Three New York City Accessible Day Trips
Like most of America, my excursions this year have been to the grocery store rather than exotic locations. Living in NYC, where there is always something to see or do, I’ve been okay with that. It’s a weird adjustment, from spending half of my year living out of hotels and describing my home as, “Delta,” but like everything else that has come along, I suppose that is just 2020. As New York City has slowly and safely reopened, we’ve found new and safe ways to get out of our houses for a breath of fresh air and some socially distant time with friends. That said, being new to the area, I’ve been interested to see what is available to do not just within the city, but the surrounding NYC area! After all, ‘tis the season for a good old fashioned holiday outing! In DC, Nate and I used to try to go pumpkin picking (you know that I have a rabid love of apple cider donuts), so I was hoping to find some non-city activities that we could safely attempt. I know I’m all about that City Girl life these days, but Preppy Girl Fall is still near and dear to my heart.
I’m excited to share a few of my favorite excursions that sit very close to home for those of you in NYC. Whether you’re itching to get out of the house or just looking for a quick trip outside the city walls, you can check out my picks for some safe and healthy day trip inspiration!
Fall Apple Picking
I was thrilled to go apple picking with friends a few weeks ago. My friend Belle organized the excursion, and it was exactly the Fall getaway I was hoping for! Apple cider donuts, orchard views, and a bag full of fruit was a beautiful jaunt. When you check-in, you can purchase the size of the bag you want to pick. They also rent an apple picker for the high up branches. In full transparency, I was nervous when we first arrived. Parking was along a highway miles long and the entrance area seemed PACKED. I had brought along a disposable mask to double up under my cotton one, but I was still a little anxious. Being our first real outing where groups of people were present, I definitely was cautious. Because Belle had made advance reservations (Do this!) I quickly saw that our check-in was actually away from the crowds and and soon as we headed out into the orchard, everything was really well spaced out. I soon saw that the “crowds” were mainly people waiting for their pick-ups and everywhere else felt very safe and socially distant. Again, please make sure you make advance reservations if you are going to attempt this.
We had an absolute ball finding the different varieties of apples and collecting them from the high up branches. It was a little awkward at first, but we managed to get the hang of it! The further in we ventured, we also were able to find more plentiful trees. It was so much fun filling up our bags with different varieties of apples, and yes, I must admit that we all certainly sampled at least one in the orchard. Do apples taste more delicious when plucked right off a tree? It certainly feels that way.
The apples are delicious, but let’s not forget that this is the perfect fall photo-op! Bedecked in my Sarah Flints, I was ready for my perfect fall moment! (In retrospect, wearing my beautiful Italian-crafted leather shoes was probably not a brilliant idea for meandering around an orchard, but they went very well with the outfit and held up beautifully). I wore this beautiful green J.Crew skirt. with. a striped top from Grayson. Add in a YSL bag and Sarah Flint scarf with matching Lele Sadoughi mask and headband and I was perfectly attired to kick off Preppy Girl Fall. Because we still keep a car in the city with us Nate and I were surprised and pleased at how easy a trip the apple picking was! It took a little under an hour to get there, and the drive was beautiful. If you don’t have a car, this is a great excuse to do a day rental
On the way out, we stopped by the little Farmer’s Market they had set up. This is my favorite part of these excursions. We were able to purchase apple cider, warm and fresh apple cider donuts, and all kinds of fresh produce. Buying local is always a great practice, and it was really nice to be able to support the farm directly! I encourage everyone to stop if they go picking, because it’s another way to support these small, family run businesses.
Outfit Details:
Top: Grayson
Skirt: J.Crew (Similar)
Shoes: Sarah Flint (Use the code SARAHFLINT-BAMARY for $50 off)
Purse: YSL (in cream)
Mask/Headband: Lele Sadoughi Headband / Mask
Sunglasses: Tom Ford
Scarf: Sarah Flint
Here is the TikTok video that I made about our visit!
Sleepy Hollow, NY
After our apple picking excursion, I was itching for another day trip. I learned that the apple picking farm was only 20 minutes away from the spooky and scenic Sleepy Hollow. I hadn’t been since I was a small child, so naturally, Nate and I decided to take a day to go explore. Is there any better October activity than visiting the site of the Headless Horseman legend?
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was written by Washington Irving in 1820. It tells the tale of Ichabod Crane’s encounter with the ghostly headless Hessian soldier that haunts the small glen of Sleepy Hollow in Tarrytown after losing his head to a cannonball. As the tale goes, Ichabod Crane, after failing to secure his lady’s hand, encounters the spirit. In desperation, he races across the bridge, and just as he thinks himself safe from the specter, the Hession throws his pumpkin head at Crane, knocks him off of his horse, and Crane is never heard from again. The famous bridge has featured into many different movies. The legend has been told and retold many times over, and draws a continuous crowd to the area each year.
We thought that this would be the perfect October excursion. I can note that Sleepy Hollow itself is a little difficult regarding parking. Most of the area is residential, and most streets have restricted residential parking. (Not sure if this is just in October, or if it’s year round). Be prepared to have to schlep from wherever you finally find parking. Like apple picking, we were worried about crowds, but we found that because most of the activities are outdoors, we never felt like we were being crowded. I saw a few other visitors not wearing masks, but we were able to avoid them easily. Despite several sights being closed due to COVID, the three most notable sights are the bridge, the graveyard, and the Old Dutch Church and all of these were accessible to us. I recommend checking in advance to see what the closing hours are.
When you first arrive, there is only one small souvenir stand. I am obsessed that it says “stay one horseman apart” hahahahaha.
Headless Horseman Bridge
Without a doubt, I think I was most excited to see the bridge. It’s a really picturesque spot, and I was pleased that we didn’t even have to wait long to get some clear shots without other visitors! It is also literally right next to the Old Dutch Church and graveyard, so I was happy that all of the sights were easily walkable to each other.
Very cool to see that the bridge is a real one!
Sleepy Hollow Cemetary
We spent the most time in the Old Dutch Church cemetery where Washington Irving is buried within his family plot. It’s a truly beautiful graveyard. It’s filled with so much history, including other notable gravestones. There are volunteers handing out maps if you are interested in a more in-depth exploration. I was especially interested in the mausoleums, as the structures were so exquisite and the doors very ornate. They seem to have their own tales to be told; There is so much mystery in these stunning graves. I am very glad that our visit was in daylight, otherwise I think I would have been nervous that something would emerge! This entire area is so scenic and it’s absolutely a photographer’s dream. We saw so many photo shoots going on, and I wish I could see some of their imagery! I personally was really happy with how my photos that Nate took with my old Panasonic turned out.
Washington Irving’s Family Plot
Washington Irving’s gravestone.
Old Dutch Church
We weren’t able to go into the Old Dutch Church, but it was such an iconic beacon standing guardian over that enormous graveyard. I love historic buildings, and this one had such an incredible atmosphere. Despite the busy road out front, this church made you feel as if you had stepped right back into Washington Irving’s time.
I can’t plan anything without first considering my wardrobe. For this visit, I chose, in my opinion, the absolute epitome spooky-vibes-meets-fashionista top from J.W. Anderson (and a pair of his fabulous geometric earrings) paired with this Fendi peplum skirt that I’ve been dying to wear. Having learned my lesson wearing nice leather shoes for outdoor excursions, I chose a pair of ankle-high Hunter boots. You know that I’m usually a fashion over functionality kind of girl, but I love how these perfectly combine practicality and trend. Rubber boots with a heel? Love, love, love it! If you end up watching the TikTok I’ve linked below, you’ll see that they’re pretty mobile too- though the side zips tend to unzip when stressed. Lol.
To me, this particular ensemble says fall fancy. It says haunted haute. It says, let’s shoot an editorial on a historic bridge and twilight. Spooky-tober vibes, am I right? Lol, maybe I’m ridiculous, but I loved this one so much.
Of course, in true Nate fashion, he needed to mark the occasion. Lol. The funniest part was he was the only person we saw do this, but immediately afterwards, three other groups had the dad’s observe and do the same. Lol. #Natethetrendsetter
Nate in his cuffed J.Crew jeans and Vineyard Vines Shep shirt… and his vintage Alexander McQueen sneakers and fall fedora. My husband is a prepbae.
Here is the TikTok video that I made about our visit!
Outfit Details:
Top: J.W. Anderson (Similar 1, 2, 3)
Skirt: Fendi (Similar)
Purse: Fendi (Similar)
Mask/Headband: Lele Sadoughi Headband / Mask
Earrings: J.W. Anderson
Necklace: Loren Hope
Middle Ring: Vintage (Cure Thrift Shop)
Floral Ring:Oscar de la Renta
Tarrytown, NY
Before heading home from Sleepy Hollow, we decided to check out the adorable town of Tarrytown which is just next door. When I was a child, I loved the Judy Blume, “Fudge” series. Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great takes place in Tarrytown, NY and I always liked the idea of visiting someday. Even though the book doesn’t give any historical landmarks other than a reference to Sleepy Hollow, I think I’ve always had the name of the town in my head from the book.
The town is small and filled with cute shops and restaurants. The town sits on an elevation and Main Street provides stunning views of the Hudson River. I grew up in a small town in NJ where it maintains its timeless appeal, and Tarrytown is just like that. Nate and I enjoyed just walking up the street. Outdoor dining on small sidewalk patios had the whole town feeling buzzy and packed. We were definitely on the hunt for a place to sit and eat.
The old Music Hall marquee was charm defined. The little yarn shop had a large YARN BALL SHEEP out front and I thought it was one of the cutest and silliest things ever.
You know I can’t resist a cute wall mural!
Horsefeathers Tavern
My friend Katie has been raving about her last visit to Tarrytown. She’s pretty much mastered the NYC small excursion trip, so I was eager to see what she recommended. We weren’t able to make it to her favorite coffee shop, Coffee Lab Roasters, (the line was 15 people deep, down the block- obviously a testament to the recommendation), but we did make it to the historic Horsefeathers Tavern. The menu is quite extensive, and we ordered ourselves some comfort food and enjoyed our surroundings. They have murals and old books and paraphernalia galore. It gave off the perfect spooky vibes to cap off our trip. There was quite a wait, but the hostess was an incredibly sweet person and was very communicative with us about the continued wait time. It might not be a Michelin star, but it’s a really fun place to grab a meal when you visit.
We saw too many cute shops to count, and unfortunately we were on a little bit of time crunch. I’ll have to save most of my shop recs for another visit, but I did decide to stop into Posh Pretzels for an after dinner treat. The owner and her daughter both waited on me and they were so sweet! I was very impressed with the social distance policies (clearly marked to please wear masks and that only two people at a time are allowed inside the shop). This shop is just gorgeous. Each of these pretzels is a work of art, and they are DELICIOUS. They put together two small pink boxes of pretzels for me and tied them with a cute little string. I gave one package as a gift and kept the other for myself. These little pretzels were a perfect present, and we were eating them as sweet treats for a week after our Tarrytown visit. If you want to support a small women-owned business AND get a delicious sweet treat, please check them out!
Posh Pretzels
I can’t recommend these enough.
I like to think that if I was a scarecrow, I’d be a mermaid as well!
Lol, I like what you stand for Mr. Scarecrow. I like it a lot.
Outfit Details:
Top: Sweater (Cure Thrift Shop) (Similar)
Shoes: Sarah Flint (Use the code SARAHFLINT-BAMARY for $50 off)
Mask: Disposable
Headband: Lele Sadoughi
Necklace: Loren Hope
Middle Ring: Vintage (Cure Thrift Shop)
Floral Ring: Oscar de la Renta
Travel is a privilege and should not be taken lightly.
I hope you’re able to check out some of these fun Fall destinations. If you do choose to go on an excursion, I strongly encourage you to please look at the travel restrictions before visiting, particularly if you are traveling from another state. Many locations require a two week quarantine depending on where you are traveling from. This should not be taken lightly. Please be courteous and safe during the visit (respect local rules, wear a mask, and frequently wash your hands), and treat locations with appreciation and respect. Respect railings and signage and boundaries that are put into place. A cute photo op is not worth accidentally destroying local wildlife or putting others at risk. Especially during this pandemic, travel (even a day trip) is a privilege and should not be taken lightly. I encourage everyone to plan safely and kindly.
Xoxo, Mary