Tree spotting

Unbe-leaf-able! Take in the vistas at Storm King Art Center; and don’t forget the city hastrees, too (below).

Photo: Jerry L. Thompson

Although the city is supposedly getting greener, it’s still not a bad idea to introduce your children to actual trees—you know, the kind that aren’t surrounded by a small fence and a pile of errant dog poo. And guess what? You don’t need to schlep five hours to Vermont for the privilege. Two hours or less from the city, you can find stunning vistas, hiking trails, and the sweet sounds of birdsongs and rustling branches—and no car alarms within earshot. Here arefour of the best places to get your (chloro)phyll:

A mere hour north of the George Washington Bridge, Bear Mountain State Park’s leaves change to autumn hues before your eyes, peaking the first week of October. Hiking, biking and nature trails abound, surrounded by sumac trees that are already turning purple in September. There’s also a lake for paddle-boating, row-boating and fishing. Too much nature? Hit the swimming pool or trailside museum. And don’t miss the merry-go-round with 42 hand-carved animal seats representing local wildlife.
Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain, NY (845-786-2701, nysparks.state.ny.us/parks). Travel time by car: 1 hour. Mon–Fri 10am–6pm; Sat, Sun and holidays 9:30am–7pm. $6 parking; additional fee for activities. Peak foliage: first week of October.

Come fall, the impressive collection of outdoor sculptures at Storm King Art Center is overshadowed by the spectacular views from the outdoor gallery’s 500 acres of rolling lawns, fields and forests, which look almost ablaze with the turning oak and maple leaves. Amble through the grounds to enjoy the scenery on your own, or jump on the trams that run every half hour through the exhibition fields, which feature large, abstract works, including a 56-foot-tall piece by Alexander Calder.
Storm King Art Center, Old Pleasant Hill Rd, Mountainville, NY (845-534-3115, stormking.org). Travel time by car: 1.5 hours. Wed–Sun 11am–5:30pm. $10, children 5–12 $7, children under 5 free. Peak foliage: last week of September.

The Friends of Hudson River Park, those nice folks who have raised $325 million to complete the series of piers and parks on the West Side’s waterfront, offer Fall Foliage Boat Tours as another way to enjoy the river. Embark on a three-and-a-half-hour tour on October 21 or 28 and cruise past the Palisades to watch the city’s oak leaves fade to golden brown. (Look for the grassy Pier 84, the newest segment of the park, which opens this fall.) Tours are held during the city’s ideal foliage time, the last two weeks of October.

A buffet meal is available on board for $12, or $8 if you call ahead—or pack your own (soda and juice are available for free). Boats are enclosed, so the captain pulls out, rain or shine.
Hudson River Park, (212-987-2628, ext 305; fohrp.org). Oct 21, 28 at 12:30pm. Call for reservations. Travel: 1 to Houston St; tours leave from Pier 40, Hudson River at Houston St. $15, children under 12 $5. Peak foliage: late October.

If you like your foliage with a little exercise, hop aboard Metro-North at your leisure for an hour-long ride to the village of Cold Spring (population 2,000) in Putnam County, NY—from the station, it’s a mere five-minute walk to the trails of Breakneck Ridge. Though peak foliage weeks are forecasted for mid-October, sugar maples will be a vibrant orange in September, creating a glowing effect alongside the yellow hickories. Pick up a hiker’s map at Hudson Valley Outfitters (63 Main Street), and choose between the wide meandering trails along the Hudson and the relatively steep paths that wind up at nearby peaks, offering stunning views at 1,500 feet above sea level. Go on October 1 and take the short trolley ride from downtown Cold Spring (fare: 10 cents—that’s right, cents) to the historic site Boscobel for its annual Horse and Carriage Day, which features a parade of actors in Federal-period garb (as well as said horses and carriages).
•Breakneck Ridge, Fahnestock Memorial State Park, Route 9D, Cold Spring, NY (845-225-7207, nysparks.state.ny.us).
•Boscobel, 1601 Route 9D, Garrison, NY (845-265-3638, boscobel.org). Peak foliage: mid- to late October. Travel: From Grand Central, take Metro-North’s Hudson Line to Cold Spring. Travel time by car: 1.5 hours.