This story has been updated with new information.
Summer is ending and autumn is far behind. Fall brings a welcome respite from summer's heat and humidity, a handful of long weekends (including Labor Day and Thanksgiving), and gorgeous landscapes filled with colorful foliage.
If you live in the Northeast, you're especially in a position to take advantage of all the joys fall brings, from meals made with farm-fresh produce to leisurely, scenic drives through forests that transform into kaleidoscopic backdrops.
To help you wade through the region's slew of charming cities, we've identified five destinations within driving distance of New York City, Boston and other Northeast hubs — all with compelling reasons to visit this fall.
Remember to bring a good credit card to earn points for gas purchases if you're planning on taking a leaf-flipping route, and be sure to book soon.
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The Catskills
Depending on where you live, you could escape to the mountainous, sometimes rural areas of the Catskills in just over two hours. This rolling terrain area is characterized by rivers and waterfalls, making it ideal for scenic foliage hikes and drives.
Check out the Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain trails near Big Indian. Kaaterskill Falls in Hunter, New York. the hike to the restored fire tower on Mount Tremper, near Phoenicia. and the Overlook Mountain Trail just outside of Woodstock.
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Consider the Urban Cowboy Lodge at Big Indian from $360 per night (choose a room with a nightstand tub or outdoor cedar tub) or Kenoza Hall, from the region's esteemed Foster Supply Hospitality. The 55-acre property dates back to the 1800s, and room rates start at $349 per night. Alternatively, enjoy a stay at The Chatwal Lodge, a new rustic getaway from the man behind The Chatwal, a Luxury Collection hotel near Times Square in Manhattan. Rooms here start at $1,200 a night.
Saratoga Springs
If you thought the only thing to do in Saratoga Springs was hit the track, think again. This city, about four hours north of New York, is having a bit of a renaissance, thanks to some great new hotels and Upper Hudson Wine Trailwhich features an ever-growing list of family-owned vineyards and wineries.
If you visit from mid-September to early October, you might even catch the harvest. From here, you can easily explore scenic Lake George and the high peaks of the Adirondacks.
The Brentwood Hotel, which opened in 2016 in a renovated motor home, is a trailblazer on the scene. Designed by Brooklyn-based Studio Tack, the 12-room boutique hotel features equestrian motifs inspired by its location, steps from the racetrack. Rooms start at $300 per night.
Joining it is history Adelphi Hotel, which emerged from a top-to-bottom renovation in 2017 with charming rooms starting at around $259. Even if you're not staying at the hotel, be sure to hit up the bar at Morrissey's, named after the spinner who brought horse racing to the city.
The Berkshires
The secret is out for this mountainous region in western Massachusetts. Equidistant from New York and Boston, the Berkshires make a perfect fall getaway with great hiking, cultural attractions, and great places to spend the night.
There are plenty of ways to fill your autumn days in this area. Housed in a complex of 19th-century mill buildings in North Adams, MASS MoCA, or the Massachusetts Museum of Modern Art, has long been a place of pilgrimage for art lovers. Don't miss Sol LeWitt's amazing wall drawings — a cornerstone of the museum since they were installed in 2008. The area is also home to Norman Rockwell Museum (for which you will need to purchase timed tickets prior to your journey) and The mountainEdith Wharton's mansion in Lenox.
Miraval Berkshires is the third iteration of the wellness-focused chain. Guests can try horseback riding at Meadowview Stables, take beekeeping classes, hike in the adjacent forest, and enjoy relaxing treatments at the 29,000-square-foot Life in Balance spa. Under the World of Hyatt program, an off-peak award night at this Category 12 resort will set you back 40,000 points for a single stay, with cash rates starting around $650 this fall.
Travelers can also sleep next door Wyndhurst Manor, which occupies a Gilded Age mansion and country house. The complex features elegant rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, an 18-hole golf course and a gym. There are also two restaurants — a tavern serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the upscale 1894 Fireside Bistro serving lunch and dinner.
The Hudson Valley
When it comes to an easy weekend getaway from New York City, it's hard to beat the Hudson Valley. The charming town of Hudson is just two hours away via Amtrak or two and a half hours by car.
You can easily post on the loose Rivertown Lodge (starting at $239 per night) or the food focus Wm Farmer & Sons (from $269 per night). Another great option is The Wick, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel which opened in a revived 19th-century candle and soap factory in the city (though expect to pay 49,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night if you book this fall). There is also The Maker Hotel, an intimate 11-room property spread across three historic downtown buildings. Rooms start at about $450 per night in the fall, but be prepared for a two- or three-night minimum stay. For a more pastoral setting, head to Amenia and check in Troutback — an inn on a historic estate that once hosted Mark Twain, Henry David Thoreau and Teddy Roosevelt. Spacious, airy rooms here will set you back as much as $435 per night.
No matter where you stay, be sure to go sailing on the Hudson, enjoy leisurely hikes, and go apple picking. This is fall in upstate New York, after all.
Central Vermont
About five hours from New York and less than three hours from Boston, central Vermont's bucolic mountain scenery and small-town charm make it the perfect destination for a fall getaway. The entire state has a population of about 624,000, so you'll find that even the capital city of Montpellier seems like the kind of place where everyone knows each other's names.
Located in the heart of historic Woodstock Woodstock Inn & Resort — founded by Laurence and Mary Rockefeller — recently emerged from a $16 million renovation of the Federal-style building and its 142 guest rooms and suites. You can dine on farm-to-table food at Red Barns and enjoy a spa treatment in the 10,000-square-foot spa. Rates start at $342 per night.
In nearby Barnard, discover the all-inclusive Relais & Châteaux property Twin Farms — a collection of beautifully decorated, art-filled cabins spread across a 300-acre estate starting at $2,550 per night. Here, you can admire the changing leaves in the garden, enjoy Japanese furo, and go canoeing or fly fishing in the property's pond.
Additional reporting by Melanie Lieberman, Madison Blancaflor and Lynn Brown.
