We have been rather spoiled this year. Summer seemed to stretch on and on, giving us far more warm days than we had any right to expect, and, frankly, we are not quite ready to let it go.

The good news is that October does not have to mean packing away the suitcase until next year. In fact, for parents travelling with babies and toddlers, it can be one of the loveliest times to get away. Across southern Europe and beyond, there are still places holding onto warm days, swimmable seas and long lunches outside, only now with fewer crowds, a softer pace and considerably less competition for the best table by the pool.

And then there are the destinations that become especially good because it is October. New York as the leaves begin to turn and the city slips into its best coat-and-coffee season. Cape Town just as spring arrives in the southern hemisphere. The Cotswolds when the honey-coloured villages are framed by red and gold, the summer crowds have thinned and afternoons seem made for muddy walks followed by a pub fire.

It is perhaps the perfect month for having options. Chase the last of the Mediterranean sunshine in Mallorca, Sicily or Cyprus; disappear to Marrakech for warm days and beautiful courtyards; make a proper adventure of Cape Town and the Winelands; or embrace autumn completely with a long weekend in New York or the English countryside.

And when you are travelling with little ones, the difference between a lovely trip and a logistical endurance test often comes down to what you take with you. This autumn, we are travelling with the Nuna VIAA™ cabn, a beautifully considered, ultra-compact stroller made for moving easily between airports, city streets, long lunches and hotel life. The Nuna PAAL™ travel cot is coming with us too, for those trips where having a familiar sleep space makes arriving somewhere new that little bit easier. And for the softer, smaller things, we’re also packing Nuna’s Cotton Two-Piece Sweater Set for easy travel days and cooler mornings, along with the Nuna Cotton Blanket for flights, car journeys, stroller naps and evenings when the temperature starts to dip.

So, whether you are still chasing sunshine or finally ready to lean into autumn, these are the places we would happily disappear to right now.

By Alice Codford in partnership with Nuna.

Mallorca, Spain

luminary mothers travel guide october autumn fall winter best places to travel with kids babies toddlers family friendly travel mallorca spain nuna

Mallorca in October feels like a different island altogether. The heat has softened, the beaches are calmer and Palma has slipped back into its more local rhythm, all of which makes it an especially lovely time to visit with babies and toddlers.

It is still warm enough for slow mornings outside and, when the weather is kind, a final swim, but without the intensity that comes with the height of summer. Restaurant tables are easier to come by, the roads feel calmer and even the island’s prettiest pockets seem to exhale.

We would split the trip between Palma and somewhere slower, perhaps the Tramuntana mountains or one of the quieter coastal villages. Think mornings wandering through Palma, a long lunch somewhere sun-dappled, afternoons back at the hotel and an early supper before everyone crashes.

It is also exactly the sort of trip the Nuna VIAA™ cabn was made for: easy to move between airport, taxi, hotel and cobbled city streets, before folding neatly away when lunch inevitably turns into a rather longer affair.

Luminary Mothers loves: Palma’s beautiful backstreets, golden afternoons, lingering lunches, tiny independent shops and getting one last dose of Mediterranean sunshine before winter properly arrives.

Sicily, Italy

There is something particularly appealing about Sicily once the intensity of summer has passed. October brings softer temperatures, quieter towns and the kind of days that make wandering through old streets with small children infinitely more enjoyable.

The island still feels unmistakably Mediterranean, but without the rush of August. Head east for Taormina and its old-world glamour, Ortigia for Baroque streets and market mornings, or somewhere more rural where toddlers can roam and parents can properly switch off.

Sicily also has the kind of rhythm that works beautifully with little ones. Breakfast outside, a morning adventure, an unapologetically long lunch, back to the hotel for nap time and then out again as the light begins to soften.

And if the weather gives you a beach day, take it. There is something especially lovely about swimming in October when everyone at home has already surrendered to knitwear.

Luminary Mothers loves: Ortigia at golden hour, tiny plates of pasta, market mornings, lemon granita, old palazzos and hotels that still feel unmistakably Sicilian rather than generically luxurious.

Andalucía, Spain

luminary mothers travel guide october autumn fall winter best places to travel with kids babies toddlers family friendly travel andalucia spain nuna

Southern Spain holds onto warmth longer than much of Europe, making Andalucía particularly tempting once Britain has already begun slipping into proper autumn.

And, truthfully, there is a lot to be said for visiting once the fiercest summer heat has passed. Wandering through an old town with a stroller, stopping for tapas or heading out for a long lunch suddenly becomes far more appealing when nobody is trying to escape the midday sun.

Málaga makes an easy starting point, but we would travel a little further — towards Marbella for glamorous seaside lunches, into the hills for whitewashed villages, or to one of the coast’s more design-led resorts.

The mood here is less about sightseeing and more about lingering. Breakfast outside. A swim if the weather allows. Lunch that lasts two hours. A wander before dinner. The sort of holiday where small children can fall into their own rhythm rather than being manoeuvred through an itinerary.

For families travelling with babies or toddlers, October also makes the practical side of the trip feel easier. Cooler days make exploring more manageable, restaurants feel less frenetic and the whole coast settles into a slightly slower pace.

Luminary Mothers loves: tiled courtyards, warm afternoons, proper tapas, whitewashed villages and that particular southern-Spanish glamour that never seems to try too hard.

Marrakech, Morocco

luminary mothers travel guide october autumn fall winter best places to travel with kids babies toddlers family friendly travel marrakech morocco nuna

Marrakech becomes considerably more tempting once the fiercest summer heat has passed.

By October, the city is much easier to explore with little ones: still warm enough for lazy afternoons by the pool, but far more comfortable for wandering through gardens, dipping into the souks and stopping for lunch somewhere beautiful.

The joy of Marrakech is in the contrast. Cool tiled courtyards followed by bustling streets. Palm-filled gardens, rooftop dinners, mint tea and that particular dusty-pink light that makes everything feel cinematic.

With babies or toddlers, we would resist the urge to try to do too much. Choose a beautiful hotel or riad that you genuinely want to spend time in, head out for one adventure at a time and retreat somewhere calm when everyone has had enough stimulation for the day.

A compact stroller is particularly useful for moving between taxis, restaurants and hotel courtyards, while a carrier is worth having on hand for the narrower stretches of the medina.

Luminary Mothers loves: tiled courtyards, garden lunches, tiny slippers from the souk, beautiful baskets you definitely didn’t need and being back by the pool before afternoon nap time.

New York City

New York is one of those places that becomes more appealing as summer disappears. By October, the humidity has gone, Central Park is beginning to turn and the city feels made for long stroller walks, coffee stops and museum afternoons.

With little ones, New York works best when you stop trying to fit everything in. Pick a neighbourhood, find a great hotel and build your days around one or two things rather than attempting to conquer Manhattan before dinner.

Central Park in the morning, pancakes somewhere nearby, a museum if everybody is still cooperating, perhaps a wander downtown, and then room service and an early night without an ounce of guilt.

Autumn gives the whole city a slightly cinematic quality too. Coats come back out, neighbourhood cafés feel cosier and even an ordinary walk through the West Village suddenly feels like part of the itinerary.

The Nuna VIAA™ cabn makes particular sense here too. A genuinely compact stroller becomes invaluable when taxis, hotel lobbies, restaurants and the occasional set of steps are all part of the day.

Luminary Mothers loves: Central Park in autumn, pancakes in the morning, downtown wandering, beautiful hotel lobbies, museum afternoons and children’s menus that do not underestimate children.

Cape Town + The Winelands, South Africa

luminary mothers travel guide october autumn fall winter best places to travel with kids babies toddlers family friendly travel cape town south africa nuna

October is spring in Cape Town, which means the city is beginning to wake up again: longer days, fresh greenery, milder temperatures and that brilliant combination of ocean, mountains and city life that makes Cape Town feel so different from almost anywhere else.

For families, it is the kind of destination where the days can feel adventurous without becoming exhausting. Spend a morning at the beach or wandering through Kirstenbosch, stop somewhere wonderful for lunch, then head back to the hotel before everyone has reached the end of their patience.

From there, slow things down even further in the Winelands. Stellenbosch and Franschhoek may be famous for wine, but what makes them so lovely with children is the space: gardens to run around, mountain views, farm-style restaurants and the possibility of a genuinely excellent lunch while little ones remain blissfully unaware that anything sophisticated is happening.

If you have more time, you can turn it into a bigger South African adventure with a family-friendly safari added on.

It is long-haul, certainly, but October is exactly the sort of month that makes going a little further feel worthwhile.

Luminary Mothers loves: Table Mountain appearing around every corner, ocean mornings, lunch under oak trees, beautiful hotel pools and trips where the parents feel as though they have had an adventure too.

The Cotswolds, England

luminary mothers travel guide october autumn fall winter best places to travel with kids babies toddlers family friendly travel the cotswolds england uk nuna

There are parts of the Cotswolds we would happily avoid in the height of summer. Come October, though, it becomes an entirely different proposition.

The crowds thin, the honey-coloured villages look even prettier framed by turning leaves, and the whole place slips naturally into its best knitwear-and-long-lunch season. This is the time for muddy walks, farm shops, pumpkin patches and afternoons that end beside a fire somewhere with a very good glass of red.

With small children, choose a country-house hotel that gives you enough to do without needing to get back in the car every five minutes, somewhere with grounds to explore, an indoor pool and a restaurant good enough that staying put for dinner feels like a treat rather than a compromise.

It is also the kind of easy, pack-the-car-and-go escape where the Nuna PAAL™ travel cot comes into its own. Having a familiar sleep space with you can make arriving somewhere new feel that little bit easier, particularly when you are travelling with a baby or toddler and want bedtime to feel as straightforward as possible.

Spend the morning wandering somewhere like Stow-on-the-Wold or Burford, stop for lunch, then retreat to the hotel for swimming, hot chocolate and absolutely no pressure to achieve anything else.

Luminary Mothers loves: enormous scarves, autumn leaves, farm-shop detours, cosy hotel bars and the fact that a genuinely lovely family escape can be found without boarding a plane.

What We’re Packing

Travelling with little ones rarely means travelling particularly light, so we are increasingly interested in the things that genuinely earn their place.

nuna viaa cabn stroller pram luminary mothers family friendly travel guide — *Nuna VIAA™ Cabn, £400*

The Nuna VIAA™ cabn is our hero travel stroller for this season’s escapes: compact, lightweight and designed to move easily between airports, taxis, city streets and hotel life without feeling like a compromise once you arrive.

SHOP THE NUNA VIAA™ cABN

Nuna paal compact travel cot luminary mothers family friendly travel guide where to go with children — *Nuna PAAL™ travel cot, £250*

For trips where we want the reassurance of bringing a familiar sleep set-up with us, the Nuna PAAL™ travel cot is coming too. It is particularly useful for those easy pack-the-car-and-go weekends, but equally lovely to have on longer family trips where you want bedtime to feel as familiar as possible.

SHOP THE NUNA PAAL™

nuna Cotton Child's Two-Piece Sweater Set luminary mothers travel guide for families best places to travel in october november december with kids — *Nuna Cotton Child's Two-Piece Sweater Set, £125*

For little travellers, we also love Nuna’s Cotton Two-Piece Sweater Set: one of those easy, throw-on pieces that works particularly well for travel days, cooler mornings and layering once the temperature drops. Made from soft Supima® cotton, it feels elevated enough to look considered while still being practical for children to actually wear.

SHOP THE NUNA COTTON TWO-PIECE SWEATER SET

nuna Cotton blanket luminary mothers travel guide for families best places to travel in october november december with kids — *Nuna Cotton Blanket, from £85*

And then there is the Nuna Cotton Blanket: exactly the sort of piece we like to keep close at hand for flights, car journeys, stroller naps and cooler evenings away.

SHOP THE NUNA COTTON BLANKET

Also making the cut: an oversized tote, a brilliant changing pouch, favourite bedtime books, comfortable layers and, inevitably, far more snacks than any one family should reasonably require.

This feature was created in partnership with Nuna. All editorial selections remain those of Luminary Mothers.

The Post-Summer Escape Edit: Where To Travel With Little Ones This Autumn (And What To Pack)

We have been rather spoiled this year. Summer seemed to stretch on and on, giving us far more warm days than we had any right to expect, and, frankly, we are not quite ready to let it go.

So, whether you are still chasing sunshine or finally ready to lean into autumn, these are the places we would happily disappear to right now.

By Alice Codford in partnership with Nuna.

Mallorca, Spain

Mallorca in October feels like a different island altogether. The heat has softened, the beaches are calmer and Palma has slipped back into its more local rhythm, all of which makes it an especially lovely time to visit with babies and toddlers.

It is still warm enough for slow mornings outside and, when the weather is kind, a final swim, but without the intensity that comes with the height of summer. Restaurant tables are easier to come by, the roads feel calmer and even the island’s prettiest pockets seem to exhale.

We would split the trip between Palma and somewhere slower, perhaps the Tramuntana mountains or one of the quieter coastal villages. Think mornings wandering through Palma, a long lunch somewhere sun-dappled, afternoons back at the hotel and an early supper before everyone crashes.

It is also exactly the sort of trip the Nuna VIAA™ cabn was made for: easy to move between airport, taxi, hotel and cobbled city streets, before folding neatly away when lunch inevitably turns into a rather longer affair.

Sicily, Italy

There is something particularly appealing about Sicily once the intensity of summer has passed. October brings softer temperatures, quieter towns and the kind of days that make wandering through old streets with small children infinitely more enjoyable.

The island still feels unmistakably Mediterranean, but without the rush of August. Head east for Taormina and its old-world glamour, Ortigia for Baroque streets and market mornings, or somewhere more rural where toddlers can roam and parents can properly switch off.

Sicily also has the kind of rhythm that works beautifully with little ones. Breakfast outside, a morning adventure, an unapologetically long lunch, back to the hotel for nap time and then out again as the light begins to soften.

And if the weather gives you a beach day, take it. There is something especially lovely about swimming in October when everyone at home has already surrendered to knitwear.

Andalucía, Spain

Southern Spain holds onto warmth longer than much of Europe, making Andalucía particularly tempting once Britain has already begun slipping into proper autumn.

And, truthfully, there is a lot to be said for visiting once the fiercest summer heat has passed. Wandering through an old town with a stroller, stopping for tapas or heading out for a long lunch suddenly becomes far more appealing when nobody is trying to escape the midday sun.

Málaga makes an easy starting point, but we would travel a little further — towards Marbella for glamorous seaside lunches, into the hills for whitewashed villages, or to one of the coast’s more design-led resorts.

The mood here is less about sightseeing and more about lingering. Breakfast outside. A swim if the weather allows. Lunch that lasts two hours. A wander before dinner. The sort of holiday where small children can fall into their own rhythm rather than being manoeuvred through an itinerary.

For families travelling with babies or toddlers, October also makes the practical side of the trip feel easier. Cooler days make exploring more manageable, restaurants feel less frenetic and the whole coast settles into a slightly slower pace.

Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech becomes considerably more tempting once the fiercest summer heat has passed.

By October, the city is much easier to explore with little ones: still warm enough for lazy afternoons by the pool, but far more comfortable for wandering through gardens, dipping into the souks and stopping for lunch somewhere beautiful.

The joy of Marrakech is in the contrast. Cool tiled courtyards followed by bustling streets. Palm-filled gardens, rooftop dinners, mint tea and that particular dusty-pink light that makes everything feel cinematic.

With babies or toddlers, we would resist the urge to try to do too much. Choose a beautiful hotel or riad that you genuinely want to spend time in, head out for one adventure at a time and retreat somewhere calm when everyone has had enough stimulation for the day.

A compact stroller is particularly useful for moving between taxis, restaurants and hotel courtyards, while a carrier is worth having on hand for the narrower stretches of the medina.

New York City

New York is one of those places that becomes more appealing as summer disappears. By October, the humidity has gone, Central Park is beginning to turn and the city feels made for long stroller walks, coffee stops and museum afternoons.

With little ones, New York works best when you stop trying to fit everything in. Pick a neighbourhood, find a great hotel and build your days around one or two things rather than attempting to conquer Manhattan before dinner.

Central Park in the morning, pancakes somewhere nearby, a museum if everybody is still cooperating, perhaps a wander downtown, and then room service and an early night without an ounce of guilt.

Autumn gives the whole city a slightly cinematic quality too. Coats come back out, neighbourhood cafés feel cosier and even an ordinary walk through the West Village suddenly feels like part of the itinerary.

The Nuna VIAA™ cabn makes particular sense here too. A genuinely compact stroller becomes invaluable when taxis, hotel lobbies, restaurants and the occasional set of steps are all part of the day.

Cape Town + The Winelands, South Africa

October is spring in Cape Town, which means the city is beginning to wake up again: longer days, fresh greenery, milder temperatures and that brilliant combination of ocean, mountains and city life that makes Cape Town feel so different from almost anywhere else.

For families, it is the kind of destination where the days can feel adventurous without becoming exhausting. Spend a morning at the beach or wandering through Kirstenbosch, stop somewhere wonderful for lunch, then head back to the hotel before everyone has reached the end of their patience.

If you have more time, you can turn it into a bigger South African adventure with a family-friendly safari added on.

It is long-haul, certainly, but October is exactly the sort of month that makes going a little further feel worthwhile.

The Cotswolds, England

There are parts of the Cotswolds we would happily avoid in the height of summer. Come October, though, it becomes an entirely different proposition.

With small children, choose a country-house hotel that gives you enough to do without needing to get back in the car every five minutes, somewhere with grounds to explore, an indoor pool and a restaurant good enough that staying put for dinner feels like a treat rather than a compromise.

Spend the morning wandering somewhere like Stow-on-the-Wold or Burford, stop for lunch, then retreat to the hotel for swimming, hot chocolate and absolutely no pressure to achieve anything else.

What We’re Packing

Travelling with little ones rarely means travelling particularly light, so we are increasingly interested in the things that genuinely earn their place.

The Nuna VIAA™ cabn is our hero travel stroller for this season’s escapes: compact, lightweight and designed to move easily between airports, taxis, city streets and hotel life without feeling like a compromise once you arrive.

And then there is the Nuna Cotton Blanket: exactly the sort of piece we like to keep close at hand for flights, car journeys, stroller naps and cooler evenings away.

Also making the cut: an oversized tote, a brilliant changing pouch, favourite bedtime books, comfortable layers and, inevitably, far more snacks than any one family should reasonably require.

October Horoscopes: Connection, Depth & Quiet Transformation.