U-pick orchards, fall foliage in all its glory, cranberry bogs and, yes, plenty of pumpkin spice, too.
If back-to-school season has you itching to get out of town, look no farther than these regional escapes.
North Fork, Long Island
There’s no better time of year to celebrate the North Fork’s abundant fruits of the vine. Lieb Cellars hosts its annual harvest party on Sept. 23, as well as live music most weekends, and the autumnal Leaf Pile Ale will soon start pouring at the tasting room at Greenport Harbor Brewery.
Meanwhile, sweet potato, pumpkin and other seasonal delights return to the farmstand picnic menu at Sang Lee Farms, while locally grown figs, foraged mushrooms and Peconic Bay scallops are just a few of the seasonal ingredients you may spot at the North Fork Table & Inn. Set on the Greenport waterfront, the Sound View hotel (from $195) is ideally situated for local exploration.
Located 100 miles east of NYC, the Hampton Jitney offers daily service between Manhattan and the North Fork through Oct. 10, with reduced frequency thereafter. Once in town, car services and local transportation companies, including North Fork Designated Driver, are readily available. Bike rentals are also an option, but don’t forget to put a cork in the extra tastings!
Montclair, NJ
Earlier this year, makeup artist Bobbi Brown and husband, Steven Plofker, opened the George Inn in a renovated 1902 landmark building in Montclair, NJ, an affable suburb and college town that feels just far enough removed from the city to be a good weekend break (from $279). In addition to a chic design ethos with a British flair, all 32 rooms come with a list of “Bobbi & Steven’s Faves” — local breakfast joints, coffee shops, local parks, fitness studios, dinner restaurants, salons and beauty boutiques, even recs for dog-walkers and groomers.
A relative newcomer to Montclair, eatery Laurel & Sage makes for a great date night — as does pairing a show at the Wellmont Theater with a pre- or post-show tipple at Pharmacie Liquor Bar. For an impromptu getaway, what more could you ask for, really?
The George Inn is accessible via New Jersey Transit in about an hour, for fares typically between $5 and $8 each way. Use NJ Transit’s Trip Planner tool to explore transit options
The Hudson Valley, NY
Only a couple of hours north of New York City, the Hudson Valley’s abundant seasonal offerings make for easy day trips or can be combined for a fun-filled weekend escape. Hunter Mountain’s Oktoberfest (Sept. 22 to Oct. 14) is one of the region’s best and on select weekends showcases locally made ciders and wines, too.
Another option: Pair an afternoon of apple-picking at Soon Orchards in New Hampton with a cider tasting at the on-site Orchard Hill Cider Mill, which on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons hosts a pop-up event with live music and light bites in a new event space and bar.
Nantucket, Mass.
As summer vacationers and seasonal residents conclude their exoduses, Nantucket’s population drops from 80,000 to roughly 10,000, which is reason enough to consider booking a weekend getaway to one of New England’s most charming islands. After all, JetBlue offers direct flights (from about $277 round-trip) through October.
The island’s annual Cranberry Festival returns Oct. 6; the locally grown berries are a celebrated seasonal treat, as is only-available-in-fall pumpkin spice ice cream at the Juice Bar.
All five properties of Nantucket Island Resorts remain open through October and include family- and pet-friendly accommodations, as well as a marina for those arriving by boat (from $175).
Barnard, Vt.
Set on 300 acres in the heart of Vermont, not far from the ski resorts of the Green Mountains, there is perhaps no destination better suited to fulfill all of your foliage fantasies than Twin Farms (from $1,800 with a three-night minimum during the fall). The all-inclusive (and ultra-luxurious) resort can arrange for any number of outdoor activities, from cycling and guided nature hikes to outdoor painting classes and private afternoon picnics surrounded by trees aflame.
Back inside, the culinary team leads cooking classes showcasing estate-grown and foraged ingredients and other locally sourced goods and produce. The results, needless to say, are as scrumptious as the views. Cooking classes, the chef’s table meals and spa treatments are the only extra costs; the rest is covered within the nightly rates.