Raise a pint, toast the foliage at fall festivals

>> best fall festivals, if you're planning a weekend getaway. but first this is "today" on nbc.

>>> this morning on "today's travel," a roundup of the nation's best fall festivals from wines to scarecrows, there's something for everyone this year. kate maxwell is editor-in-chief of jetsetter.com. i've got kids, like to do the corn mazes, apple picking . we begin with st. charles, illinois.

>> there's a scarecrow fest, believe it or not. this is a scarecrow extravaganza. there's something like 150 handcrafted scarecrows there, on the banks of the fox river , just 45 minutes outside chicago, so you get to do some leaf peeping at the same time. the landscape is stunning. can you make your own scarecrow. last year there were harry potter scarecrows, pirates of the caribbean scarecrows, petty zoo, really, really fun.

>> extravaganza indeed. quick drive from chicago. 30 minutes outside of portland to the wilmette valley festival.

>> it's a really up and coming wine region . 30 minutes outside portland. known in particular for hits pinot noirs, a harvest trail which costs $79. take in three wineries, learn about the wine-making process, tastings along the way and culminates with a grand tasting at the end of the day , really good fun.

>> get to do it all in one fun?

>> exactly.

>> fall foliage , best places to be perhaps, in the adirondacks.

>> at ron damage park is the largest park in the entire country, believe it or not. that means they have a very long leaf-turning season from mid-september all the way until the end of october so there's plenty of time to have a look at those leaves. also 1980 olympic winters were there so there's a ski jumping competition

>> you don't have to participate on the ski jump . you can look at the leaves.

>> i'll just look at the leaves. i think that's a better idea. octoberfest, have to talk about that one.

>> i don't always think about oklahoma might i do.

>> might think germany. tulsa, oklahoma, the best in the country. there's barrel rolling and wonderful bavarian food, and your beer, of course, press ernie els and oom papa bands.

>> the next best thing to munich.

>> only governments $6.

>> and a great music festival in new orleans . know about mardi gras and some of the other music festivals but a great one this time of year.

>> the voodoo music experience . absolutely love new orleans . a great time to go there. bands like jack white and green day are playing there. lasts three days in city park . because this is new orleans , wonderful food, gumbo, oyster poor boys and you get a lot there.

>> your favorite of these if i put you on the spot, laid out five. if only one, i'd go to