October in Upstate New York means Mother Nature is about to put on one heck of a show. The colors of the fall foliage Upstate are second to none. Yellows and greens more vibrant than you’ve ever seen and reds and oranges in hues you didn’t know existed, all paint the scenery in every direction you look. It’s a stunning sight and one you won’t have long to take in. The season for the color change is short – generally mid-October – and only a few weeks from the beginning to barren end. A road trip around Upstate is the best way to take it all in to ensure you see all the best electric vistas. Below, we’ve put together a photo journey of our recent trip upstate, along with a few tips to make the most of your weekend jaunt:
1) Hit the road
Making your way north from NYC, try and take the Palisades Parkway drive up, as it will yield the first glimpses of color. While any drive out of NYC is a headache, at least the views are gorgeous along the Palisades and you can even pull over at certain look-out points over the Hudson River.
2) Head towards Hudson
Just a few minutes from the town of Hudson, which itself affords some beautiful views of the changing colors, you’ll find the Stuyvesant Falls. A small community surrounds the falls, and just along the water you’ll find plenty of space to picnic. While you’re in Hudson, stop in for dinner at the highly-acclaimed Fish & Game or stay the night at Wm. Farmer and Sons. It’s the perfect home-base for a weekend in Hudson, so check out all the pics and details on our hotel review: here.
3) Get a taste of autumn
What is more autumnal than apple picking!? There are plenty of great orchards Upstate during apple season where you can find apples, pumpkins and those coveted apple cider donuts. This year, we visiting Samascott Orchards and brought home 6lb of Red Delicious. (For more great Upstate Orchards, read here.)
4) Take the Road less traveled
In our experience, often times the prettiest views are just off the main roads. Don’t be afraid to veer from your map and explore the smaller, country roads. There are plenty of areas to pull-off… kind of like they knew you’d want a selfie with that view!
5) Don’t miss the delaware
The town of Narrowsburg is situated right along the Delaware River and HOLY COW is it gorgeous this time of year. Early in the morning or around sunset, with the water calms, you can get a double dose of beauty with a perfect reflection bouncing off the water’s surface. To stay a bit longer and enjoy the town, book at room at the vintage-chic Nest Inn (full review here).
6) Horse around
About 25 minutes north of Narrowsburg lies one of the most beautiful farms we’ve ever visited. Bridle Hill Farms is a lovely place to spend the afternoon, riding horseback through the stunning trails around the property.
7) Enjoy the journey
The colors only look like this once a year, so if you’re able to make the trip Upstate to take it all in, enjoy it! Take the extra time to stop and enjoy the scenery or go back and check out that little town you just drove passed. There’s plenty to see and do Upstate and there’s no time like the present to do it!
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