It’s not easy bidding farewell to light clothing and summer’s hot sun, but the transition becomes easier when nature’s beauty reaches its peak and the leaves take on rich and vibrant colors. This year, instead of hopping in the car and going for a drive, we’re suggesting you take your fall foliage tour to a soaring new level. Check out our list of hot air balloon destinations during foliage season and get a new perspective on the autumn season.

Hokkaido, Japan

A large island in the northernmost region of Japan, Hokkaido is a great place to witness the change of seasons known by the Japanese as momiji.  During the foliage season, soft yellows of beech trees, bright reds from birch trees and occasional deep purples of okagami Japanese maples are the stars of the show. Once you

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Add any beverage to our list of foods to avoid before flying. The Independent reports that Michael OLeary, CEO of European discount carrier Ryanair, plans to excise two of the three toilets on his companys planes. The move will allow room for up to six more seats to be installed in lieu of the loos.

OLeary told The Independent that such a change would reduce fares by about 5 percent per ticket. The gigantic downside, of course, is that therell be just a single available restroom on all Ryanair planes (Boeing 737s that carry up to 189 people, according to SeatGuru.com).

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Coach travel could be a cost-effective and convenient alternative to other holiday transport.

The travel chaos that resulted from the volcanic ash cloud that grounded hundreds of UK flights in 2010 may have prompted holidaymakers to consider a different type of break.One option is coach travel and John Gilbert, managing director of Europe-wide scheduled coach operator Eurolines UK, suggests this could be an increasingly attractive choice.He says it is still a challenge to inform travel insurance policyholders and others about the truth to the industry and dispel the many myths that exist.Some of the benefits to this method of transport include modern vehicles that have air conditioning, a fair amount of legroom and sometimes even free wifi.”The 2010 ash cloud was a platform to showcase the flexibility of coach travel and weve seen passenger numbers increase steadily since, to the extent that were now carrying more passengers than during the peak of the volcanic eruption,” Mr Gilbert notes.He also offers some suggestions for those wishing to take a last-minute break during the August bank holiday.The expert says low-cost fares are available to take tourists around a variety of spots in Europe and Ireland, such as a trip to Paris costing £74 and the same price for a break in Bruges.All prices include luggage allowance and booking fees, which may appeal to those who want to stay away from hidden charges used by certain airlines.Price is one of the key attractions for those choosing coach holidays, as well as the convenience of such a trip.Mr Gilbert explains services go direct from city to city, meaning there are no waiting times or transfer costs to worry about.By Dennis Clarke  

Butchering, sausage making, truffles, mushroom hunt & wine tour in Italy

If you call yourself a “foodie,” pig lover, wine-o, tartufaio, gourmet or gourmand this culinary holiday is for you! Vegetarians seek refuge elsewhere because for five nights in October it’s a carnivore’s delight in the foothills of the Apennine Mountains of Central Italy. This fall savor the slow food & experience Italian farm life first hand with this unique holiday at La Tavola Marche (Organic Farm, Inn & Cooking School) for mushroom hunting, pig butchering, sausage making, chicken slaughtering & butchering with hands-on cooking classes incorporating the fresh butchered meats and a fabulous wine tour & tasting.

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Fans of the horror novel The Shining are being encouraged to pay a visit to the US state of Colorado, where they can book into the hotel which is reported to have inspired Stephen King to write the book. The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, has made the most of its reputation as a haunted house. According to the Colorado Tourism Office, Stephen King once stayed in the hotel’s presidential suite, room number 217. During his night in the suite he is said to have experienced a variety of supernatural experiences which inspired him to write the novel The Shining. H

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