Autumn’s spectacular colors will be in full bloom throughout upstate New York for the next six weeks.  As the leaves change and their vibrant hues emerge, upstate NYer’s get their groove on. Communities come alive with fall foliage tours, Oktoberfests, apple picking, and hayrides. Take a day or two to get out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary!

Make it Happen with a Hudson River ‘Leaf Peeping’ Day Trip from NYC!

Enjoy the view as you travel the Hudson River with Circle Line  to Bear Mountain Park or glide along in a Seastreak Catamaran to the historic village of Cold Spring, NY!  Discount tickets are available for both trips at goldstar.com.

Take It Up a Notch and Make it a Getaway!

Bear Mountain – Trip time from NYC approximately 1 hour

Driving along the Palisades Parkway from NYC to Bear Mountain State Park, you’ll witness spectacular views of the fall foliage along the way! It’s the journey AND the destination that matter this time! Bring a picnic lunch, walk the trails, glide in a row boat across the lake, admire the surreal views. For the finest view in the park, follow the long winding road to the top of the mountain to The Summit and Perkins Memorial Tower!

West Point Chapel

You’ll find rooms in many of the hotels are booked on Saturday nights due to the Oktoberfest weekends through the end of October. A Sunday to Monday stay will still give you the opportunity to check out the Oktoberfest. The Bear Mountain Inn has rooms that are updated and clean, but keep in mind, you are in a park, in the mountains. Wifi doesn’t work that well and breakfast is a little below par, but if your expectations are set for ‘rustic’, you should be pleasantly surprised at the Inn.  Stay at the Inn, not the cabins.  Another good choice for overnight is The Thayer Hotel in the nearby area of West Point. It’s in a spectacular location, just inside the West Point gates, overlooking the Hudson River!

This is a sleepy little area, more relaxing and beauty seeking than anything else. Although there are not a whole lot of restaurants to choose from, a good choice is MacArthurs Riverview Restaurant.   Before you leave, get another great shot of autumn’s perfect picture over the Hudson at West Point’s, Trophy Point.   When you’ve had enough of the views, Woodbury Common Premium Outlets are nearby to get your holiday shopping started!

Lake George, NY – Trip time from NYC approximately 3 hours, 45 minutes

For the Lake George area’s best leaf lookin’, Prospect Mountain’s magnificent views make it very popular in the fall. You can drive the majority of the way up the mountain and a shuttle will take you to the top. If you’re into hiking, the Buck Mountain Trail is a good one. It’s a little ‘over the river and through the woods’, so wear your hiking boots! Another great hike would be to the beautiful, cascading Shelving Rock Falls.

For a great bed and breakfast experience in a beautiful castle, try the Inn at Erlowest.   If you’re looking for something a little less pricey, groupon.com is running a good deal for the Fort William Henry Hotel.

There’s plenty to do to keep you busy for your getaway. Stop by the Adirondack Winery for a tasting, pick some apples at Hicks Orchard, take a Steamboat Cruise, or just wander the village. For a meal to write home about, try the Inn at Erlowest Restaurant.

This region is alive with fall festivals and things to do. Some notable events include; Warrensburg Garage Sale – The World’s Largest Garage Sale! 10/3/15 – 10/4/15 and the Lake George Oktoberfest & Fall Festival, October 11-13, 2015. You can view their other events at http://www.lakegeorge.com/events/.

Lake Placid Area – Trip time from NYC approximately 5 hours

Ausable Chasm

Witness the magnificence of the Adirondack’s fall foliage colors! Take a trip to the Ausable Chasm.  Hiking, rafting or tubing through this sandstone gorge will leave you in awe of the wonderful waterfalls and incredible rock formations surrounded by their autumn colors. For a different perspective, the Gondola Sky Ride is available at Whiteface Mountain through 10/11/15.

A great accommodation option is the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort. It’s location, on Mirror Lake, is within walking distance of downtown. A current discounted promotion is available through groupon.com.  The Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa is another great choice with 3 restaurants, complimentary kayaks, an indoor pool, and panoramic views!

Lake Placid offers many restaurant choices.  A great choice is, The View, the main restaurant at The Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa. Main Street has plenty of shops and galleries to browse.  Upcoming fall events include; Whiteface Mountain Oktoberfest; 10/3/15 – 10/4/15 and their Flaming Leaves Festival; 10/10/15 – 10/11/15!

Check out www.viator.com and www.livingsocial.com for deals in your destination cities.

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Enjoy!!   If you know someone who would love one of these trip ideas, please share!!

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