Top 10 October destinations

1. Baton Rouge, Louisiana Home of Louisiana State University and Saturday night football games at Death Valley, Baton Rouge is where to be, especially when the Bengal Tigers are in the Top 5. This October, the SEC home opener rolls around in mid-October. The city also hosts the 13th Gate –a haunted house, complete with a 40,000-square-foot graveyard that’s from your worst nightmares or best dreams. (AP)

2. Fort Myers, Florida If you love warm instead of hot, are not interested in dodging hurricanes and want to beat the high-season costs, this is a great time to go to the Gulf Coast. And October a prime time for anglers to head to the Fort Myers area to chase the migrating tarpon as well as the fall crop of red fish and mackerel. (iStock)

3. Austin, Texas Back-to-back international festivals makes Austin a great place in October. First, Austin City Limits (Oct. 12-14) is a jam packed fest with music from big names and rising stars. Then it’s the Austin Film Festival and Conference (Oct. 18-25). Throw in a couple Big 12 Conference games for the Longhorns and great fall weather, and it's no wonder Austin is on this list. (AP)

4. Albuquerque, New Mexico Forget fall foliage. Hundreds of visitors come to the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (Oct. 6-14) where you won’t just be taken to new heights in a balloon, but with local food and entertainment as well. Also head up into the mountains to see Mother Nature’s splendor. Sandia Peak Ski & Tramway offers a great vista up to a 10,000-plus-foot summit. (AP)

5. Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville is a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park –a great starting point for a Southern "leaf peeping" road trip. But make sure you hit the city itself, known as an "Urban Wilderness," filled with green spaces, trails and a state wildlife management area to make outdoor activities and the area's natural beauty more accessible. (AP)

6. Toledo, Ohio Toledo and nearby Maumee Bay State Park, with great camping, hiking, biking, is a great way to see fall’s colors. Take a drive over to Cedar Point, home to some the most intense roller coasters in the world, or check out the zombies and creepy clowns take over the park at sundown. (AP)

7. Asheville, North Carolina With 10 million annual visitors Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the U.S., and Asheville sits its eastern edge. The city too boasts of a full line-up of events - from Oktoberfest celebrations to Craft Week to the Ghost Train Halloween Festival - to keep visitors coming back. (Explore Asheville)

8. Greenville, South Carolina The emerging foodie destination throws its biggest festival the second weekend in October. This year marks the 31st Annual Fall for Greenville (October 12-14) and promises offerings from 40 local restaurants, as well as wine and beer tastings and cooking demonstrations. (Fox Carolina)

9. Columbus, Ohio The Circleville Pumpkin Show, the state’s oldest and largest festival, is a slice of American tradition that attracts roughly 100,000 visitors on each of its four days. Visitors buy approximately 23,000 pumpkin pies and 100,000 pumpkin donuts. (iStock)

10. Tampa, Florida Who wouldn’t want to dive into a still-warm ocean or visit major tourist attractions without the crowds? In Tampa, you can do that. And its nearby sister city St. Petersburg has a host of raucous Halloween parties, from Thrill Day (Oct. 27), to a zombie dance party on the St Pete pier, to Necronomicon, the 31st annual "convention of science-fiction, fantasy and horror fans." Who wouldn’t want to dive into a still-warm ocean or visit major tourist attractions without the crowds? In Tampa, you can do that. And its nearby sister city St. Petersburg has a host of raucous Halloween parties, from Thrill Day (Oct. 27), to a zombie dance party on the St Pete pier, to Necronomicon, the 31st annual "convention of science-fiction, fantasy and horror fans." (istock )