufficiently caffeinated, you're off — maybe for a hike, a round of golf, or an adventure somewhere you've never been before.
By afternoon, you've earned some downtime by the pool.
As the sun starts to set, you're back outside with a drink in hand, watching the sky turn shades of pink, orange, and purple. Dinner is outside if you can manage it, followed by a long soak in the hot tub underneath the stars.
For you, fall isn't about preparing to hibernate.
It's about finally getting outside.
Your fall essentials: sunshine, adventure, good views, and absolutely no need for a winter coat.
Mostly Bs: 🍂 Team Sweater Weather
You don't just like fall.
You've been waiting for it.
The minute there's a hint of cool air, the sweatshirts come out. You're ready for colorful leaves, warm drinks, scenic drives, pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and all the cozy things you've been dreaming about since approximately January.
Your perfect fall day begins with coffee on a cool, quiet morning — preferably with nowhere you need to be.
Eventually, you'll head out for a drive through the changing leaves. Maybe you'll stop at an orchard or pumpkin patch, explore a nearby town, or find a farmers market to roam and grab a hot beverage.
Then it's back home before the sun goes down.
The sweatshirt stays on. The drinks come out. Maybe there's a game involved. Maybe you sit outside for a while. Maybe you do absolutely nothing.
That's kind of the point.
You don't need an itinerary. You need a cozy place, people you like, and a crisp October weekend.
Your fall essentials: colorful leaves, cool mornings, fall-scented candles, cozy nights, and at least one ridiculously scenic drive.
Exactly Half and Half: 🌵🍂 Team “Why Choose?”
Interesting.
Apparently, you refuse to be put in a seasonal box.
You want the sweatshirt and the swimsuit.
The colorful leaves and the desert sunset.
A morning at the pumpkin patch sounds great — but so does an afternoon by the pool.
And you know what?
We respect it.
Your perfect fall might just involve more than one adventure.
Whichever Path You Choose…
One of the things we love most about travel is how different a getaway can feel depending on where you go.
Fall in the Arizona desert and fall in Central Illinois barely seem like the same season — and that's exactly what makes them fun.
At Sunset Trails in New River, Arizona, fall means desert views, outdoor adventures, beautiful sunsets, and evenings under the stars.
At Hidden Grove, Lakeshore Cottage, The Ridge and our other Central Illinois properties, it's a completely different experience: quiet mornings surrounded by nature, colorful fall scenery, and plenty of reasons to slow down and stay awhile.
They're different kinds of getaways, but that's sort of our thing.
Beyond the Path is about finding places that give you a reason to get away from the usual — whatever that looks like for you.
So now that you've taken the quiz, there's really only one question left:
Are you heading for the 🌵 desert sun, the 🍂 sweater weather…or both?
Whatever your next adventure, we'd love to be your hosts. Take a look at our properties and see if availability lines up with your dream fall plans!