September has crept up on us once again, and that can only mean it’s time for one thing—Oktoberfest.

While these days it’s a celebration of all things beer and Bavaria, its origins date back to 1810 and a royal wedding between Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The meadow in front of Munich’s city gates was named Theresienwiese in her honour, and it remains at the epicentre of all the Oktoberfest Brezn and Prosit-ing to this day.

The Bavarian charm has spread far and wide, however, and most of us can enjoy a special Oktoberfest Mass or two without even hopping on a plane. But that’s no fun, really. So we say, why not mix it up a little and visit one of the world’s other great Oktoberfests instead?

Blumenau, Brazil
The (joint) second-largest Oktoberfest in the world is held in the Brazilian city of Blumenau. Having been founded in 1852 by German colonists, the city’s heritage is still clear to see in its architecture, restaurants and—you guessed it— beer. The area is frothing over with exceptional breweries, so you might need to work on your bar crawling stamina in advance.

Festivities at the 19-day event serve up everything you could hope for, with Lederhosen, beer tents, parades and live music all on offer. Plus, there’s an added splash of Samba to spice things up. But it can also get slightly surreal at points. Just know that you’re not imagining things if you spot a giant herring named Rollmops presiding over a herring-eating competition.

Blumenau will undoubtedly transport you right back to Munich, but no matter how much you like beer, you probably aren’t going all the way to Brazil just to drink a pint.

Right on its doorstep is the Spitzkopf Ecological Park, where you can sweat off the hangover with a hike along rainforest trails towards panoramic views, before a refreshing dip in a river or waterfall. Keep your eyes peeled for protected species, like the white-bearded antshrike, white-necked hawk, cougar (not that kind) and margay.

An hour away is the seaside town of Navegantes, which also happens to be the best place to fly to from Rio & São Paulo when you’re heading to Blumenau. There’s plenty of beach to go around in Navegantes, but for the full Brazilian coastal experience, we’d continue 1.5hrs further south to the island of Florianópolis. The adventure sports, historical old town and buzzing nightlife on offer are all just the icing on the cake!

Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada
Also in the running for second place after Munich is the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest in Ontario, Canada. This is another area with deep German roots, having been settled by German Mennonite farming families from the early 1790s. In fact, until a referendum in 1916, Kitchener was actually known as Berlin.

Known as the Twin Cities, Kitchener and Waterloo both take Oktoberfest seriously. What started out as a modest trial run in 1969 has become three weeks of partying, feasts, and family-friendly fun across the two cities.

The official keg tapping is the ceremonial opening event, but it’s the Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade that really gets attention. The floats, marching bands and dancers make up the nation’s only Thanksgiving parade, drawing thousands come rain or shine. That said, we’ll be making a beeline for Dogtoberfest, too, with a bag full of sausages for those good boys and girls.

You’ll likely want to combine any trip to Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest with a visit to Toronto (even more Lederhosen and polka action optional). Spooky season will be in full swing, with light shows and haunted house experiences to add a little fright to your Toronto nights. Meanwhile, you can fill your days with the reds and oranges of the maple trees in High Park.

It’s also a good time to take in the spectacle that is Niagara Falls. Summer crowds are long gone—though let’s be honest, Niagara is busy no matter when you go—and again, that autumnal foliage creates a stunning backdrop against the blues of the falls.

Just remember that cooler weather means you will absolutely get chilly during the mandatory, rather damp boat ride. But it’s worth every second.

Other notable Oktoberfests

Berlin gets ahead of the game with Berlin Beer Week in early September—no doubt used by many as a warm-up for the real deal down south. Despite the name, it’s actually ten days of non-stop craft beer action, including “brews cruises” (we see what they did there), BBQs and taster sessions. And there’s not a Dirndl in sight at this perfectly hipster beer festival, which is so fitting for Berlin.

Tokyo definitely deserves an honourable mention here for hosting not one but three Oktoberfests each year. And none of them even remotely near October (not that that bothers the Bavarians anyway).

You’ll catch the first in late April–early May, and then another in July for cooling off on those warm summer days. And just in case that wasn’t enough, the third offering of Bratwurst and Bier comes around in August–September. Phew!

Introverts listen up!

It might not have made the cut for our article all about introvert friendly destinations, but after diving deep into Connecticut, it looks like maybe it’s time to for a vol. 2?

There’s probably no better time to visit than sweater-weather, if you ask us. Once that crisp breeze sweeps through the state, its quaint mid-century towns breathe an energy so wholesome, it feels curiously like the set of The Gilmore Girls. Think cider tasting and corn-mazes amongst harvest festivities, cosy historical inns and plenty of pumpkin spice!

A road-trip is your best bet to cover most ground. “Leaf Peepers” will find tonnnns of routes highlighting Connecticut’s fiery-hued forests and its hiking trails. Not to mention its timber-truss bridges rivalling even those of Madison County. Planning is easy-peasy with Connecticut’s foliage finder. It’s updated weekly with the latest peak foliage locations.

Don’t rule out the coast, either. Autumn’s hues blanket every corner of the state, and the town of Mystic is no exception. It's a classic New-England seafaring town, mostly made famous by Julia Roberts and her 80s perm! Lunch at the original pizza-pie parlour is non-negotiable, especially before embarking on an intense afternoon of antiquing.

Driving west, you’ll hit Essex in about half an hour. Why another quintessential cookie-cutter town, you ask? Well, you are in Connecticut for one, but also… A STEAM TRAIN! Hear us out, can you think of anything more nostalgically serene than leaf peeping on an 18th century locomotive? Nah, didn’t think so!

Back on the freeway and onwards to New Haven. Here you’ll find that big ol’ University called Yale. While we might not forever be immortalized in its alumni hall of fame, there’s nothing stopping us mere mortals from taking a peek inside its ivy-clad gates. Pack a pair of walking shoes, the campus is massive and feels more like a city within a city.

A beacon for the bookish, the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library is that giant windowless, marble fortress at the heart of the campus, built to preserve some veeeeeery expensive first editions.

It’s a literary Noah’s Ark, and you’ll find everything from the Gutenberg Bible to ancient scrolls—back when papyrus was a thing. Just don’t breathe too loudly. The librarians here aren’t just librarians, they’re custodians of fragile parchment, gatekeepers of esoteric knowledge…and you will be shushed!

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.

• In the wake of Maui’s terrible wildfires this summer, many have been wondering when will be the right time to visit Hawaii again. According to locals, it’s now.
• Breakfast fans, we’ve got your next 26 trips lined up.
• As we head into peak leaf-peeping season, here’s a handy interactive map of the US showing where and when the foliage will be at its most colourful.
• And finally, a Singapore Airlines passenger is demanding a refund after a flatulent assistance dog caused a stink on her 13-hour flight from New Zealand to France earlier this year.

  According to the traveller, she was already put off by the dog’s “heavy snorting”, but when the dog drooled on her husband’s leg, it all got too much. The pair decided to move from their Premium Economy seats into the last available spaces in Economy.

  We understand that not everyone loves dogs, but we sympawthise with the pup—who hasn’t drooled a little on their neighbour during a long-haul flight? No? Just us then…