Douro Valley, Portugal

A road trip to the Douro Valley in October is a must; the light is soft, the air is balmy, and the grape colors are beautiful. The wine harvest brings this UNESCO World Heritage Site to life in the fall, and you can stop at some of the greatest Douro wineries for a tour and sampling - most provide port and table wines for you to enjoy. There is no set date for the Douro harvest season to begin, although it often occurs in the second part of September, depending on how the grapes have responded to weather conditions throughout the year.

Quinta do Popa, one of the top vineyards in the Douro area, provides guests with harvest experiences. The Quinta (country estate) is located on the Douro's southern slopes, almost halfway between Porto and the Spanish border. It is feasible to travel from Porto and traverse the entire Douro Valley in a single day, but you would miss so much. Take a short detour south to Lamego, where you may climb the famed 686-step baroque staircase to the shrine and rococo church of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios. If you have a week to spend in Europe this autumn, why not fly to Porto and take a guided tour of the Douro Valley, or rent a vehicle and drive all the way to Madrid? This is a terrific road trip, with two historic cities to see and plenty of beauty and fall color in between!