Harvest, Haunts and Howls: a Fall Family Adventure
Autumn is a magical—and spooky—time in Westchester County. This wild and wonderful weekend makes the most of it all, from an apple-picking outing in the countryside to a celebration of one of America’s most “legendary” Halloween tales.
Day One:
Your adventure starts with a visit to Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem for a presentation on North American wolf packs and a chance to introduce your own pack to the center’s ambassador wolves.
With an abundance of agricultural land, Westchester offers a wealth of fun experiences for your future farmers. Here are three to choose from:
- Option 1: Head to Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard in North Salem for apple picking and a pumpkin patch, then stay for a freshly prepared lunch using ingredients from the farm, piping hot apple cider donuts and live music. In the evening, stroll the wooded landscape under enchanting lights and scenes during the new, family-friendly Mystic Moon event,
- Option 2: Enjoy a hay ride with your apple picking at Westchester’s oldest apple orchard, Stuart’s Fruit Farm in Granite Springs. Grab something to eat before or after in nearby Yorktown Heights, with its diversity of palate-pleasing choices from Pappous Greek Kitchen to the Southern-inspired Savannah & Company and Nadine’s Restaurant for German and French specialties in the beer garden.
- Option 3: Meet the animals at Muscoot Farm in Katonah, an historic estate and former dairy farm, now County-owned park and museum. There are cows, horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks and pigs for the young and young-at-heart to befriend, plus a beautiful pumpkin patch and picnic tables (bring your own lunch or order from the concession window).
Next stop: Croton-on-Hudson for a sampling of fresh pressed, old-fashioned apple cider at Thompson’s Cider Mill. Then unwind by the Hudson River at Croton Point Park, where you can stroll a stretch of the Westchester RiverWalk or let the little ones loose at the playground.
Head south to Tarrytown to build your own burger at Little B's, with its creative offerings and relaxed atmosphere.
End the day at Sunnyside, the historic estate of Washington Irving, author of the classic tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. In October and November, Master Storyteller Jonathan Kruk performs The Legend, complete with live music and an appearance by the Headless Horseman himself! Tickets to this special seasonal event are limited and sold in advance.
After a full day of adventure, tuck the kids in at one of Westchester’s many family-friendly hotels.
Day Two:
Fuel up with a hearty brunch at Eatarry in Tarrytown, where the fare ranges from egg sandwiches, grain bowls and salads to s’mores pancakes with toasted marshmallows and chocolate sauce.
From there, it’s just a short drive to Lyndhurst, one of America’s finest Gothic Revival mansions, where you can tour the home or stroll the sprawling grounds overlooking the Hudson River.
Or, head back to Sunnyside—this time while the sun is out—for Legendary Tours, a kid-friendly, literature-themed grounds tour. Afterwards, you can check out the Old Dutch Church and Burying Ground, made famous in Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, then visit the author’s grave, along with the final resting spots of many other notable locals, at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
Top off your legendary fall weekend with a trip to Tarrytown’s family-run ice cream parlor, Main Street Sweets.