ADIRONDACKS
Winding your way through scenic byways of the Adirondacks’ six million acres during the peak of leaf-peeping season offers breathtaking mountain views. One of the best ways to experience this majestic region’s stunning vistas is to take a spin in the mountains! A good introduction is a drive along The Whiteface Memorial Veteran’s Memorial Highway is a five-mile toll road with views of the Adirondack High Peaks, open through October 14th. After a day of exploration, stroll along cozy mountain villages. There are several regions in this area.

Outdoor adventurers can hike, climb, mountain bike, and canoe amidst colorful fall foliage. Head to breathtaking Ausable Chasm, where naturally formed sandstone aging back 500 million years, creates a memorable backdrop for a fall excursion. Make sure to take a family float tour through the Grand Flume and Whirlpool basin. For hikers, the 46 High Peaks mountaintops will thrill at a 4,000-feet elevation, making this wilderness area one of the most popular in the Northeast during fall for leaf peepers in search of expansive scenery. For the family, head to The Adirondack Experience in Blue Mountain Lake, which provides a complete history and immersive activities of the region, from learning about the wildlife and viewing Native American art to writing on a slate tablet in a one-room schoolhouse and feeding trout.

Mountain or Whiteface Mountain, both skiing areas that offer downhill mountain biking in early fall. You’ll maneuver down maintained trails during peak foliage season. For those who don’t want to experience the twists and turns, both mountains offer scenic rides in gondolas—the Scenic Skyride at Gore and the Cloudsplitter Skyride at Whiteface—or on ski lifts weekends through mid-October as well. Info: visitadirondacks.com.

Here, two areas we highly recommend. 

• Lake Placid Region Fall in Lake Placid is all about days bathed in the fiery glow of foliage: pumpkin orange, flaming red, and sunshiny yellow. Fall days spent here in the beautiful, fresh air, surrounded by glorious colors covering the mountains, are unlike anything else. Revel in the scents and sounds of forest trails, the sparkling shine of Mirror Lake, and a picnic-perfect park. Part of Lake Placid’s beauty is that you don’t have to go far to find fresh air, natural solitude, and opportunities to stretch your legs and feel great. This is the place to rejuvenate your body and mind amid the crisp crackle of falling leaves and golden light. Loosen up because it’s time to kick your perfect fall day into high gear—literally. Visit the Olympic Museum, an homage to the

1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, both held in Lake Placid. Race like an athlete at the Lake Placid Bobsled Experience or take in panoramic views of the High Peaks at the top of the Jumping Complex.

Rent a mountain bike from High Peaks Cyclery and hit the local trails. They’ll suit you up with everything you need, and they can point you toward tons of beginner trails to explore. While the surrounding mountains lend themselves to epic riding, there are also plenty of wide, well-groomed trails with only moderate elevation change to be found. The Craig Wood Trails in Lake Placid or the Hardy Road Trails in nearby Wilmington are great places to start. As you gain speed peddling past the red, orange, and yellow leaves, the colors will become a beautiful blur blazing like fire in your peripheral vision. Enjoy the swish and crunch of fallen leaves on the trail as your tires roll through. It’s far from your basic fall experience, but it might just become one of your new favorites!

After an eventful but perfect fall day, you’re probably hungry. Freshen up and hit Main Street Lake Placid for a very satisfying and delicious meal. From house-smoked barbecue to authentic Italian, casual Americana, and creatively crafted local cuisine, the chefs of Lake Placid put their all into making your dining experience as exceptional as the rest of your Adirondack experience.
Info: lakeplacid.com.

Best Stay The Mirror Lake Inn & Spa boosts your senses, providing an extraordinary experience for the body, mind, and palate. You’ll soon find that it treats your needs as unique and accommodates you in personalized ways. Mirror Lake Inn’s track record of excellence includes the AAA Four-Diamond rating for more than two decades. The beautifully appointed rooms and suites afford first-class amenities and fabulous views with whirlpool baths and fireplaces. The inn offers the finest cuisine and impeccable service with Instagram-worthy sights at The View for its fine dining featuring creative comfort foods prepared with slow-cooking methods. The Cottage offers a cozy neighborhood-style bar, waterfront deck, and menu with pub-style favorites. The resort treats each guest’s needs as  

• Lake George Region This town, the most populous and most commercial in the area, sits on a 32-mile jewel of a lake ringed by mountains with dozens of state-owned islands. Of historic interest is Fort William Henry, a reconstructed 235-year-old fort with displays of muskets, cannons, and other war relics. No visit is complete without a sightseeing trip on Lake George and a dinner, jazz or moonlight cruise. For an eagle’s eye view of the lake, take Route 9 half a mile south to Prospect Mountain State Parkway. At the end of a 5-mile climb up the 2,100-foot mountain is a view of the southern Adirondack Mountains and the picture-worthy upper Hudson Valley. 

For Halloween enjoyment, head on over to Fright Fest, the scariest event in the Lake George area. Six Flags Great Escape & Hurricane Harbor’s annual event will have you shaking in your boots! Once the sun goes down, zombies and ghouls invade the park, and no place is safe from the scares. The fear factor is cranked up after 5 pm when fright-filled scare zones are located throughout the park, frightening shows last all evening, roaming hordes of terrifying creatures are set to scare around every turn. Info: visitlakegeorge.com.

Best Stay The Inn at Erlowest prides itself, as most historic inns do, on its civilized luxurious past. Antique furnishings and paint-thickened woods and bustling catering staff add a Downton Abbey-ish meme.

COLUMBIA
A visit to Columbia County can be as relaxing or stimulating as one desires. Miles of country roads take you through expansive breathtaking vistas where one can leave the city behind and embrace the countryside either by car or bike. There is culture, history, recreation, antiques, unique boutiques, farm markets, and apple orchards to high-flying adventure parks. Art lovers can enjoy galleries, studios, and an open-air sculpture garden showcasing artists’ works from around the world. A must-see is an architectural masterpiece, Olana State Historic Site. In the 1870s, Hudson River School artist Frederic Church built this 37-room

Don’t miss Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, the home of the eighth president of the U.S. The mansion is also where Van Buren managed two presidential campaigns and entertained politicians and celebrities during the turbulent 1840s and 1850s. And for action-packed thrills, there’s Catamount Adventure Park. Here, you’ll find an aerial forest adventure with 2,000-foot zip line courses. Naturally, this activity will build up an appetite for some delicious dining. Regional farms supply award-winning chefs with the freshest ingredients to create tantalizing dishes that make your taste buds dance. Stop by Chatham Brewing for some of the state’s finest selection of beers brewed in the British tradition—using the best hops and malts available. Or for a better sampling of the best

Best Stay Make your reservation at The Maker, an 11-room hotel consisting of a collection of renovated early-20th-century buildings. It’s the culmination of a five-year labor of love by owners Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg (who founded the skin-care line Fresh in 1991) and Damien Janowicz, their business partner. In 2016, the trio opened the beloved bakery and café Bartlett House, in the neighboring town of Ghent. With The Maker, the concept is rooted in the arts: the guest rooms celebrate cultural pursuits ranging from literature to architecture and gardening. The result is an eclectic mix that embodies the town’s quirky spirit. It’s also meant to be a meeting place for locals, with a

For a vantage point like no other, the Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie is one-of-a-kind. The longest, elevated pedestrian bridge in the world is a former railroad bridge built in 1888, now open to anyone to loves a walk or to bike. Enjoy a breathtaking perspective of the Hudson River valley. Panoramic views can also be seen atop the fire towers at Ferncliff Forest in Rhinebeck, Breakneck Ridge in Beacon, and Thompson Pond Preserve in Pine Plains.

Of course, there’s a bounty of other activities to discover in Dutchess. Apple orchards are plentiful. Pick-your-own experiences include Fishkill Farms (advanced reservation required), Greig Farm, and Mead Orchards. If you’d rather stay on terra firma, shop the farmer’s markets and roadside stands.

Best Stay A short two hours from Manhattan by car in the heart of New York’s Hudson Valley, Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck is located on nearly three secluded acres. The 50-room property is just a short jaunt from the specialty shops, flourishing food scene, and Rhinebeck›s art culture›s historic center. (For those who prefer to take the train, the property is just minutes from the Rhinecliff-Kingston station.) The property was designed to bring balance to modern living, with gracious accommodations, and a 12,000-square-foot spa (a highlight of the property). Guests will find a European-style resting area, aqua terrace with a thermal pool, eucalyptus-infused steam room, Himalayan salt saunas, and the latest in fitness equipment. At the signature Willow by Charlie Palmer, you’ll find cuisine sourced to represent the region’s agricultural heritage

Whether you seek the majestic beauty of the Hudson River or the rustic tranquility of farm life, it’s always the perfect time to explore the many farmer’s markets and dining establishments. Head to Florrie Kaye’s in Carmel, where you’ll be transported back in time to a place of elegance without the hustle and bustle of today. Enjoy Traditional Afternoon Tea or a bite of English Fare. The menu has something for everyone. Info: putnamcountyny.com.

Best Stay Putnam County’s newest boutique hotel is The Abbey Inn & Spa, located on top of the historic Fort Hill. With its 42 guest rooms, Mediterranean-styled restaurant, and spa, it’s a gem on the Hudson. The existing historic building was formerly the convent of the Episcopal Sisters of

SARATOGA
Family fun is closer than you think. You’ll find great outdoor spaces, parks, hiking, outdoor dining, one-of-a-kind boutiques and so much more in Saratoga County and, of course, vibrant fall foliage which will add color to all your adventures. 

Saratoga’s three state parks and Saratoga National Historical Park offer beautiful scenery, plenty of trails and outdoor recreation opportunities while also providing visitors ample space for socially distanced activities. The national park is known as the turning point of the American Revolution. Visit the grounds where American heroes defeated the British. History comes alive through the park’s self-guided tour road, interpretive trails and majestic overlooks boasting vibrant colors of the season.

Best Stay Neo-classical Italianate architecture, and a grand staircase set the magical scene for a memorable stay at The Adelphi Hotel. Featuring eclectic, modern touches and unmatched hospitality, this boutique retreat affords a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

When you first walk through its impressive entrance, it’s easy to cast yourself back to the old-world grandeur of 1877. This was when New York’s elite would take the waters at the natural springs or enjoy a spot of people-watching at the horse races. Once the sun sets, it’s time to savor the finest modern and traditional cuisine at The Blue Hen or Salt & Char. Be sure to stop by Morrissey’s for an after-dinner drink. Then it’s time to rest easy and relax in your elegant room, where a minimalist, modern aesthetic subtly enhances the original features. Info: adelphihotel.com.

ULSTER
Ulster County is known as a four-season playground, but autumn is the best! We dare you to find another place on Earth that so completely embodies the spirit of the season, from the harvest bounties of u-pick farms and the innovative flavors conjured by exceptional chefs, to haunted hayrides through the evocative landscape that inspired The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The dense foliage that blankets the Mid-Hudson Valley and the adjacent Catskills is a wonder any time of the year, but fall is particularly special to witness a kaleidoscope of brilliant earth tones that emerge from the pines, oaks, maples, and hemlocks that dot the landscape along with shrubs of huckleberry and blueberry.

While in Ulster, experience the best fly fishing in the U.S. Author Mark Twain and presidents Herbert Hoover and Jimmy Carter have spent many an afternoon angling for trout.

Best Stay Past white-steeple churches, meandering stone walls, and horse paddocks, the Bedford Post Inn approaches a weekend escape with equal parts romance and relaxation. Owned by Richard Gere, this Relais & Châteaux property feels intimate with just eight rooms in soothing palettes of white, black, cream, and taupe. King rooms boast fireplaces and cozy terraces, but we like the Queen Deluxe—where exposed beams frame the plush beds from the original 18th-century structure. No matter which room you choose, oversized bathrooms have intricate marble-mosaic floors; walk-in, dual-head showers; and clawfoot tubs. Stays include complimentary classes at the inn’s Yoga Loft, a soaring space with cathedral ceilings and sunlight pouring through glass-paned French doors. After, consider an in-room massage or grab a map and a bike from the inn to explore nearby Ward Pound Ridge Reservation’s 4,300 acres. At 5 pm, complimentary wine and charcuterie are served in the