Fall foliage and less travelled roads beckon in Autumn. (Clipart.com)

This is one of those transition times in travel. Autumn begins in a week. Crimson and yellow leaves and less-crowded byways beckon.

And this year, fall may offer a second chance to those whose summer holiday plans were rained on or rained out.

Other folks are thinking about where they'll head when they've had enough of the white stuff.

Some news and pointers for both groups:

- Prince Edward County has really blossomed as a getaway destination. It's south of Highway 401, at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, about a four-hour drive from London.

Tourism marketers there have splashed out on an excellent information package. It includes a Taste Trail booklet for food lovers and a guide for an Arts Trail linking 22 of the region's galleries and artists.

I've visited The County, as it's called, and stayed mainly in B&Bs along quieter back roads. It would make an excellent fall getaway, particularly mid-week when there are fewer visitors. www.tastethecounty.ca

- A new website, www.huntsvilleadventures.com, offers everything from survival tips to live webcams that allow visitors to check on how the fall colour is progressing in Algonquin Provincial Park.

- Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler, B.C., has a Wild About Bears package available until the end of October. Guests take a three-hour 4x4 tour of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, visiting active bear dens and feeding sites of the 50 black bears that call the mountains home. Prices start at $339 per person, double, for two nights' accommodation, breakfast, and the tour. 1-888-755-6482; www.nitalakelodge.com.

- A new kayaking tour in September and October from Rush Adventures lets paddlers watch salmon spawn in the Sooke River, 45 minutes west of Victoria, B.C. The tour begins in the protected waters of Vancouver Island's west coast and explores a series of small islands, coves and beaches rich in marine life. A full-day tour with lunch is $110 per person, a half-day tour $59. www.rushadventures.com.

- Los Cabos, on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, is Sunwing Vacations' newest destination in Mexico. Noted for sports fishing, it has many beach resorts and seven golf courses. Sunwing will fly there from Toronto on Saturdays Dec. 20-March 14.

> - Starting Oct. 1, smoking will not be allowed in staterooms on Celebrity's ships. The new policy will reduce the number of public areas in which guests can smoke.

- Signature Vacations introduces StarClass complimentary advanced seat selection on all Skyservice Airline flights Nov. 1. Benefits include priority check-in, baggage handling and boarding, an excess baggage allowance for a total of 30 kilograms per person, complimentary bar service and free headset on southbound flights. Seat selection can be booked ahead at skyservice.ca.

- WestJet allows guests to choose their seat either at the time of booking or up to 24 hours before their flight leaves. The fee is $10 for an aisle, middle or window seat and $15 in emergency exit rows, which have more legroom. There are no fees for customers using web or mobile check-in within 24 hours of flight.