Sometimes, we've all got to get out of the city.
We get fed up with the smelly trash piled on the sidewalks, perpetual crowds and packed subways, and always, always rushing.
Sometimes the enchantingly beautiful spots that don't feel like the city aren't enough. No matter how idyllic the nature, the notion that we're still in the city remains.
Sometimes the only cure for being tired of the city is to get the heck out.
So get on a bus, in a car, on a train or in a boat, and head out of the city limits.
We've compiled 6 amazing fall day trips for you below.
They're engineered to bring you closer to clean oxygen, beautiful fall leaves, and a really necessary break from New York City mentality.
1. Black Rock Forest (129 Continental Road - Cornwall)
Black Rock Forest is a vibrant, 3,838-acre forest, a variety of lakes and streams, and a variety of species and habitat diversity.
It's also the largest area in the Highlands with sustained elevation over 1,200 feet, and 23.5 miles of hiking paths.
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Touring the Black Rock Forest also includes stunning views of Tamarock Pond, a stone house built in 1834, and a breathtaking view of the Hudson River from the top of Split Rock Mountain.
It's also got a Science and Education Center for all your learning buffs. It's hard to believe the thriving natural woodland is only 60 miles north of NYC, but in fact, it is.
2. Bear Mountain Cruise (3006 Seven Lakes Drive - Bear Mountain)
Who needs to drive when you could ride a boat?
This 9-hour cruise bypasses pesky traffic and instead journeys up the Hudson River all the way to Bear Mountain State Park for an annual Oktoberfest celebration.
The jubilation includes polka bands, German food, and oceans of beer. This cruise also includes tours of nature trails and picnic groves for those seeking reprieve from the craziness of the city.
Tickets cost $57 and you can get them here.
3. Masker Orchards (45 Ball Road - Warwick)
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Apple picking is one of the most fun activities, and grabbing a crew to frolic in this idyllic, 200-acre orchard is an on point way to spend a fall day.
Masker Orchards is also home to barnyard animals, and ponies. They'll also have a daily haunted house all season, and live music and trivia on weekends from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. starting September 13th.
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Admission into the orchard is completely free, as are all the apples you can pick while filling your bag. Full bags cost $26.95 upon exiting the orchard. Masker Orchards also sells fresh apple cider for $3.95 a jug.
For transportation from NYC, grab an NJ Transit bus ticket heading toward Warwick Park from Port Authority. Exit the bus at Warick Park and walk the .7 miles to Masker Orchards.
,4. North Fork Winery Tour
There's no where in New York State that offers more stunning views of brilliant fall foliage than North Fork Vineyards on Long Island.
This day trip includes the opportunity to turn up at three wineries, craft beers, lunch in a charming local restaurant, a rejuvenating visit to a farm, and oyster shucking.
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Sounds wild, right? This trip is 10 hours of jam packed fun. It all starts with cream cheese and bagels on the bus, which leaves at 9 a.m. on weekends from from 209 West 38th Street. Tickets to this stunning blast of a tour cost $162, and you can get them here.
5. New York Fall Foliage Tour
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Remember when the stomach-dropping splendor of the reds, oranges, and yellows of brilliant fall foliage was the best part about autumn?
While it's true that NYC has plenty of parks and sites from which the views of foliage are sublime, there's nothing quite like the deep breath of leaving the city.
The Hudson Valley offers some of the most majestic sights of crisp fall leaves and breezes, and the On Board New York Fall Foliage tour explores the fall foliage in all its splendor. The bus departs from Manhattan and crosses the George Washington Bridge, stopping off for noteworthy architectural sites.
The four and a half hour tour crosses the Bear Mountain Bridge, 18th-century Fort Montgomery, strolls of the West Point Military Academy, and views of the Hudson Valley from the Lookout Inn refreshment stand.
Tickets cost $55. Get them here.
6. Storm King Art Center
museeumnet Mu[see]um BREATHE invites you for a long and lazy walk around the @stormkingartcenter . It is one of the best places to meditate and contemplate artworks by renowned contemporary artists. Everything you need to know before the visit in our article http://museeum.net/article/51/storm-king-art-center.html #museeum #museeumnet #museum #gallery #art #5senses #see #touch #taste #listen #breathe #chat #artexperience #outdoormuseum #sculpturepark #museumgarden #contemplation #museumexperience #museumlove #museumlovers #stormkingartcenter
Storm King Art Center in Mountainville New York stretches across 500 acres of meadow and a stunning sculpture collection crafted by some of the most acclaimed contemporary sculptors.
Located one hour north of NYC in the lower Hudson Valley, admission to this natural sanctuary and artistic haven costs a measly $43, and includes mountainous hikes, tram rides, and bicycle rentals.
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The center's sculpture exhibit features 100 pieces from renowned artists like Alexander Calder and Roy Lichtenstein. Their sculptures are strategically scattered throughout the art center's pastures, which are also full of butterflies, birds, and native grasses and wildflowers.
Transportation packages from Port Authority includes two packages, one package that adds a stop at the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets for everyone who loves shopping, and a second package that leaves from Port Authority and heads right to the Storm King Art Center.
You can buy tickets for package one here, and package two here.
Check out 7 Wonderfully Hidden Escapes You Should Definitely Discover This Fall in NYC.
[Feature Image Courtesy:Thomas Mangan]