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If the thought of a long winter indoors makes you feel like it’s time for a vacation, we hear you (just be COVID safe when you go; here is now the CDC’s Guide to Domestic Travel). So we asked Holiday home side VRBO to share the places where they have the highest booking demand from September to December 2021.

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee: “The Best Mountain Town in the US”

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If fall is your jam, this might be your place: Von. named “Best Mountain Town in the USA” US news, Gatlinburg (about a 15-minute drive from Pigeon Forge) is bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where you can hike the fall foliage mountains (if you plan it right), see rushing waterfalls, or enjoy a scenic cable car. And Pigeon Forge, home of Dolly Parton’s Dollywood, offers “a range of” charming cabin rental offers tourists a cozy temporary home from which to relax and enjoy the view of the hazy, rugged mountain range, ”writes Travel & Leisure. The area also has an aquarium and plenty of shopping and dining (temperatures are usually mild so you can dine outside).
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Miramar and Rosemary Beach, Florida: “Florida’s Best Kept Secret”

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If you’ve never heard of this place, you are not alone: Forbes recently wrote a story about the area called “Shhh! This quaint beach community is Florida’s best kept secret. ”These two beaches (think white sugar sand and clear blue water) are located in South Walton, Florida (that’s on the pan). Miramar Beach has tons of shopping (everything from antique stores to a large outlet mall) and lots to do from tennis to golf to jogging along the scenic three miles of Highway 98 named one of the “Most Romantic Small Towns in America” CNN, and it has interesting architecture and a relaxed atmosphere. The publication states: “Vacationers dump the beaches of the Easter egg-colored seaside, but it is possible to be alone here if you have the right time (between September and December, the water still averages 79 degrees).
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Maui: “Best Hawaiian Island” (and that means something!)

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This next place probably doesn’t need an introduction, with its emerald palm trees, protruding mountains, and breathtaking waterfalls. In fact, it’s pretty easy to see why Travel & Leisure named it the best island in Hawaii, a place known worldwide for its incredible islands. “Maui is known for its beaches, with over 120 miles of coastline and 80 beaches – more than any other island in Hawaii. Maui’s beaches vary from gentle surf to crashing waves, with fine white sand and even rare black and red sand beaches near Hana, ”the publication said. You can also find many outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, shopping, dining, and more. Note that the Governor of Hawaii has now said he doesn’t want to visit tourists until the end of October.
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Panama City Beach, Florida: Beach towns with lots of fun

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While its 27 miles (43 km) of white sand beaches are Panama City’s biggest draw, there’s a lot to do in this bustling city too, from shopping to fishing to dining (as with the other places on this list, temperatures can be in fall , so eating outside is usually an option). “Bounded on both sides by two state parks (St Andrews and Camp Helen) and home to one of the largest sport fishing fleets in the world, not to mention one of the world’s highest concentrations of bottlenose dolphins, PCB is a nature and wildlife lover’s haven, “writes US New.
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Gulf Shores, Ala .: Delicious seafood, beautiful beaches

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With a popular annual shrimp festival and more than 50 restaurants in the area serving seafood, this place will delight foodies. and Travel & Leisure notes that Gulf Shores public beach is one of three “incredible beaches” you can find in Alabama and writes, “This stretch of coast is one of the most popular beach destinations in Alabama, and it’s no wonder why. Visitors can enjoy six miles of white sand and crystal blue sea water, which (in the summer months) maintains a warm bathtub temperature. ”
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