The Cheapest Places in the U.S. to Visit for October's Solar Eclipse, According to Priceline

Big skies and bigger parks. Barbecue and Tex-Mex food (don’t miss the breakfast tacos). A vibrant live music scene in Austin and world-class birding in South Texas. Plus, cowboys.

The year’s supermoon bonanza may be behind us, but the sky has a host of stargazing treats in store this October. Get ready for two meteor showers, bright planet sightings, and arguably the most anticipated astronomical event of the year: the annular solar eclipse come mid-month.

The “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse will, for most people in the U.S., be merely a partial solar eclipse. Only if you get into the 125 miles wide path that stretches from Oregon through Texas will you see the “ring of fire”—and only then for just a few minutes.

If the thought of another year crawling to a close has left you feeling a little low, November is the perfect time to give yourself a travel-fueled lift, with an array of destinations primed for exploration during the penultimate month of the year.

Kia Karjalainen and her sister were vacationing in Greece when things took an unexpected turn. “We were in our hotel room, and I suddenly said to my sister, ‘It really, really smells of smoke. Is something burning?’”

From the surf beaches of the Pacific coast and the snow-capped peaks of the Andes to the Galapagos Islands and the humid Amazon Basin, Ecuador serves up epic travel experiences in every season and all in an area only slightly larger than Colorado.

Pacific Crest Trail, John Muir Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Colorado Trail, Oregon Coast Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail—the U.S. is full of challenging long-distance routes, alluring intrepid hikers from near and far. One of the most well-known thru-hikes is the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT), the Footpath for the People.

California may not be known for its fall foliage compared to states like Vermont or North Carolina, but that doesn't mean there aren't places you can go to see the changing colors of red, orange, and yellow.

The adrenaline rush of driving supercars at high speeds on public roads just hits different.

I’m the world’s only “eclipse journalist.” For the very latest on the “ring of fire” solar eclipse—including the latest travel and lodging options—please press the big blue “follow” button above or check my main feed for new articles each day.

Bold, big and beautiful, Arizona has plenty to brag about. Framed by New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and California, and with Mexico at its southern reaches – the state gets more than 300 days of sunshine a year and has four distinct seasons, so you can bask in summer, hike and bike in spring and fall and ski in winter.

I’m the world’s only “eclipse journalist.” For the very latest on the “ring of fire” solar eclipse—including special travel and lodging options—please press the big blue “follow” button above or check my main feed for daily articles.