The Top Eight Things to Do in NYC This Fall

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NY Fall Foliage Tour

Cross the George Washington Bridge and soak up the vibrant autumn colors of the Hudson Valley with this 4.5-hour fall foliage tour. Scenic stops include the 18th-century Fort Montgomery, Lookout Inn—the highest point of Palisades Cliffs—and West Point Academy.

Pumpkin Picking

Looking to get out of the city for some family friendly fun? New Yorkers can take the ferry to Staten Island, where the Historic Richmond Town Pumpkin Patch welcomes kids with a cornstalk maze, hay rides and a farmhouse tour. Other farms that offer pumpkin picking include Stuart’s Farm in Westchester County, Secor Farms in New Jersey or Elwood Pumpkin Farm in Long Island.

Central Park Sightseeing Bike Tour

When the summer heat finally subsides and the leaves begin to change color, there’s no better time to cruise around Central Park. This two-hour bike tour includes all the park highlights, from Belvedere Castle to Bethesda Terrace to Shakespeare Garden.

New York Ghost Walk

From the paranormal to the eerie, the New York Ghost Walk will reveal the spooky underbelly of the West Village—right in time for All Hallows’ Eve. Discover a grave site buried beneath one of New York’s most popular parks and the hangouts of the ghosts of Mark Twain and Edgar Allan Poe on this 2- hour walking tour.

Village Halloween Parade

One of the most beloved Halloween traditions in New York City is the Village Halloween Parade that marches up 6th Avenue on October 31. Don your most elaborate costume to fit in with this artistic extravaganza, complete with music, puppets, dancers and live bands.

Blood Manor

Embrace the spookiness of the season by wandering through a haunted house like no other. Blood Manor is made up of 5,000 square feet of fear-inducing fun, from themed rooms to long dark corridors.

World Yacht Thanksgiving Cruises

For all the joys of Thanksgiving without any of the clean-up, leave the cooking to someone else this year and make a reservation for a World Yacht Thanksgiving Cruise. The cruise sails along the Hudson River, offering views of the Statue of Liberty and a holiday feast with all the traditional fixings.

This is a guest post from NewYork.com. NewYork.com is a leading and trusted expert on New York City and the only existing website to plan and book a complete New York City itinerary, ranging from hotels, Broadway shows, dining, attractions and tours.

Family Travel in Upstate NY

Fall foliage will soon be at its height in many Northeastern states, making this the perfect time for a quick getaway. These family friendly destinations in upstate New York will rival any in beauty for those in search of the perfect photo, and will provide the kids with endless fun.

fall travel

Fall Foliage Train Excursion in Shortsville, N.Y., is a 90 minute nostalgic train ride where riders can not only enjoy the trip, but also the view of the changing colors and landscape from your own window. The slow, rolling ride allows ample time for photography, reflection and enjoying time with the family as you make your way to Phelps and back. Upon your return, visitors can also view the Lehigh Valley Historical Society’s museum in the Old New York Central Freight Station, open during excursions.

Find out more at http://www.lvrrhs.org/

Phone: 585-289-9149

NY State 305

The Seneca Park Zoo is open year round. Home to roughly 300 animals and aquatic life, the zoo will be a treat for kids of all ages. During the month of October, bring the kids in costume for a trick-or-treat event called “Zoo Boo,” where your children can take photos with costumed mascots and larger-than-life lions, watch sea lions play with pumpkins, and ask for treats at assigned locations. Collect all the stamps from every location, and your child will receive a special prize to remember the visit by.

Complete with a playground in the center of the zoo, snacks and lunch areas (where you can bring a picnic or purchase food at the zoo), the Seneca Park Zoo is a great way to spend an autumn day.

Find out more at http://www.senecaparkzoo.org/

Phone: 585-336-7200

NY State zoos

The National Museum of Play at the Strong is a museum not to be missed by any family – or any kid at heart. While it is most certainly a museum, it is like none other. Fully hands on – and sometimes feet, head, or voice – your child will not have an amazing time playing, but will learn about the toys they love while doing so. Home to extensive collections of historic toys, as well as the Toy Hall of Fame (soon to induct another toy in November), the museum also features a Butterfly Garden, outdoor Discovery Garden, Comic Book Heroes interactive superhero center (where kids can not only dress up, but become part of their favorite comic books and shows), a carousel and more. Schedule this as an all-day activity – it cannot be covered in two or three hours, and will be a day the whole family will thoroughly enjoy.
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Country Inns & Suites “Free Night Fall” Giveaway @CountryInns

Fall is the perfect time to get away- great weather, not too hot or buggy, the beautiful fall foliage, and fall foods are some of my personal favorites. I love long weekends this time of year, and highly recommend grabbing the spouse and kids, hitting the road, and finding an interesting destination.

One thing you never want to worry about when you travel, is the sort of hotel you will wind up staying in. It can be hard to book online- so many places “fluff” the reviews by having friends and family members post positive ones, and people generally only post ratings on hotels if they loved it or truly [Read more…]