5 Festive Fall Things To Do Only In The Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Autumn is the Hudson Valley's time to shine and while New England gets all the fanfare, there may be no better place to spend a crisp fall day than our perfectly painted neck of the woods.

Here are five tried and true ways to make sure you're squeezing the most out of the region built for the season.

Cruise The Hudson River

One of the best ways to see autumn colors in the Hudson Valley is from the water and for a few weeks in the fall, one of the best ways to do that starts in the most unlikely of places.

What could be better than heading to Bear Mountain State Park to celebrate Oktoberfest? Celebrating Oktoberfest on the way to Bear Mountain State Park.

The Circle Line is most famous for its cruises that — wait for it — circle the island of Manhattan, but for a few weeks in the fall, that circle is temporarily broken and the Hudson Valley becomes the star of show. Of course, fall foliage and Oktoberfest-themed fun, including a live German Polka band, share the spotlight.

The 50-mile cruise up the Hudson passes the Hudson River Palisades, the George Washington Bridge and the Mario Cuomo Bridge, before docking just before the Bear Mountain Bridge.

A seasonal menu with bratwurst, Bavarian pretzels, pork schnitzel and German potato salad help set the mood for the journey up the river (and back), but with Sam Adams Oktoberfest and Warsteiner lager available, it's officially an Oktoberfest party.

At Bear Mountain, passengers can disembark for two to three hours to explore the park.

The Great Jack-o-Lantern Blaze

Featuring thousands of imaginatively hand-carved jack o’lanterns lit up in elaborate displays on the grounds of historic Van Cortlandt Manor in various themed areas. Held each year for nearly two decades at the historic property at 525 South Riverside Avenue, just off Route 9 in Croton-on-Hudson.

The events have limited capacity and sell out. All admissions are by advance purchase only.

Blaze: Hudson Valley dates are Sept. 16-18; Sept. 22-25; Sept. 28-Oct. 31; Nov. 2-6; Nov. 9-13; and Nov. 18-20. Online tickets start at $32 for adults and $24 for children 3-17, and are free for children 2 and under. Historic Hudson Valley members can attend Blaze: Hudson Valley for free.

Buy tickets online here or by calling 914-366-6900 ($2.50 per ticket surcharge for phone orders).

All events are held rain or shine. Proceeds support Historic Hudson Valley, the Tarrytown-based private, non-profit educational organization that owns and operates several National Historic Landmarks.

Leaf Peeping Is better When Someone Else Does The Driving

Want to get away and look at the Hudson Valley’s fall foliage?

Each year, Metro-North Railroad offers additional train service on the Hudson Line for customers to enjoy the fall leaves and outdoor activities in the Hudson Valley. "Leaf Peeper" trains that operate on Saturdays and Sunday take people up the valley and back again.

See Also:

• 5 Delectable Farm-To-Table Restaurants In The Hudson Valley
• Hidden Hudson Valley Treasures: Order '1 Whiz, Wit' Like It's Philly
• Hidden Hudson Valley Treasures: St. Paul's Church Historic Site

An A-maizing Hudson Valley Tradition

Everybody thinks they are an expert at navigating corn mazes until they find themselves at their wit's end and headed down a dead end path, but no need for breadcrumbs — practice makes perfect.

The Hudson Valley is home to more than its fair share of corny fun.

Take Your Pick Of The Bounty Of The Valley

Saturday Night Live had it all wrong — upstate pumpkin patches are wonderful and apple cider doughnuts just taste better on the farm.

Sure you can pick your own produce straight from the tree and later in the year, a pumpkin patch with easily navigable footpaths beats picking your carving pumpkin from a cardboard box at the supermarket, but the secret star of Hudson Valley orchards are the farm stands. When you give someone a gift of handmade confections, homemade jams or a gift basket of farm-fresh fruit, they have no choice but to ask about your apple-picking adventure and then you get to show them pictures.

At least two trips to the orchard might be in order. The first trip would be the time to concentrate on claiming the first harvest. Later in the year, as a comfortable autumn chill settles over the Hudson Valley, a second trip will allow visitors to concentrate their attention on picking the perfect pumpkin, tackling the corn maze or pretending to enjoy a hayride for the sake of the kids.