Plus: Is there a real cheeseburger in paradise?

PHOTOS: CORKDORKS WINE; BEIGNET FEST FOUNDATION; ADOBE

Feel that little nip in the air? No? Well, this Sunday marks the first official day of autumn regardless, and what better way to ring in the season than a visit to a fall festival. For an event with true Southern spirit, skip the pumpkin patches and Oktoberfests and check out NOLA’s beignet feast, a shrimp and grits celebration in Georgia, or a whiskey fest in Nashville. Below, learn more about those and other food and drink events around the South.

Santa Fe, New Mexico. When planning a family getaway, I wanted a city that could match the following criteria: artsy, outdoorsy, great dining, and a change from our usual Atlanta landscape. That led us to Santa Fe, a place I like to call the Asheville of the Southwest. The adobe-filled city is rich in Native American and Spanish history and has plenty to explore:

Soak in the art: One of my favorite stops was the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, located just a few blocks from Santa Fe’s historic plaza. Skylights create a serene atmosphere in which to admire O’Keeffe’s famed desert landscapes. My family also loved Meow Wolf, an interactive art installation set in a 20,000-square-foot former bowling alley (plan to be there awhile).
Eat all the treats: I quickly incorporated “Christmas-style” into my vocabulary—it means you want both green and red chile sauces. This option was especially delicious on Cafe Pasqual’s stacked chicken enchiladas and on Tia Sophia’s breakfast burrito. My sweet tooth delighted in blue corn doughnuts at Whoo’s Donuts and seasonal “cruffins” at Baked + Brew, while coffee from Iconik chased away the jet lag.
Get outside: Santa Fe sits at 7,200 feet elevation, with a unique landscape of piñon and juniper forests. To fully embrace it, we climbed a half mile up to the Cross of the Martyrs monument (accessible from downtown), which offers beautiful views of the city and the nearby Santa Fe Mountains. The Santa Fe Botanical Garden, on the edge of town, boasts winding trails through native and high desert plants.