12 Festive Fall Day Trip Destinations Right Outside of New York City
Fall is finally here after another hot (even hotter with masks) summer here in the city and we couldn’t be any happier about the cooler weather moving in. There’s nothing like finally cutting off the a/c after having to turn the volume up on your favorite Netflix show for months on end just to hear what is going on over the rattle of the beloved a/c. Navigating fall in the middle of a pandemic can seem like a total drag but it doesn’t have to be! We’ve rounded up the best ways to celebrate fall this year in NYC while still social distancing and following all of the COVID guidelines - cause ain’t nobody got time to be contributing to a spike in reported cases - we’ve got a curve to flatten and you can have fun while doing your part to keep NYC safe and healthy! Whether you’re wanting to travel to upstate or find ways around the city to experience all of the beauty fall has to offer, we’ve got you covered with a list of the best ways to make memories this fall.
Fishkill Farms
Fishkill Farms is a drive from the city that is a little bit under two hours and WAY worth the trip for a fall day-trip experience unlike any other. What makes Fishkill such a unique experience is the array of activities that they offer. From a beautiful apple orchard to pumpkin picking and an array of food vendors, there is so much to experience and enjoy for all ages. Fishkill is a great one-stop-shop to knock out a number of activities that will put you in the fall spirit in no time. You can start by picking out pumpkins or hand-selecting apples from their orchard and grab an amazing bite to eat or a drink from their cider stands and food stands located onsite. For just $18 you can enjoy Yoga on the Farm, a 60-minute, all-level yoga class at 9:00 am, overlooking the orchard. Text your besties and pick a day to put a trip to Fishkill Farms on your calendar to fulfill your fall and foodie dreams in Hudson Valley.
Thompson’s Cider Mill
Thomspon’s Cider Mill is the perfect place to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon with your girlfriends. Thompson’s Cider Mill sits on property next to the Teatown Lake Reservation Nature Preserve in Westchester County that has been an apple orchard since the 1870s, a part of the old Rickert Fruit Farm. With a range of small-batch ciders, hard-ciders, and apple-wine, Thompson’s Cider Mill is a fun way to taste and enjoy fall in Hudson Valley. Located on a gorgeous property, Thompson’s Cider Mill is a fun place to enjoy a hard cider and breathe the fresh fall air away from the hustle-and-bustle of the city. There is no apple picking here and it’s not the most kid-friendly spot, so keep this on your itinerary for when you need to pick up some cider or wine for later OR do a quick tasting in their adorable barn. The property is charming and makes for an adorable backdrop for your fall ‘gram.
If you want to pick up any baked goods, pies, cider, donuts or apples — Thompson’s Cider Mill has made these available for purchase down the road at Fable Farms (they don’t sell any of these at the Cider Mill, as they’re only selling the hard stuff on site). We encountered HUGE lines everywhere we went for apple cider donuts, except for Fable Farms. So, if grabbing some donuts is high on your to-do list, Fable Farms’s small farmstand is a great place to stop en route to your next destination.
Alstede Farms
Alstede Farms is a huge farm in Chester, New Jersey that has so. many. fun. options for everyone. Alstede Farms offers a full-blown farm with all of the farm animals you could want, an evergreen maze with evergreen trees (think corn maze without the corn and with evergreen trees), an ice-cream stand, a hen house with delicious food, a cider mill, AND a wine tasting offering with Tomasello Winery. Need we say more?! Make sure to stop in the Alstede Shop to grab some of their fresh produce, pies, home-made ice cream, apple cider donuts, and jams before you head back to the city.
HackleBarney Farm and Cider Mill
HackleBarney is a family-owned small business in New Jersey that has been around for forty years and you’ll see why when you make the trip out to the farm. HackleBarney is known for its fresh, unparalleled apple pies, and cider donuts, and really all of their baked goods. HackleBarney is a bit smaller than some of the other places on our list but it is a total hidden gem at a slower and more low-key pace. Also, GUYS THEY HAVE CIDER DOGS. That’s right hot dogs boiled in apple cider and they’re DIVINE. They also sell chili, baked beans — basically, the food situation here is pretty premium. If you’re wanting to experience a quaint family farm and freshly baked fall goods for a quick day trip, type HackleBarney Farm into your Waze app and hit the road.
Hank’s Pumpkintown in Watermill
Hop in the car and head out to Watermill in the Hamptons to hand-pick some pumpkins and go through the adult maze (or the kid maze if you have littles tagging along!). Hank’s has a number of fun activities for everyone but let’s be honest - do you really need an excuse to go to the Hamptons?! If you love kettle corn, be sure to grab some for the road.
Happy Day Farms
Happy Day Farms is the perfect place to visit for an hour and fifteen-minute drive from Midtown. Happy Day Farms has so many fall activities to pick from included with admission - from giant Jenga, tetherball, tug-o-war, pumpkin bowling, an animal feeding zoo, corn hole, tractor rides and so much more. True to its name, Happy Day Farms is a happy place to spend an afternoon this fall. This place is truly perfect for kids and families. They also have really adorable photo opps throughout the farm. Remember when you head out to Happy Day Farms in NJ that they accept cash only!
Sleepy Hollow in Hudson Valley
A quaint and beautiful small village in Hudson Valley, Sleepy Hollow offers a weekly farmers market and a remarkable Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze featuring over 7,000 hand-carved, illuminated pumpkins against the mysterious backdrop of Van Cortlandt Manor’s 18th-century buildings and stunning riverside landscape. Sleepy Hollow is a must-see at night, but tickets need to be purchased well in advance so make sure to plan ahead before you add this trip to your calendar.
Schmitt's Family Farm
Schmitt's Family Farm is open every day through Halloween for its Annual Fall Festival. Guests can enjoy hayrides, farm animals, pony rides and a daytime corn maze, which is themed "Arabian Nights" this year, and a haunted mansion walk-through.
The farm is open from noon to 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Columbus Day. Pumpkin picking is available daily.
For additional information, click here.
North Fork, Long Island
North Fork is the place to go if you’re wanting to find a fun winery or vineyard to spend the day in Long Island. The Winery Tour options are endless, but here are some recommendations: One Woman Wines and Vineyards, Macari Vineyards for the best reds, Clovis Point for a sauvignon blanc, and Laurel Lake for tastings, and Sparkling Pointe for the best sparkling wine.
Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley is packed with Instagrammable opportunities. Head out to Hudson Valley to do some quality leaf-peeping and stay for the list of activities waiting for you:
the Dia:Beacon art gallery - a light-filled museum filled with an impressive art collection from the 60’s art era
the Storm King Art Center filled with contemporary sculptures filled with leaf-peeping (a two for one)
if you’re a whiskey fan and can’t make the drive down south for some Tennessee Whiskey (cue Tennesse Whiskey by Chris Stapelton), head out to Dennings Point Distillery for artisanal whiskeys
Warren Street is for all of our antique lovers, a street beaming with stylish galleries and boutiques
Grab breakfast at the Iron Gate cafe, grab a donut from the Rockland Bakery and plan for dinner at the Pizzeria Posto, a five-star Italian restaurant
Outhouse Orchards
Grab a bag and get ready to pick apples, pears, peaches, and pumpkins from this sunflower-filled farm. All of the pumpkins are vine free, making it quick and easy to claim the perfect pick as soon as you lay your eyes on it. Bonus: the North Salem farm also has a corn maze for you and your family members to get lost in.
Catskills, New York
The famous site of Woodstock, Catskills is a place that deserves to make it to the top of your “places I have to go as a New Yorker” list. Go on a hike on Overlook mountain and take glamping to a whole new level by booking a night or two or three at any of these dream spots. Take your pick between a luxe tiny house, an airstream, or a wooden cabin and enjoy a getaway in one of the prettiest areas upstate New York. If you’re looking for something a little more luxe, I am obsessed with Scribner’s Catskill Lodge and The Woodhouse Lodge.
