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World Atlas names 9 New York towns that come alive each fall. See the list

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World Atlas names 9 New York towns that come alive each fall. See the list

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Yellow, gold, orange and red are aplenty. There’s simply nothing quite like autumn in the Empire State with its transforming foliage.

These nine New York communities make splendid seasonal getaways, according to World Atlas. Some offer fall festivals or other harvest-themed events – in quaint towns without too large of a crowds.

Beacon NY

Located along the Hudson River in Dutchess County, Beacon is known for its art scene, natural beauty and small town charm.

The community has a historic Main Street with numerous boutiques, eateries, contemporary art galleries and museums. It is also near the historic Bannerman Castle, West Point Military Academy and Mount Beacon, which offers plenty of hiking options where one can enjoy the seasonal hues.

On Sundays, Beacon hosts an open-air farmer’s market and a seasonal flea market. The town is roughly two hours north of New York City.

Beacon’s Sloop Club Pumpkin Festival is a family-friendly event featuring pumpkins, live music, food and craft vendors and sails around Beacon Harbor, weather pending.

Bear Mountain NY

Just 50 miles north of New York City, this scenic community is located in Rockland and Orange counties. Bear Mountain State Park has one of the best known peaks in eastern New York. The area’s fall foliage is on-point and trails within the park offer spectacular views that overlook the Hudson highlands. The park also has a zoo and is also home to the historic Bear Mountain Inn.

Bethel NY

Located in Sullivan County, Bethel is home to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts – the site of the famed 1969 Woodstock festival and now home to a performing arts center, gallery and museum. The center also has a seasonal campground. Through Oct. 27, the center hosts its annual Peace, Love and Pumpkins festival, which features a walkthrough leading visitors along the center’s garden trails lined with thousands of hand-carved jack-o-lanterns and displays of pumpkin themed artwork.

Canandaigua NY

The City of Canandaigua sits at the north end of Canandaigua Lake and is Ontario County’s county seat. Canandaigua is full of historic buildings, shops, museums and boutiques within its downtown district. Nearby, the Ontario County Courthouse is a historic landmark within Canandaigua known to have tried Susan B. Anthony in 1873. Also near downtown is Kershaw Park, a lakeside park with a swimming beach adjacent to Canandaigua’s City Pier. Sonnenburg Gardens and Mansion, a historic 50-acre estate, is just blocks away from downtown Canandaigua. Enjoy the fall foliage at nearby Bristol Mountain, where you can ride to the summit on a chair lift on weekends through the end of October.

Cold Spring NY

A village in Putnam County, Cold Spring is known for it quaint charm and walkability. Its main street is pure Americana – with charming shops and unique eateries. Little Stony Point is a scenic hiking area to the north, while the popular Breakneck Ridge, one of the more popular hikes in the Hudson Valley, offers challenging terrain with rewarding views. Also nearby is the Boscobel House and Garden, a 19th-century Georgian mansion with gardens and orchards.

Croton-on-Hudson NY

A village in Westchester County, Croton-on-Hudson shines each autumn. The community’s waterfront Croton Point Park with a nature center transforms under vibrant foliage along the Hudson River. It is home to Van Cortlandt Manor, an 18th century estate and museum. The manor hosts the village’s premier fall event, The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze, which features 7,000 intricately carved pumpkins displayed in the manor’s gardens. Sleepy Hollow is also nearby. The picturesque community is best known for being the main inspiration for Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Sleepy Hollow Cemetery offers themed tours as the site is where Irving and many other notable souls were laid to rest.

Hudson NY

Located in Columbia County, the aptly-named City of Hudson is roughly 2.5 hours north of New York City and located on the Hudson River. The city boasts a historic downtown area, with an eclectic array of shops that add a modern vibe. It’s also home to a variety of landmarks – Olana State Historic Site where acclaimed painter Frederic Edwin Church lived, Henry Hudson Riverfront Park and the nearby the outdoor Art Omi Sculpture Park.

Lake Placid NY

This village in the Adirondacks was a two-time host of the winter Olympics and serves as an all-around sports mecca from skiing to triathlons, and from skating to hiking. Lake Placid sits on the southern shores of a lake by the same name and surrounds the much smaller Mirror Lake. Numerous wooded hikes start from trails in the village, which is also known for a wide array of quaint shops and restaurants. Fall foliage is simply spectacular here.

New Paltz NY

Located by the Wallkill River and beneath the jaw-dropping Shawangunk Ridge, this Ulster County town is painted with many different colors. For starters, New Paltz was settled by French Huguenots in the early 18th century. Seven original stone houses and one church stand on historic Huguenot Street – a National Historic Landmark District that hosts spooky ghost tours. Nearby is the Mohonk Preserve, where 70 miles of carriage roads and hiking/biking/horseback riding trails cover the northern Sawangunk Ridge. Also nearby is the Mohonk Mountain House – a world-famous resort at the northern tip of Mohonk Lake. 

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