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While every season has its colors, there’s something particularly special about the fall. As the cool weather sweeps across the United States, plucking leaves off branches, the kaleidoscope of colorfulness isn’t just stunning on the eyes; it pulls at the soul.

For some, it feels like flipping the pages for a new beginning; for others, it's a seasonal mood booster, creating a deeper connection with nature and the world around us. But one thing’s for sure: There’s a certain autumnal magic that lends itself to wrapping up warm, sipping steaming cups of coffee and set-jetting – or making a real-life pilgrimage to small towns that capture the America embodied by Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls.

Here are eight of our favorite small towns for cozy autumnal vibes (and yes, you'll get to fit in some leaf-peeping, too).

1. Washington, Connecticut

Best for Gilmore Girls fans

Vibes: Where Rory and Lorelai lead, we follow…and that road leads to the Connecticut town of Washington, the real-life inspiration for Amy Sherman-Palladino's mother-daughter drama, Gilmore Girls, which garnered a loyal following from 2000 to 2007. Some 4000 residents live within the town's 38.7 square miles, dotted around downtown blocks and bucolic small roads crossing the rolling foothills of the Berkshire Mountains – ideal for leaf-peeping drives (watch out for those deer, Rory!).

Do: With , there’s a Stars Hollow-style town square for every personality type. Washington Green has a library, church, public garden and two museums, while Washington Depot is centered on an abandoned Texaco gas station converted into a lively community gathering space known as the .

New Preston promises quirky shopping and a spectacular driving loop around Lake Waramaug, while Marbledale boasts a red brick church and boutiques in converted barns and homes and quiet Woodville offers an agreeably unhurried vibe. During the fall harvest, you can go apple and pumpkin picking at tenth-generation-run , or enjoy the leaf color while exploring .

Eat: The small-town community feel is best absorbed at the old-fashioned full-service grocery store and deli, , and the , which partners with local farms for mindfully produced meals. Also serving up cozy vibes with lunch and dinner are and .

Stay: There’s only one place for Gilmore Girls fans: The , where Sherman-Palladino stayed and found inspiration. “Everything looked like it was covered in sugar," she told Deseret News in 2001. Covering 58 acres of gardens and woods, this New England-style retreat also offers guided hikes and bonfires to fit the fall vibe.

2. Lambertville, New Jersey & New Hope, Pennsylvania

Best for crossing state lines

Vibes: Forget A Tale of Two Cities – this is a tale of two riverfront American small towns. Flanking the Delaware River, New Jersey’s , with a population of about 4000, leans into its historic charm with Victorian and Federalist architecture and some of the area’s best antique shopping. Across the river, Pennsylvania's , with about 2600 residents, is slightly more artsy, with stage events hosted by the and . But they match perfectly when it comes to snug eateries and boutiques and brilliant fall colors.

Do: Take in the seasonal colors in Lambertville with a walk – or horseback ride – on the towpath through . Over in New Hope, hop on board an antique train for a on the . Our favorite activity here? Walking across the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge to snap a photo with one foot in each state, admiring mid-river views of fall colors on two waterfronts.

Eat: Enjoy foliage views on the riverside at in Lambertville or , or in New Hope. As a New Jersey local, I'm a huge fan of the , and I recommend stocking up on Daffodil White wine at its homey downtown Lambertville tasting room.

Stay: Go historic with a stay at the , which once welcomed President Andrew Johnson and General Ulysses S Grant, or dial up the vintage flair at on the site of French-American vaudeville star Odette Mytril’s New Hope cabaret bar.

3. Calistoga, California

Best for wine and wellness

Vibes: There’s a simple sophistication to fall in , when amber and russet hues light up rolling hills topped by rolling Napa Valley vineyards. And the perfect pairing for this soothing landscape? A dip into the region’s refreshing , discovered more than 8000 years ago by the Wappo, the Indigenous inhabitants of this corner of California.

Do: The Golden State lives up to its name in late October and early November, music to the ears of fans of . One of the most stunning viewpoints in this town of 6400 is the . Established in 1882 and best known for winning the 1976 Judgement of Paris with its flavorsome Chardonnay, the estate is primed for leaf-peeping with an ivy-covered castle, Chinese-style gardens and a boardwalk-trimmed lake.

For extra seasonal scenery, take a hike along the 8.3-mile , blessed with stunning valley views, then relax at the , where four outdoor geothermal pools offer soul-soothing views of fall-dressed mountains.

Eat: Enjoy outdoor dining at Indian Springs Resort’s for seasonal American cuisine, or visit , set inside a 1904 house with a spacious patio, which serves superior Southern-inspired food with ingredients from the owner’s farm and garden.

Stay: The revamped 1950s isn't your average roadside motel; there's an outdoor lap pool and a wading pool, as well as an indoor whirlpool, all filled with water from the local mineral springs. Another retro stay awaits at , the town’s oldest bed and breakfast.

4. Brevard, North Carolina

Best for waterfall chasers

Vibes: Mother Nature really cranks up the autumnal magic in this North Carolina town just south of Asheville, pairing a rustic natural palette with more than 250 burbling cascades in a region known as . With 1000 miles of walking trails and 110,000 acres of public lands, there’s plenty of room to breathe in the crisp fall air in a town with a population of just 7800.

Do: Brevard is an , and trails range from the easy 0.8-mile stroll to Hooker Falls to the more strenuous final climb of the 3.9-mile path to Rainbow Falls. One of the most unique activities here is riding a natural slip-and-slide in the form of the 60-ft-long , which drops into a deep pool in . Mountain bikers can also find thrills with 350 feet of single-track trails snaking through the hills. Everyone should keep an eye out for endemic white squirrels, believed to bring good luck.

Eat: Brevard toasts its outdoor thrills in just the right way, courtesy of five local breweries. Grab a batch beer at along with a signature burger from its food truck, Chubwagon. Closer to the center, mixes beer, food, and live music in a backyard setting. The laid-back and farm-to-table also offer a comfy haven after a day admiring the foliage.

Stay: Immerse yourself in the seasonal color at , with furnished cabins among the trees, or rewind time to 1885 at the , set in a European-meets-Southern mansion. Further south in Lake Toxaway is one of the state’s most beloved fall getaways: , a stylish mountain house with a dreamy waterfront setting.

5. Bristol, Rhode Island

Best for seaside vibes

Vibes: Hugging the shore of Narragansett Bay, the Rhode Island town of Bristol has all the ingredients for a perfect fall getaway. Think coastal charm and colonial-style homes, wrapped up in tree-lined streets that burst into a fabulous show of seasonal hues.

Do: Go on a foliage-hopping tour from the grounds and sculpture gardens of the 19th-century mansion to bayfront , the 44-room bayfront manor of the Van Wickle family, set in 33 acres painted by century-old maples, towering sequoias and autumnally-hued October chrysanthemums. Finally, head over to to take in the shoreline scenery and spend some time hiking, biking the trails or canoeing along the bay.

Eat: Just behind Independence Park, earns its buzz with finger-licking food and an atmosphere that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. Seafood lovers make a splash at the waterfront , which opened in 1929, while the newly opened serves up Portuguese-inspired cafe delights. For a more elevated affair, head to plant-based restaurant , headed by this year’s James Beard semifinalist, Peter Carvelli.

Stay: From tiny houses to cute cottages, an in Bristol will add a homey quality to your seaside stay. The intimate from 1792 and from 1808 both provide cozy break-and-breakfast stays in handsome Federalist homes, while the 48-room offers views over Narragansett Bay.

6. Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Best mountain getaway

Vibes: For a city of only 2200, Eureka Springs in the Ozark Mountains is sure drawing attention, snagging a spot in . This free-spirited destination’s winning formula? A historic downtown of Victorian buildings with artsy galleries and boutiques tucked in between two rivers and three lakes (promising lots of , plus a – all sprinkled with a dose of Nordic-style hygge (coziness).

Do: Get lost among the crunching leaves while . Close to downtown, the 1.8-mile Black Bass Lake trail loops around one of the Ozarks’ oldest dams, while Lake Leatherwood City Park northwest of the center spans 1610 acres around a spring-fed lake. Get an elevated perspective of the foliage from the top of a fire tower or by going . If you're inclined to dive into the Halloween spirit, Eureka Springs is a haven for paranormal activity, best experienced on a .

Eat: Eureka Springs’ cafes are as cozy as it gets, particularly , and .

Stay: There’s a quirky quaintness that’s oh-so lovable at the , a snug bed and breakfast with seven suites in four Victorian buildings. Alternatively, opt for , with a private deck overlooking a wooded hollow with a hot tub under the colorful leaves.

7. Ashland, Oregon

Best for theater lovers

Vibes: There’s an inherent sense of snugness radiating from , designated on the National Register of Historic Places, thanks to the remarkable preservation of its original 1852 design. The throwback energy jives with its location in the foothills of the Cascade and Siskiyou Mountains, which swim with autumnal bliss.

Do: Ashland is synonymous with the , which has a busy calendar of fall performances. One of the country’s largest and oldest non-profit theater companies, it can trace its roots to the late 19th-century Chautauqua movement, which strived to bring entertainment to rural areas. To dive deeper into the autumn colors, head to with its cute gazebo and Japanese garden, or go on a paddling trip on the Rogue or Upper Klamath rivers.

Eat: Oregon’s version of cozy mixes in a distinctively funky vibe. Sample the homegrown vibrancy at the cafe with biscuits, sausage and gravy or lemon-ricotta-stuffed French toast. has a similarly sunny disposition, but with a Moroccan twist, serving bowls and toasts along with tasty teas.

Stay: The city’s longest-running bed and breakfast, is set in a 1920s American Craftsman-style house, tucked into a residential neighborhood just a couple blocks from downtown, while the , built in 1886, radiates Victorian charm.

8. Traverse City, Michigan

Best for scenic drives

Vibes: America’s midwestern landscapes transform into an artistic masterpiece when autumn douses the coastal town of Traverse City with the .

Do: The vastness of the fall display can best be appreciated on car trips around the surrounding peninsulas. The two-hour drive through Old Mission Peninsula takes in roadside fruit stands and the , while more forested Benzie County reveals its colors from hilly roads, including a marquee stretch of the tracing the edge of the .

Eat: Warm up with a steaming bowl of Vietnamese pho soup in town at , which donates a portion of the cost of each bowl to charity. For seasonal dishes, head out to in the historic Suttons Bay firehouse, or enjoy the rotating menu at , a working farm with a restaurant, market and brewery.

Stay: Housed in a neoclassical 1905 mansion in the middle of town, spoils its guests with a filling full breakfast and around-the-clock snacks in the guest kitchen. Alternatively, get even further away from it all at , a vineyard with on-site lodging, north of town on the Old Mission Peninsula.