The Perfect Fall Getaway from NYC
I love fall. It is the ideal season for both indoor and outdoor activities and encompasses all things cozy. Fall colors look great on just about anyone, and the weather is always perfect. But sometimes, living in the city can be overwhelming during the fall season. If you are looking for a quick getaway on a budget in New York State, look no further than the idyllic towns of Philipse Manor, and Tarrytown, also known as Sleepy Hollow.
After a scenic ride on the Metro-North ($5.50 one way), we got off at Philipse Manor, and our first stop was Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. I wanted to start here at Philipse Manor so that Angel and I could explore and gradually make our way down to the Great Pumpkin Blaze. We made our way down to the middle of the cemetery and witnessed a vast array of dazzling trees, just beginning to change color. We found ourselves wandering along the edge of a cliff, through some very ornate mausoleums, and occasionally stopped along the way to admire the architecture and detail on some of the markers.
After strolling through the grounds, we made our way downtown and admired a grand statue in honor of the story featuring the horseman heaving his pumpkin head at Ichabod Crane.
All that exploring really worked up an appetite, so we walked up a hill to get pizza and garlic knots. By the time we were finished, we walked down to the waterfront to watch the sunset.
After the sun had gone down, we stopped by Coffee Lab Roasters Inc in Tarrytown. On the way there, a friendly family invited us into their quaint little glass shop for some Halloween candy, and we even met their beautiful dog, who was a rescue from Costa Rica. The coffee shop smelled like freshly ground coffee beans and mouthwatering baked treats. Angel ordered a hot chocolate with steamed milk, and I ordered a pumpkin spice latte. Both of our drinks tasted amazing, and the barista topped off our drinks with cute Jack-O-Lantern latte art. We saw that there were gluten-free options, as well as vegan options as well. The staff were very accommodating and friendly. I highly recommend paying a visit if you’re in the area.
We journeyed along and caught the next train heading up to Croton-on-Hudson for the Great Pumpkin Blaze. We had tickets that started at 9:30 PM and it was quite crowded, but there were many tents serving up fresh apple cider donuts, hot apple cider, pumpkin pie and more. We followed the crowd to a small corridor that led to the entrance of the Pumpkin Blaze. (Tickets were $22 each.)
Upon our arrival, we were immediately awed by the display. We were told there were about 5,000 to 8,000 pumpkins on display, but by the looks of it, there had to be more. There was a pumpkin bridge, animals, zodiac signs, insects, and even carousels and gigantic statues that were carved out of pumpkins.
It was truly a memorable experience and one that you have to see in person, words and pictures are not enough to describe how magical it was.
Look no further than 45 minutes away to experience a one of a kind event. (Croton-Harmon to Grand Central costs $10.75) I highly recommend exploring this area to really get a feel of what autumn is all about, I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
-WDWF