Block Island, Rhode Island
While visitors flock to this island in the summer, come autumn you can have the outpost practically to yourself. The Block Island Ferry still runs a few times a day, but shops open only on weekends, and dining is restricted to four restaurants. The upside: It's a perfect time to explore the 17 miles of beachfront (all free and open to the public), hike 40 miles of nature trails, or tour the island by bike or moped; 800/383-2474 or blockislandinfo.com.
Port Isabel, Texas
Fall gives visitors a chance to experience a quieter side of Port Isabel, the oldest city in south Texas. Stay at the waterfront White Sands Motel, Marina, & Restaurant; dine at Pirate's Landing overlooking the Laguna Madre Bay (don�t miss the world's largest fly-fishing rod!). Other area attractions include the Port Isabel Lighthouse, where you can climb 72 steps to the top for sprawling bay views. On November 4, the area will host the World's Championship Shrimp Cook-Off; 800/527-6102 or portisabel-texas.com.
Pink Sands, Harbour Island, Bahamas
With hurricane season ending and high-season prices a month away, what better time to visit the famed Pink Sands? This Out Island resort offers high-end amenities: private getaways (the Bimini cottage epitomizes paradise), Caribbean-fusion cuisine, and expansive Atlantic views. The high season begins December 19, but until then savvy vacationers can save up to $750 per night at this award-winning hotel, edged by—you guessed it—the Bahamas' signature pink sands; 800/407-4776 or pinksandsresort.com.
Pacifica, California
November marks the beginning of harvest season for California Dungeness crab, and you can catch your own off the 1,140-foot Pacifica Municipal Pier at Sharp Park Beach, just 15 minutes south of downtown San Francisco. No fee or license is required, but you will need to bring or rent equipment. Hike Milagra Ridge, 239 acres of Bay Area open space overlooking the Pacific, where foxes, deer, and even bobcats have been spotted; cityofpacifica.org.
Sunset Beach, Oahu's North Shore, Hawaii
Of Oahu's more than 125 beaches, this one best captures the attention of both surfers and spectators. From November to February, professional boarders flock to Sunset Beach to catch monster waves—some reaching 20 feet—that roll in from storms in the north Pacific, thousands of miles away. But you don't have to brave the breakers to have a blast. Visitors along the 2 miles of shorefront gasp as daredevils take part in competitions such as the Triple Crown of Surfing, held this month; 808/637-4558 or gonorthshore.org.
