Carve Pumpkins

Carving pumpkins is a favorite amongst most! If you’re looking for a bit of carving inspiration, check out The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze happening in Croton-on-Hudson through the end of November.

Take a Fall Foliage Drive

Looking for a beautiful drive into the Catskill Mountains? Route 23A is a windy road through the mountains and boasts beautiful views and colorful fall leaves. Make a stop at Hunter Mountain for one of their four Oktoberfest Weekends happening through October. This event has been included in USA Today's 10 Best Oktoberfests in the Nation!

The weekends feature authentic German and German-American entertainment in the beauty of the great northern Catskills. Experience live entertainment and great food surrounded by lush fall foliage. Numerous vendors, free crafts for the kids, and much more. An added bonus - FREE admission! Making it an affordable and fun time for all ages! 

Go on a Hike

We’re lucky that we live in a place where there are numerous places to go on a hike or just a nature walk. Now is the perfect time to get out and see the changing leaves! A few of our favorite spots are:

• Olana State Historic Site, Greenport

  Walk the grounds and take in the beautiful views of the Catskill Mountains.

• The Pinnacle, Bolton Landing

  A short, easy to moderate hike to a spectacular panorama of Lake George.

• Wilson M Powell Wildlife Sanctuary, Old Chatham
  A 1.5 mile lightly trafficked loop trail that features beautiful wildflowers and is perfect for all skill levels.

• Thacher State Park, Voorheesville

  There is a $6.00 vehicle entrance fee. Situated along the Helderberg Escarpment, one of the richest fossil-bearing formations in the world. Even as it safeguards six miles of limestone cliff-face, rock-strewn slopes, woodland, and open fields, the park provides a marvelous panorama of the Hudson-Mohawk Valleys and the Adirondack and Green Mountains.

Ghost Hunting

Explore tales of sightings and strange things on the Special Capitol Hauntings Tour of the New York State Capitol. The tour lasts about an hour, but the chilling tales might haunt you forever.

Given from September 25 through November 1, the FREE Capitol Hauntings Tours will be offered:

September 25 through October 25 Weekdays: 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. These tours start at the information desk located in the Capitol’s State Street Lobby.

Monday, October 28, through Friday, November 1: 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM every day. 

Saturdays: 1:00 PM for October. These tours start at the Washington Avenue entrance of the Capitol across from the intersection of Washington Avenue and Hawk Street.

*No tours will be offered on Columbus Day, Monday, October 14.*

Burn Fall Candles

Have you smelled Collar City Candle’s newest fall scents? You can find them at the Troy Farmer’s Market or order online!  

Wander Through a Corn Maze

Samascotts Orchards’ corn maze and it’s happening now! This year’s maze is celebrating its partnership with Nine Pin Cider.

Find your way through the maze to locate all 8 stations and win yourself a free soft serve from Samascotts Garden Market AND a free 6 oz pour from Nine Pin's tasting room in Albany (valid until 11/8/19)!

Drink Apple Cider

Indian Ladder Farms Cidery and Brewery is the perfect place to get the best of both worlds - regular and hard cider. Located on Indian Ladder Farms in Altamont, ILFCB produces hard cider and beer using crops such as apples, pears, berries, and pumpkins as well as hops and malting barley grown on Indian Ladder and other local area farms.  

Tasting Room Hours:

Wednesday 4-9 PM Thursday 4-9 PM Friday** 4-9 PM

Saturday 11-9 PM Sunday 11-7 PM

**open until 10 PM for music or karaoke

Go on a Hayride

Upstate’s #1 haunted attraction is Double M’s Haunted Hayrides located in Malta, New York. Reservations are required and can be made here. 

Warm Up With a Pumpkin Spice Latte

PSL’s are a fall staple. A few of our favorite coffee shops: 

• Stacks Espresso, Albany & Troy

• Wired Coffee, Albany & Malta

• 3Fish Coffee, Albany

• Palette Cafe, Saratoga

• Broad Street Bagel Co., Kinderhook 

• Supernatural Coffee, Hudson 

Watch a Movie Outdoors

There’s just something about cuddling up outside and watching a movie. Luckily we have plenty of drive-in theatres in Upstate NY.

• Hi-Way Drive-In Theatre, Coxsackie

• Jericho Drive-In, Glenmont

• Greenville Drive-In, Greenville

• Hollywood Drive-In, Averill Park

• Malta Drive-In, Malta

Another idea: Post Wine Bar & Kitchen hosts weekly movie nights on their back patio. Check their Instagram for details!

Trick-or-Treat

Join in on the spooktacular fun at miSci Museum of Innovation & Science on Saturday, October 12th from 11 am to 4 pm for “Spooky Science at miSci” - a Halloween-themed, family-friendly event! Dress up in your Halloween costume and come to the museum to trick or treat in a safe environment, while immersed in fun, hands-on STEAM exhibits, and programs.

Enjoy Halloween-inspired hands-on activities, spooktacular science demonstrations, dark-as-night planetarium shows, and more!

You can find more information here! 

What’s on your bucket list this fall? Comment below!