“It was, as I have said, a fine autumnal day; the sky was clear and serene, and nature wore that rich and golden livery which we always associate with the idea of abundance. The forests had put on their sober brown and yellow, while some trees of the tenderer kind had been nipped by the frosts into brilliant dyes of orange, purple, and scarlet.”

– Washington Irving, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”It has become somewhat of an annual pilgrimage up to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery on Halloween.  And just 25 miles north of the city, it’s an easy morning or afternoon activity.  Also, since New Yorker’s love Halloween, you can make this trip and still be back into the city by the evening for ghoulish (i.e drunken debauchery) pursuits.  My recommendation is to take the Metro North Train to Tarrytown (you can also go one more stop to Sleepy Hollow as long as you are on a local train) and walk the 1.5 miles to the cemetery.  There is a gradual and long hill that must be overcome but it’s manageable.  On the way to your destination, you will also pass by the ticket office and gift shop for The Rockefeller Estate at Kykuit but you can save that adventure for another day.   Note: the estate is great but you must have a ticket.  If they are sold out, you aren’t getting in. 

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is fun throughout the year but especially during my favorite holiday.  You will see a lot of tour groups and the congregation of the Old Dutch Church will have beer and hot dogs for sale.  The church (from the 1600’s) is in the cemetery and open to the public so definitely stop in for a visit.

This multi-hour activity gets a high recommend from Full Access.