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Great Escapes
This is the third in a series of articles appearing in a new publication on the Haven website later this fall. Each article features the insight, advice, and storytelling of Haven artists. Missed an article? Check it out in the archives!
This Week: with fall in full swing, Millay Vann shares her favorite ways to ditch the city for the day.
 Americans call it fall, my people (Brits) say autumn—either way you say it, change is upon us here in New York and with it comes all the magic and excitement of nature's shifting colours, warm sweaters, and the prospect of enjoying the city in a whole new way: by getting out of it.
Like many of the residents of the five boroughs, I was raised in a place much smaller and with much less concrete than New York, where the only apples around were the ones we liberated from the farmer's orchard down the lane. A country girl at heart, I often get the urge to escape to greener pastures. I knew it was getting to that time again when I found myself admiring how the evening light caught the steam pouring out of the power station at the end of my street. . .
If the concrete all gets a bit much for you at this time of year and you want something with a little more adrenaline or aesthetic than Central Park, here are some affordable and accessible ways to decompress and experience something a little different.
Roosevelt Island
Let's start small. For those of you who, like many Manhattanites, are too busy, too poor and too scared to contemplate anything too far from home, this still-secret gem is rich in history and easy on the wallet. For the mere cost of a Metrocard, you can not only experience the heady thrill of seeing if the newly re-opened Roosevelt Island cable car works, but you get to admire the NYC skyline from across the water. A great way to spend a few hours away from the noise of the city, the island boasts a lighthouse on both the north and the south ends, open grassy areas perfect for a ball game or picnic, and the derelict Renwick Ruins, an old small pox quarantine hospital with all the charm of a haunted house.
Wave Hill
An amazing 28-acre public garden and cultural center in the Bronx overlooking the Hudson, this little-known escape is the perfect way to feel as if you are out of the city without having to actually go on holiday. You can take the Metro North to Riverdale, or check wavehill.org for detailed subway/bus directions from your neighborhood. Stroll through the woods, admire the gardens and greenhouses, and take in the art (current exhibitions include Please, Please, Pleased to Meet'Cha and Transplant - Transculture). . .
Apple Orchards
Looking further afield, no autumn would be complete without some good old fashioned apple and pumpkin picking—call your mum up for her best recipe and then check out pickyourown.org for a complete listing of the nearest pick-your-own farms! Getting to a lot of these will require hiring a car; if you do so you may as well go the whole way and release your inner child by visiting a corn maze (listed on the same website). On your way home, roll down the window, turn up the radio, and take in the crisp fall air as you drive.
Bear Mountain-Harriman State Park
Craving a little more adventure? Picture this scene: just last month I swam in the tepid waters of a perfect lake on a camping trip I took with my roommate. For only $12 and less than an hour train ride, there are a couple of prime hiking (and camping) spots that are perfect for seeing the leaves change. Harriman State Park, for one, has great trails, mountains and lakes to explore. Grab a map from your nearest EMS, and hop on the NJ Transit from Hoboken to Tuxedo. A path to the trail head starts about 20 yards south along the track at a break in the hedge.
Breakneck Ridge
Located in Hudson Highlands State Park, this is another great spot to exercise those calf muscles and soak up the scenery. About an hour up the Hudson River Valley, Breakneck makes for a truly breathtaking day trip (for the views and the climb)! Grab a friend, hop on a Hudson Line train at Grand Central and get off at Breakneck Ridge—the trains will drop you right by the trailhead, just follow the above link for directions. Both Bear Mountain and Breakneck Ridge have a variety of trails that are well blazed and vary in length and difficulty, depending on how hardcore you want to be!
Hopefully, some of these suggestions will inspire you to log off of MySpace, throw on a scarf and see autumn in New York from somewhere completely new. Be sure to tell us about your favorite adventures. . .and in the meantime, enjoy!
 Millay Vann is an expat who currently calls New York home. When she's not hiking in places both near and far, she can be found at Haven; keep up with her latest adventures here.
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Posted by AB on 9/18/2006 | 0 comments
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