Despite all the activity guides that endeavor to tell you leaf peeping is the ONE thing you must do in fall , upstate New York has much more to offer than just gaze at nature drop dead attractively . This season , look at miss to an grownup campout in the Adirondacks , hike to a obscure live medicine café on a New Paltz rail trail , taking flight in the Finger Lakes , and toasting to autumnal flavors in a new receptive - air eatery from a James Beard award - winning chef .

Pick apples at an orchard for grown-ups

New PaltzApple picking is a stress - and - genuine upstate New York fall activity , but it ’s also reliably predictable ( do you really want to be responsible foranotherInstagram with the hashtag # applegram ? ) . meld things up this year at Twin Star Orchards , where in addition to seize a bushel of Red Delicious , Fuji , McIntosh , and several other varieties , you could also relish woodwind - fired Neapolitan pizza , cider , donuts , burgers , and handcrafted hard cider in an open - aviation chalet overlook an orchard and a pond .

Go back to camp

AdirondacksFeeling nostalgic for sleepaway camp ? When you ’re done rewatchingWet Hot American Summer , pack your duffel for Wilderness Field Notes , a Modern all - inclusive hideaway for New Yorkers to disconnect and reconnect with the great open on 80 private acres in the foothill of the Adirondacks . The retreat will run from October 14th-16th , with food , previous - night bonfire , drinks , and music . “ During the day , node can relax or take part in any of the various workshop , including archery , born dyeing , fishing and our first annual strong ( wo)man saw contention , ” say co - founder and Brooklynite Clarissa Driban . In gain to these and other Bear Gryllsian pursuits – like academic session on endurance in the woods , chopping woodwind instrument , and night sky piloting – there ’s canoeing , local brewage , beach s’mores , and the fact that you get to wake up up in your lakeshore cabin to farm - saucy eggs on the griddle .

Find inner peace in a sculpture park

New WindsorNo place James Ussher in the fall season more majestically thanStorm King Art Center , where a 500 - acre carving - cloud field surrounded by every shadowiness of autumn well makes you forget about presidential election and oeuvre deadline – at least for an afternoon . Whether you do a beekeeping circuit , yoga class , or pedal one of the most scenic bike paths in the Hudson Valley alongside works by Mark di Suvero , Roy Lichtenstein , or the late exhibit , Terrestrial Studio(through November 13th ) by Dennis Oppenheim – who heat meadows with stars and found anElectric Kissof stainless steel in the grass – do n’t miss a misstep to this uncommon natural sanctuary .

Hide out in a new James Beard chef’s garden

HudsonChef Zak Pelaccio of Fish & Game is giving New Yorkers yet another cause to take the string due north , this time to a Malaysian - inspired haven insert away behind an antiques workshop in a former ‘ 40s - era gas post . BackBar ’s farm - to - picnic - table fare , cocktail sorcery , and sorcerous Warren St backdrop on the terrace will get you in a fall state of mind ( and may even inspire you to finally plan that Southeast Asia trip ) . ordain the curried crab , bok choy with fried volaille , kimchi - lada , turmeric - marinated squid , and Sichuan peppercorns and sip Hudson - produced Sundström Cider in your coziest clothes .

Get stranded at the drive-in

GreenvilleHere ’s something to contribute to yourromantic getaway guidebook : design a tripper to the northern Catskills , where you ’ll divulge that cause - atomic number 49 are the new ( or really , original ! ) Netflix & chill . “ Drive - ins and chilling film go great together , ” says owner Dwight Grimm of the Greenville Drive - In , which dates back to 1959 . “ Come fall , there is no practiced style to enjoy a fright than wrap up safely with your loved ones in a car . ” Grimm recommends having a red-hot cider - apple brandy toddy in the drive - in ’s beer garden . Now through October 15th , bring a blanket , some candy Zea mays , and try not to mist up the window while canoodle during movies likeThe Shining , Beetlejuice , and a Bruce Campbell double - header ofEvil Dead 2andArmy of Darkness .

Eat everything at Smorgasburg Upstate before it’s gone

KingstonIf you ’re not spending weekends eat in an open - air market like the one at Hutton Brickyards , you ’re doing fall all haywire . October 15th is your last opportunity to take in the new set up Smorgasburg Upstate , with dozens of local prominent chef , James Leonard Farmer , foxiness brewer , and artisan on a scenic 10 - Accho reaching of waterfront along the Hudson River . Ride the rails with a lot of reusable bags and a rough appetency ( we ’re fond to the mellisonant corn fritter from Raven & Boar , the Rubiner ’s Cheesemongers ’ grill cheese , and the Oaxacan donuts from Sweet Poppy ) .

Attend any kind of festival you want

From Woodstock to Lake PlacidIt ’s easy to bid farewell to the beach when there are this many great festival so close to ( yet far enough from ) plate . You ’re looking at option like theCrown Maple Fall Festival , theWoodstock Film Festival , theNY Craft Brewers Festival , theHudson Valley Garlic Festival , ayoga and music festival , theFlaming Leaves Festivalwith ski jump , wild blue yonder , brews , and BBQ , aaaand last but not least , theSheep & Wool Festivalin Rhinebeck – if for no other cause than # leapingllamas and Rastafarian Angora stooge .

Take flight(s) in the Finger Lakes

ElmiraSure , the FLX is an idyllic place to sip riesling and relax , but come precipitate the best way to see this beautiful region is to go far from it . During a 20 - minute drive ( $ 96 / mortal ) on this ASK-21 , you’re able to glide 4,000 ft above sea story , over vineyards , lakes , trilled tillage , and nautical mile of ruby - and - carrot - hued countryside . The plane ’s wraparound windows bring in views so incredible you ( almost ) wo n’t want to take away from the moment by record it with your sound . Before repay to theInn at Glenora ,   a winery recourse on Seneca Lake , enjoy a unlike sort of flight atRooster Fish , New York ’s first farm brewery , by ordinate four 4 oz pours for $ 8 .

Hike to a secret café in the woods

RosendaleRail Trail Café is the stuff and nonsense of backcountry dreams . It ’s deserving planning to hike , bike , or achieve the 22 - mile Wallkill Valley Rail Trail on horseback just to happen on this little topically sourced food cart on Stone Mountain Farm . Of all the autumnal adventures you ’ve got planned this season , this hidden treasure and its live music , wood - fired pizza , empanadas , apple cider lollipop , and chocolate oatmeal Cosmic Nectar Balls will be the highlight .

Kayak in the ADK

AdirondacksAvoid the enticement to row a sauceboat alongside tourists in Central Park by channelise manner upstream to the Adirondacks . Enjoy some spectacular scenery as you coggle the North Branch of the Moose River , where you could easily spend five hour research eight pristine miles of the gentle rapids . Not long after plunge , pick a sandy bank to eat your breakfast sandwiches fromWalt ’s Dinerwhile face a bright panorama that necessitate no filter .

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storm king art center

Roy Lichtenstein, “Mermaid” at Storm King Art Center|Flickr/Sébastien Barré

Twin Star Orchards

Twin Star Orchards

Storm King Art Center

Storm King Art Center

Greenville Drive-In Outdoor Cinema

Greenville Drive-In Outdoor Cinema

sheep and wool festival

Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool Festival|Flickr/Sarah Nichols

Rail Trail Cafe

Rail Trail Cafe