CATSKILLS & HUDSON VALLEY: TWO OF THE BEST FALL DESTINATIONS IN THE NEW YORK STATE

Yes, today I’m bringing you some tips for two amazing regions in New York State, so that you can enjoy the colors of autumn and take a break from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. Welcome to the Catskills and the Hudson Valley!

I’ve always loved the entirety of the New York State; however, upstate has always been my favorite area, and it is a great day trip destination regardless of the time of year, it’s even more charming during the fall and winter.

What to do in the Hudson Valley during fall? Best spots in the Hudson Valley and Catskills? The list is endless, but I hope I make you curious enough to explore these places and all the other beautiful spots around them as soon as you get a chance! Would you like to check it out? Then read on and be amazed by the wonderful landscapes and sites I’ve put together for this post.

Oh, before I forget…To see more of my day to day life in NYC, check out my Instagram (@marthasachser), and follow my Youtube channel. For more NYC tips join my NYC tips Facebook group HERE! And if you are traveling to NYC, don’t forget to get my New York City Guide HERE!

HOW TO GET THERE

The best way to get around both areas is by car, but you can always reach the towns by train or even by bus. You can also call a cab or request an Uber once you leave the train station or bus stop, but I still recommend you go by car. You can rent one in advance or even a day before HERE! Renting a car in Manhattan or in the LaGuardia airport will probably result in expensive rates, so departing from New Jersey, the JFK or even a town in Upstate NY will save you more than a few dollars. Oh, I’ll also post some itineraries and share more about the Upstate here, so don’t forget to follow me on my social media accounts and watch my stories! My Instagram is @marthasachser.

SMALL TOWNS AND PLACES TO EXPLORE IN THE CATSKILLS REGION

One of the most wonderful locations to visit in New York State during the fall is the Catskills Mountains. In spite of its beautiful mountains, forests and waterfalls, the region is still little known by tourists, who usually decide to visit the central area of Upstate New York. If you’ve been to NY more than once, I suggest you take a few extra days of your next trip (especially during the fall) to get to know other sites, such as the Catskills, because they’re really worth it!

Some small towns to visit in the area are: Woodstock, Saugerties, Catskill, Phoenicia, Windham, Hunter and Tannersville, Narrowsburg and Livingston Manor.

Catskills, New York. | CRÉDITOS: I Love NY

SMALL TOWNS AND PLACES TO EXPLORE IN THE HUDSON VALLEY REGION

Did you know that the Hudson Valley area is considered one of the 20 best places to visit, according to National Geographic? It features incredible landscapes, several historical landmarks, parks, restaurants and more. Just like the Catskills, Hudson Valley is also a great destination to spend the fall outside of Manhattan and relax. Some nice small towns to visit in the area are New Croton Dam, Croton Gorge Park, New Paltz, Cold Spring, Sleepy Hollow (their Halloween festival is a must-see!), Tarrytown, Beacon, Croton-On-Hudson and New Windsor (the Storm King Art Center Sculpture Park is an open-sky museum you can’t miss; there you’ll find more than 100 artworks from artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Sol LeWitt, Maya Lin, and many others).

Vista de Hudson Valley, | CRÉDITO: mustseeplaces

ENJOY THE VIEW AT FIVE STATE LOOKOUT

You will find several hiking trails and lookouts with amazing landscapes in Upstate NY, and Five State lookout is one of them. This is a spot in the Catskills from which you can see the Hudson River Valley and five more states: New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. It is the perfect place to enjoy the colors of the season stamped on the beautiful foliage as far as the eye can see. The view is amazing!

vista de Five State Lookout em Catskills. | CRÉDITO: Greene County Tourism

TAKE A TRAIN RIDE AROUND THE CATSKILLS

Another great option to get in touch with nature and the fall colors in the Catskills is taking a train trip. Trains depart from Kingston Westbrook Lane Station for an hour-long ride across the most beautiful spots in the area. I totally recommend the experience, especially to those who like to photograph nature.

If you’re in the Catskills during Halloween, you should take the Pumpkin Patch Express, which offers a panoramic view of the landscape and a day trip to a pumpkin patch. Kids love it!

Tickets range from US$ 14 to US$ 18. Learn more on the official website.

Passeio de trem por Catskills. | CRÉDITOS: Empire State Development.

ZIPLINE AT HUNTER MOUNTAIN

Such a mountainous location with all of its beautiful forests wouldn’t be complete without an extreme attraction, am I right? New York Zipline Canopy Tours offers a zipline that travels through more than four miles, if you’re feeling adventurous! Fun fact: this is the longest and highest zipline in North America. Takes some guts, huh?

Despite the butterflies in your stomach, the view from 600 feet above the ground is INCREDIBLE, especially during the fall, when the leaves are orangish! You’ll love it!

Check out the official website to learn more about tickets, combos, dates and reservations.

Tirolesa na Hunter Mountain. | CRÉDITO: Empire State Development

EXPLORE THE FIRE TOWER AT THE TOP OF OVERLOOK MOUNTAIN

Meet one of the most beautiful – and tiring – hikes in the Catskills! Although is not a place of easy access, the top of Overlook Mountain rewards its visitors with some wonderful surprises. As you might have guessed, the view is breathtaking; however, that’s not all there is to Overlook Mountain. The Fire Tower also provides a beautiful scenery for pictures.

Volunteer tour guides are usually available on the weekends. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DAY TRIPS IN THE AREA, CHECK OUT THE GREAT NORTHERN CATSKILLS OF GREENE COUNTY WEBSITE

Fire Tower no topo da Overlook Mountain. | CRÉDITO: alltrails

VISIT a apple picking FARM AND PUMPKIN PATCHES IN THE HUDSON VALLEY AND THE CATSKILLS

You’ve probably watched dozens of Halloween movies in which people stop by pumpkin patches to pick a special one for themselves. These upstate New York farms are spread across the state’s major agricultural areas, including the Hudson Valley and the Catskills, and you should definitely visit one of them to experience more of the American culture. You’ll usually pay per pumpkin or fruit basket; however, some farms charge for parking and admission per person, so always check out the official website to get up to date information!

On the weekends, there’s the Fall Harvest Festival, which offers plenty of activities for kids, pick-your-own trips to orchards, apple cider, truck rides, food and live music! Keep in mind that some farms are nothing but farms, however.

Here are some of the best farms to pick pumpkins and fruits in Upstate NY:

Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard – Site

Address: 130 Hardscrabble Rd, North Salem, NY 10560

Fishkill farms – Site

Address: 9 Fishkill Farm Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533

DuBois Farms – Site
Address: 209 Perkinsville Rd, Highland, NY 12528

Cunningham Family Farms – Site
Address: 233 Hurd and Parks Rd, Swan Lake, NY 12783

Hull-O Farms – Site
Address: 10 Cochrane Rd, Durham, NY 12422

Apple Ridge Orchards – Site
Endereço: 101 Jessup Rd, Warwick, NY 10990.

Barton Orchards- Site
Address: 63 Apple Tree Ln, Poughquag, NY 12570.

Dr. Davies Farm- Site
Address:306 NY-304, Congers, NY 10920.

Dressel Farms- Site
Address:271 NY-208, New Paltz, NY 12561.

Dykeman Farm- Site
Address: 31 Dykeman Ln, Pawling, NY 12564.

Pumpkin Patch

ENJOY A DAY AT THE MOHONK MOUNTAIN HOUSE

I’ve never got the chance to stay at the Mohonk Mountain House, but it’s one of the hotels I want to visit the most in the New York State! Carrying 150 years of history and located about two hours away from Manhattan, this hotel stands out because of its castle-like architecture and all of the perks it offers. Believe it or not, there’s an entire spa inside it, along with an ice skating rink during the winter. Awesome, isn’t it?

Unfortunately, the experience is far from inexpensive… Daily rates start at US$ 400 during the off-season (usually the winter) and weekdays. In spite of its price, it’s certainly worth a visit, even if only to see it from afar, have brunch or dinner, enjoy the spa or hike around the area.

Oh, I don’t need to mention how it gets even more charming during the fall, do I? During the season, the scenery completely transforms itself, earning Mohonk Mountain House a special appeal and higher rates.

Interested? Then check out the official website to learn more.

Visual do Mohonk Mountain House. | CRÉDITO: Mohonk Mountain House

Mohonk Mountain House. | CRÉDITO: Mohonk Mountain House

Quarto do Mohonk Mountain House. | CRÉDITO: Mohonk Mountain House

Natureza no Mohonk Mountain House. | CRÉDITO: Mohonk Mountain House

Go to Bear Mountain State Park

Bear Mountain State Park is located in Rockland County mountains, in the Hudson Valley area. The park – like most places in the area – offers an amazing scenery of lakes, groves, trails and forests. Furthermore, it also features great attractions such as an outdoor ice skating rink (open from late-October to mid-March), a carousel, a zoo, a swimming pool, a museum, and more! It’s totally worth a visit to enjoy the fall activities and weather.

Looking for a hotel near Bear Mountain State Park? What about one inside the park? You can stay at the Bear Mountain Inn! Other must-see places in the area include Minnewaska State Park and the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, which are located less than an hour away from there and are a perfect destination for those who enjoy shopping.

Address: Route 9W North, Bear Mountain, NY 10911.

Vista Bear Mountain State Park. | CRÉDITOS: lohud

Bear Mountain Pool. | CRÉDITO: Sivan Hermon

Take a day trip to Albany

Located in the Hudson Valley, Albany is best known for being the New York State capital since 1797. Like most of the upstate area, Albany offers beautiful fall scenery, parks, museums and the New York State Capitol, the seat of the New York State government. I also suggest you visit Washington Park, a lovely park with gardens in which you can tune in with nature, and the Palace Theatre, a grand theatre where you can attend musicals, concerts and other performances. When it comes to food, Albany also surprises. To find the best grilled dishes, visit Angelo’s 677 Prime; for seafood, Athos Restaurant; and for casual meals, New World Bistro Bar.

Albany, New York. | CRÉDITO: kayak

Bonus: Enjoy The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze

The Great O’Lantern Blaze is one of the most popular Halloween/fall events in New York State. The festival happens annually in Van Cortlandt Manor, in the Hudson Valley, and brings together a collection of over 7000 shiny and unusual pumpkin sculptures, such as a planetarium, flying ghosts, characters from horror stories and several other attractions scattered throughout the area. There are also options for snacks and Halloween treats for you to enjoy! All in all, it’s a great option if you want to experience the season from a different point of view.

The festival doesn’t happen on a specific date, but usually starts in late-September and runs until late-November. Tickets cost US$ 22 on average.

How to get to Van Cortlandt Manor for The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze

Take the North Hudson subway line at Grand Central Terminal to the Croton-Harmon station. The ride takes less than an hour, and Van Cortlandt Manor is located about 5 minutes from the station by taxi or 10 minutes by foot. Learn more about routes and prices HERE!

Address: 525 S Riverside Ave, Croton-On-Hudson, NY 10520.