Things to do in New York during Fall

I think we could say that Fall is the most charming season in New York. Temperatures, at least initially, are not so freezing and you can use elegant outfits. In addition, the Fall landscape is one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in my life: I can not help but be enchanted by the leaves in brown, reds and yellows tones. Since this season is just beginning, I decided to share with you some suggestions for things to do that are very favorable for this time of year – or even unique to this period.

First, there is no way to talk about Fall in New York without mention the beautiful scenery that this season brings. This is one of the city’s advantages: the four seasons are very well defined and each one has a peculiar characteristic. As we are talking about Mother Nature, you can not set an exact day for the changing colors, but in general, the landscape begins to change from at the second half of October – that is, after the 15th. Unfortunately, fall is like spring and all the beauty lasts for not so long – the culmination of the landscape lasts three weeks. Do you want to know how is the status of the foliage? Check out this website. And, of course: to enjoy all this beauty, the tip is to visit the parks and gardens of the city. In addition to Central Park, it is worth to visit Brooklyn Botanical Garden, New York Botanical Garden, Randall’s Island, Roosevelt Island, Prospect Park, among others.

Fall is also synonymous with Halloween! I’ve seen this  this tradition on the American movies when I was a kid and finally checking close is really cool! The high point of the day in the city is the Village Halloween Parade, which always happens on 31th. It’s an amazing parade, with lots of costumed people,  music and lots of fun. You can check out the details here. The tip is to arrive early, dress warmly well and wear comfortable shoes to endure long standing. Still speaking on Halloween, if you are here at the time,  you will certainly see many decorated homes. To do this, run away from the hubbub of Times Square and Fifth Avenue and walk the streets (the city is divided into streets and avenues, and generally, the streets are the most residential areas) to see the buildings and decorated houses. Enter Party City (223 W 34th St and 38 W 14th St) and enjoy checking out the costumes and all theme decor items. Visit Abracadabra (19 W 21st St) and be amazed by the number of costumes of this store that opens all year. Even drugstores, stationery stores and supermarkets get in the atmosphere: you will always find something related to Halloween in October.

And there is no way to talk about Fall without mention Pumpkin! This Halloween symbol has a strong presence at this time of year and invades the city’s restaurants menu, that use the ingredient in various dishes. One of the most famous drinks at this time is the Pumpkin Spice Latte, from Starbucks. In addition to the dishes in restaurants and cafes, supermarkets are also full of products with pumpkin base. If you want to check closely, I suggest a visit to Trader Joe’s – my favorite market here in New York, which only works with own products. There are some units in Manhattan – Union Square, Upper West Side, Chelsea (close to Harmon). Check on Google Maps the nearest location.

Still speaking in pumpkin, one of the very traditional programs here is to visit farms pumpkins. There are several locations in the state of New York, but for those who do not want to go too far, it worths a visit to the 7- perfect for those who come with children. Throughout the month of October, you can visit the farm and even buy your pumpkin. In fact, the farm has a very nice schedule for this time of year – including a maze in a cornfield. Click here to see the full agenda. To get there, use the  E or F line to Kew Gardens / Union Turnpike Station, then take the bus to the Q46 Little Neck Parkway stop. Address: 73-50 Little Neck Parkway.

For me, Fall is synonymous with Storm King Sculpture Park. This is my third fall in New York and for the last two years I’ve been in this park. This is one of the biggest references in the world in terms of sculptures and modern outdoor facilities, located in the city of New Windsor, New York State, about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Manhattan. The colors of the season in contrast to the sculptures create a landscape of breathtaking, I guarantee. The Storm King does not open all year – this year, it closes November 27. If you want to check more photos, details about the park, prices and how to get there, just check this post here and also this one.

Finally, Bear Mountain State Park is another park outside the city also very worth it! Is it a state park which is about 1 hour and half Manhattan. The park is on the banks of the Hudson River, with mountains, playing fields, picnic groves shade, lake and river fishing access, swimming pool, Museum and Zoo, and offers activities such as walking, hiking, biking and ski trails. Certainly, the major attraction is due to the Perkins Memorial Tower at the top of Bear Mountain, which offers a spectacular view of the park, the Hudson Highlands and Harriman State Park. If you want to check more photos, details, pricing and transportation, just click here and check out the post I wrote about our experience there.

Did you like the tips? Who else has suggestions of what to do in New York in the Fall?