Is there anything more comforting than gazing at a blanket of red, yellow, and orange leaves cascading down the countryside? It’s tough to beat. Upstate New York offers a wide variety of family-friendly fall activities in the Hudson Valley.
Apple-Picking
Visiting an apple orchard is always a family favorite in the fall. Picking sweet, juicy apples right from the tree is more exciting and charming than just grabbing a bag from the grocery store. Once you’ve gathered all the apples your peck will hold, head home to make a plethora of tasty treats. Applesauce and apple pie are always favorites. A couple of orchards that are worth the trip are:
- Jenkins Leuken Orchards in New Paltz, NY
- Stone Ridge Orchard in Stone Ridge, NY
Corn Mazes
The smell of dried cornstalks mixed with the faint scent of crisp, fall air puts you right in the middle of one of agritourism’s greatest accomplishments: the corn maze. Enjoy getting lost deep in the labyrinth as you and the family munch on the apples from earlier.
Pumpkin Patches
Picking the perfect pumpkin is magical. You have a few options; you can grab one of the pumpkins scattered across the lawn that the farmers have already picked, or you can choose one off the vine yourself. Really, you can’t get much fresher than finding that prime pumpkin on the vine. Pumpkins of all sizes are a staple of fall decorating, but make sure to get at least one fit for pumpkin carving. You want one with a sturdy bottom and a large surface area to carve.
The Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze
Stroll through the 18th-century landscape, and admire impressive displays of carved pumpkins. It’s a wacky and wonderful tradition in the Hudson Valley, where you’ll find more than 7,000 carved jack-o’-lanterns arranged on vignettes. The blaze takes place at Van Cortland Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, NY.
Walkill Rail Trail
One of the most remarkable ways to experience autumn in the Hudson Valley is to walk this 22-mile path in the town of Rosendale, NY. It takes you along the most iconic rail trails in the country. You can bike or walk it, but this is not to skip.
The Hudson Valley has quite a bit to offer—schools, history, and the changing seasons. It’s a truly spectacular place to live, so don’t miss out on the family-friendly fall activities in the Hudson Valley.
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