Best places to travel in October

An industrial metropolis once shrouded in smog, Taipei has emerged as a global city, with an efficient transportation system and restaurants, architecture and an arts scene to rival Singapore’s. This 2016 World Design Capital is taking its designation very seriously: OMA is putting the finishing touches on the new Taipei Performing Arts Centre, and galleries are showcasing more regional artists.

Skyline Drive, a leisurely route that winds its way past the pastoral Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park, is considered one of America’s best road trips, especially in the fall, when the creeper vines and dogwoods transform.

The tropical city of Cartagena is warm year-round, and though October is considered its rainiest month, it rarely pours all day. This beloved port town is famous for its Spanish-colonial architecture and the local culture, from Caribbean music and dance to modern art and some of the best ceviche in Latin America.

When it comes to seeking out autumn’s best foliage, Acadia National Park, in coastal Maine, is considered one of the best places to go. Bike the carriage roads, or hike its many forested trails, which look out over the Atlantic, Bar Harbor and several islands.

Music City is beautiful any time of year, but October might be the best time because of cooler temperatures, colorful leaves and such fall festivals as the Independent Music Fest, which spotlights both emerging and established bands and songwriters.

Peru’s coastal capital is a study in contrasts. Pre-Columbian heritage coexists with a contemporary art scene, high-fashion boutiques and progressive restaurants churning out some of South America’s most exciting dishes. October is the tail end of Peru’s dry season and time for the Lord of the Miracles annual procession, one of the largest in the Americas. Honoring the Peruvian image of a black Christ painted in colonial times, believers clad in purple march through the streets as vendors peddle food and candy.

Fall is the perfect time to visit California wine country, when the summer crowds have finally dissipated and harvests have just begun. Explore all that’s happening in Sonoma to celebrate the season, from October harvest parties to hikes and pig roasts. Over in Napa, a new scene has emerged -- wineries and hotels have been reinvented with next-generationdesign.

Festival season overtakes Ireland’s cities come fall. In October, Belfast hosts its International Arts Festival; Cork hosts a Guinness Jazz Festival; and Dublin, the capital, celebrates its annual Theatre Festival. However, rainfall is also common this time of year — but what better way to take a tour of Ireland than when it’s at its most green and lush? The scenic Wild Atlantic Way road traces the western coastline, passing some of Ireland’s most bucolic regions like Connemara and the Dingle peninsula.

October’s rising temperatures drive many tourists away from Botswana, but those who brave the heat will be duly rewarded. Dry season is prime time for big game safaris, when vegetation is sparse and the Okavango Delta’s floodplains recede to concentrated watering holes, where high densities of wildlife — elephants, lion, giraffe, zebra and buffalo, to name a few — gather.

It doesn’t get more American Southwest than Santa Fe, awash in clay-colored adobe homes, boutiques selling pottery and art, and quirky locals. The sweet spot to visit is between September and November, when the temperatures are comfortable, chili harvest season is underway and the festival circuit is at an all-time high. October is especially great, with the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival of New Mexican and American films and the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.