Exclusive | Fall is here! The best foliage, apple picking and spooky season day trips from NYC no car required
New York is the undisputed best at a lot of things, like pizza, or bagels, or thinking we’re the best at everything.But when when it comes to fall vibes, let’s be honest, we’re not even in the competition.Face facts: A tree outside your bedroom window and a $9 pumpkin spice latte on the way to the subway isn’t going to cut it — no matter how many bulky sweaters you buy between now and November.Luckily for deprived Big Apple dwellers — actual, real autumn is never far away from the heart of the concrete jungle.
There’s no shortage of ways to trade the grimy subway for scenic train rides, towering trees and enough cider donuts to ruin dinner.Which, of course, you can be back in town in time to eat.From spooky Hudson Valley haunts and foliage-covered hiking trails, to pastoral Connecticut orchards serving up the full apple-picking fantasy, Gotham die-hards can easily play country bumpkin for a day, often without much effort at all — many of the best day trip destinations don’t even require a car.Some require a quick taxi or rideshare to reach a farm or attraction, but all are accessible from the city by public transportation. Just check schedules before heading out, especially for seasonal buses and special fall events, and book any tours or orchard activities in advance.Here’s where to go when the first fallen leaf in Central Park has you itching for an escape.Getting there: Metro-North’s Hudson Line from Grand Central to Tarrytown, roughly 35 to 50 minutes depending on the train.Forget the Headless Horseman’s midnight ride — you can get your own Sleepy Hollow adventure without ever touching a steering wheel.Metro North delivers passengers to Tarrytown or Philipse Manor, putting the legendary haunts of Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” within easy reach of Midtown.Spend the day exploring Tarrytown’s Main Street, browsing its shops, coffee houses and restaurants, or taking a leisurely stroll along the Hudson River...