It’s sweater weather, so that means jumping in a crunchy pile of leaves, going on long hayrides, and admiring the kaleidoscopic trees, right? For city dwellers, not exactly. Many of those typical autumn experiences are hard to come by while living in this concrete jungle—so we improvise. Here’s how to fit in fun fall activities with a New York City twist.
Instead of: Apple Picking
What you should do: Cider Drinking!
What do you get when you cross a sixth-generation apple farmer, a man with a fermentation obsession, and a musician–cider salesman? A convincing reason to skip the orchard. Sure, apple picking makes for good selfies, but a trip to Bad Seed Brooklyn promises an unlimited supply of fresh, strong cider. 55 Franklin Avenue, Crown Heights
Instead of: Tailgating
What you should do: Go to a Great City Sports Bar!
Unless you’ve got the nerve to brave a packed train to MetLife, you don’t see many tailgating shenanigans in the relatively parking lot–less concrete jungle. And why would you when Hair of the Dog covers all the bases when it comes to New Yorker sports fans: loaded menus for every meal; 17 TVs for ESPN highlights; and 14 different draft beers. Hair of the Dog isn’t the only great football bar in town. Discover six more of our favorite places to watch the game here. 168 Orchard Street (between Rivington and Stanton Streets), Lower East Side
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Instead of: An Out-of-Town, Theatrical Haunted House
What you should do: An Actual Haunted House in Manhattan!
Sharing scary stories around a campfire is child’s play compared to living out an IRL scary story. Of course, we’re talking about Manhattan’s first landmark, the Merchant’s House Museum. The spooky spot is where eight members of a family are said to have passed away…but never left. See for yourself during the museum’s Candlelight Ghost Tours. Or, for a creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky night, try to score a stay at the Addams Family Mansion, a Clinton Hill brownstone that’s been designed to look just like Morticia’s. It’s available for just four one-night sleepovers; reservations open up at 12 p.m. on October 28. Merchant’s House Museum, 29 East 4th Street (between Lafayette Street and Cooper Square), NoHo; Addams Family Mansion, 272 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn
Instead of: Pumpkin Patching
What you should do: Pumpkin Eating!
Farm trips are fun, but they also take so long. Luckily, our resident food expert, Jess Bender, prefers eating a jack-o’-lantern to carving one. And you will too after trying a few of her favorite seasonal drinks and dishes this year, including Posh Pop Bakeshop’s pumpkin cinnamon rolls and the syrupy pumpkin and pecan butter waffles served at Ducks Eatery.
Instead of: Admiring Fall Foliage by Car
What you should do: Set Sail Along the Hudson
You don’t need to brave traffic for a true leaf-peeping experience. Instead, step aboard a yacht right at Chelsea Piers and sail up the Hudson River on a Fall Foliage Cruise. You’ll see the colorful trees of the Hudson Valley in all their waterfront splendor, with a glass of champagne in hand.
