For the perfect blend of country living, outdoor adventure and culture, come to Westchester County, New York. Spanning 500 square miles, this vibrant region boasts vast parks, working farms and rugged mountain trails, alongside a thriving arts community, engaging museums and a diverse food scene.
A perfect fall destination (it is the home of Sleepy Hollow, after all), everything you love about the season is here, from apple and pumpkin picking to scenic hikes and spooky sites.
Staying the weekend? Find a hotel.
Go Beyond Chasing Fall Foliage
Discover miles of trails wearing their autumn best — this fall in Westchester.
Learn MoreTake a Hike, Grab a Bite
To truly appreciate the beautiful scenery and foliage displays, take a hike or a bike ride along some the country’s most extraordinary scenic trail systems.
Westchester County boasts 24,000 acres of parkland. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is Westchester’s biggest park, encompassing more than 4,000 acres including 35 acres of wooded trails. Other locations where you can enjoy the outdoors include Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining, Greenburgh Nature Center in Scarsdale, Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary in Rye, Rockefeller State Park in Pleasantville and the Scenic Hudson RiverWalk in Tarrytown.
For those looking for a challenge, take on the 2.6-mile hike to Anthony’s Nose. The trail takes about 3.5 hours to conquer uphill, though once you reach the peak you are awarded with a panoramic view of the Hudson River unlike any other.
When you are ready for some indoor activities, the area is rich with museums and art and music centers, plus plenty of dining options from coffee to exotic meals. The Barnwood Grill offers great food in a relaxed setting, while Purdy’s Farmer & the Fish impresses with elevated farm-to-table fare.
Farm Fresh Fun
Get a taste of farm life while enjoying the colorful fall foliage. Follow the 17-mile Westchester Farm Trail and enjoy hands-on experiences such as making maple syrup and, of course, apple picking.
Be sure to stop by Stuart’s Farm in Granite Springs, the oldest apple orchard in Westchester County, operating as a fruit farm since 1828. Visitors can pick 20 varieties of apples, stock up on apple treats like pies and doughnuts and take a hayride around the orchard on weekends.
Pick apples and pumpkins and enjoy dishes made from the fruits, vegetables and livestock raised at the family-owned Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard in North Salem. The store has a variety of home-grown items, and the farm hosts music and other events throughout the year.
At the Alfred B. DelBello Muscoot Farm Park in Katonah, families can visit animals and tour historic buildings, including a farm museum. Educational events are offered throughout the year.
Lighthouses, Jack O’Lanterns, Cemeteries, Oh My!
Looking for interesting new places to explore? The newly refurbished Tarrytown Lighthouse in Sleepy Hollow, built in 1883, is open for free guided tours. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the lighthouse was critical to the safety of Hudson River ships during its almost 80 years of operation.
At night, wander through a display of more than 7,000 grinning, glowing jack o’ lanterns at The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, happening at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson through Nov. 16.
And nothing says spooky season like a visit to Sleepy Hollow, the setting of one of author Washington Irving’s most famous stories, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Stop by the Old Dutch Church featured in the story and explore Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, the final resting place of Irving and other famous figures, including Andrew Carnegie, Walter Chrysler and Elizabeth Arden.
Start planning your trip to Westchester County today.
Ellen is a content producer for AAA Northeast, covering automotive, finance, public affairs and electric vehicle news. She is a former newspaper reporter with experience writing for print and online publications about everything from higher education to sustainability. She recently returned to her native Long Island after living in Connecticut for 20-plus years, and has never met a beach she didn’t like.
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Why didn’t you include or feature Rockland County?
I love to explore the county. Why did you stop having paper maps. it is the absolute best way to discover new and interesting locations on and off the beaten path
My Westchester tourist road map pre-dates this century
David,
You are absolutely right! There was REAL VALUE in AAA maps. I miss them and quite frankly, they were a major reason for me joining all those years ago. Now, I’m not sure there’s value in being a member.