Autumn has arrived! That means that our city streets will soon become inundated with sweaters and boots, which makes us very happy.
Apart from the leaves and colder weather, autumn is a great time to gorge yourself on apple cider doughnuts, pumpkin pie, butternut squash soup, and essentially any fatty foods because you no longer have to keep up the summer six-pack (or pretend that you were trying, because lets get real, the only six pack of the summer was the one in the cooler).
So, while we love the city life, sometimes you just have to drive an hour out of it to fully appreciate the changing foliage.
Sometimes you really need to get out of our beloved concrete jungle to truly experience the change in seasons.
If you're looking for some daily/weekend trips to enjoy some fall food and drinks, we've compiled this list of places you need to head out to before the winter chill hits New York City.
1. Hunter Mountain's Oktoberfest (various dates)
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Hunter Mountain is not just for skiing. It's for drinking tons of wine and beer, enjoying live entertainment and delicious food while surrounded by the incredible fall foliage that Hunter Mountain has to offer.
Oktoberfest is held the last weekend of September, and the first three weekends in October from 11 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Don't worry about a babysitter, because this event has tons of free crafts and events for the kiddies on top of the drinks, vendors, and live music for the grown ups.
If you're a true wineophile, make sure to hit Oktoberfest the weekend of October 17-18 for their Wine Tasting & Farmer's Market.
Best of all? Admission is free.
2. Chowderfest (October 2nd-3rd)
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Located in Long Beach Island, NJ, this festival is more than worth the weekend trip to LBI, NJ.
Located onin Bay Village, this event is a great way to take in the change in season while enjoying some warm chowder, cold beer, live music, and ocean air. Saturday (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.) will kick off the Merchants Mart, where vendors from South Jersey will sell trinkets, jewelry, and clothes.
The main draw of Chowderfest is the 27th Annual Chowder Cook-off Classic, which is held on Sunday (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.). Restaurants along LBI will serve a taste of New England and/or Manhattan clam chowder to attendees who will vote to crown the prestigious 2015 Chowderfest Champion.
Tickets are on sale now. General admission tickets are $25 and children's tickets (4-12) are $10. VIP tickets (includes a t-shirt and early admission at 10 a.m. on Sunday) for $55.
3. Chili, Cheese, & Cider Fest (October 10th)
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This Hudson Valley fall festival is for the foodie in you. The Chili, Cheese, & Cider Fest is worth the day trip, especially because of the foliage you'll see along the way.
If you haven't guessed it from the title, this festival celebrates chili, cider, and cheese. It's hosted by the Hudson Valley Bounty.
Located at the Henry Hudson Riverside Park, this event will feature a beer and cider bar, artisanal cheeses with cheese and cider tastings and pairings, and live music from Thunder Ridge.
It is also the home of the Eighth Annual Hudson Valley Bounty Chili Contest, where winner will take a $500 cash prize.
If you're worried about your kiddies, there will be kid-friendly entertainment including crafts.
4. Whiskey Festival of New Jersey (October 15th)
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Do you like whiskey, lack a car, but still want to escape the city? Take the path or ferry over to Jersey City for this whiskey festival.
There's nothing like sipping some whiskey to warm yourself on a cold night. If you're a fan of whiskey, you have to hit up Whiskey Festival of New Jersey, where you can taste more than 100 whiskeys from around the world.
Held at Taphaus in Jersey City, you can sip your whiskey while enjoying uninhibited views of the city skyline.
Tickets are $75 a person, but drop to $70 when you purchase two, and drop to $65 with you purchase 4 or more. So get your squad together for this event, and enjoy some premium whiskeys, bourbons, ryes, and scotches.
,5. Pumpkinfest (October 17th)
Are you a fan of beer? Who are we kidding, of course you are. Well if you really like pumpkin beers, you NEED to head out to T.J. Finley's in Bay Shore on October 17th at 6 p.m.
With over 20 pumpkin beers on tap and cask, this is the best way to get your fill of pumpkin beer to kick off the fall season. They will also be tapping the 160-pound giant Great South Bay Pumpkin, which gets tapped at 7 p.m.
Do you want to drink some of the pumpkin beers OUT OF a mini pumpkin??? We sure do. If you do, too, make sure you're one of the first 200 guests so you can. How much more fall can you get?
6. Staten Island Food Festival (October 23rd-24th)
Have kids? Looking for a cheap event celebrating food trucks where your kiddies can enjoy a day of blow up rides and games? Head on over to Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds for the first annual Staten Island Food Festival.
Tickets are $4, but raise to a whopping $5 the day of the event. If you're not feeling the inflatable kiddie rides (because a 25-year-old semi-adult is just too big for the bouncy castle), they have plenty of adult only drinks, including a beer garden and boutique wines.
The event runs from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m., so there's plenty of time to enjoy some food from vendors and trucks from all five boroughs while jamming out to live music.
7. Finger Lakes Beer Festival (October 24th)
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Fall is all about hitting up some beautiful campsites before it's too cold to breathe outside. What's even more fall about camping? Beer and camping. Lots of beer.
If you're thinking about going camping and drinking some beer with some friends, why not go camping and then hit up the Finger Lakes Beer Festival?
Arrive a day early to hit their Friday night dinner for $40 a person, which includes local food paired with Finger Lakes beer, live entertainment, and a beer class and tasting.
Head on over to the glen to camp for the night with your friends. Split the $50 advanced camping price between your group and receive a pass for 2 motorized vehicles.
On Saturday, you can taste up to 25 craft beers (with ticket) while enjoying live music from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at this festival. Buy your tickets in advance and pay $35, or buy a $40 ticket at the event.
Check out 7 Best Spots for Yummy Fall-Inspired Desserts & Treats in NYC.
[Feature Image Courtesy of Summit Post]