From city parks to pumpkin patches, the region is packed with exciting autumn attractions and outings. Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway or a daytrip with the whole family, the area offers sights and sounds not to be missed.
New York City’s natural colors are at their best in autumn. Vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red fill every neighborhood, and the city’s parks are especially great places to see this seasonal transformation. The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation provides plenty of info about the top spots to experience fall foliage. If you’re in the Bronx, head to Pelham Bay Park where an oak, sweet-gum and hickory forest is known for its bright fall colors. Walk Pelham’s Kazimiroff Trail for excellent views of Hunter Island, horned owls and towering Norway spruce trees. In Manhattan, take a stroll along Highbridge Park’s historic trail where you’ll see foliage bursting among landmarks like the High Bridge Water Tower, which was part of the Old Croton Aqueduct system. Near Staten Island? Witness the autumn colors of Greenbelt by walking its 35 miles of trails and admiring the beech, maple, hickory and tulip trees. For more about the best fall scenery in NYC, visit www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/parks_history/foliage.html.
In Princeton, New Jersey, the sights and sounds of autumn are abundant at
Terhune Orchards. Kids will love picking their own apples and pumpkins and exploring the Farm Trail Discovery Walk where red maples and shag bark hickories boast some of the brightest leaves around. Treat your taste buds at the farm’s market, located in a barn that’s more than 100 years old. The apple cider donuts, pumpkin bread, apple crisp and sweet potato pie are sure to get your mouth watering. At Terhune’s barnyard, the sounds of sheep, goats, donkeys, ducks and chickens will entertain young children for hours. Check out www.terhuneorchards.com for a calendar of events, farm news and delicious seasonal recipes.
There’s nothing like the sweet and spicy scents of autumn to get your home ready for cooler temperatures. Get cozy with help from Pennsylvania Soy Candle, a manufacturer of hand-poured fragrances containing 100 percent pure soybean wax. Enjoy the season with scents like Autumn Spice, a mix of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and pumpkin. Candy Corn is another favorite, made to smell like warm vanilla candy with hints of butter and almond. Apple lovers will have trouble deciding between Macintosh Apple, Red Apple Peel and Nutty Taffy Apple. To make your home smell as sweet as a bakery, try Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Roll. You can find Pennsylvania Soy Candle products throughout the state at numerous retailers including Brick House Craft Shop (Millersburg), The Country Store (Mount Joy) and The Bark Market (Hanover). Browse the entire list of fragrances and products at www.pasoy.com.
With so much to see, do and even smell in the area, it’ll be a season to remember.
