The advent of spooky season brings endless options for driving-distance getaways packed with U-pick orchards, twisting corn mazes, and high-tech haunts. But only Sleepy Hollow, at the gateway to New York\u2019s Hudson Valley, has a reputation so perfectly tied to the macabre.<\/p>\n
As the setting for Washington Irving\u2019s \u201cThe Legend of Sleepy Hollow,\u201d the town and its neighboring villages blend American history, small-town autumn charm, and an enduring flair for the supernatural. It\u2019s about a two and a half hours drive from Philly \u2014 or take Amtrak to Penn Station, get to Grand Central, and hop on Metro-North\u2019s Hudson Line.<\/p>\n
Once you\u2019ve arrived, the mix of colonial history, Halloween pageantry, and riverfront beauty makes it easy to fall under Sleepy Hollow\u2019s spell.<\/p>\n
Stay: Tarrytown House Estate<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re making a weekend of it, check into Tarrytown House Estate<\/a>, a historic retreat on a hill above Sunnyside. The estate is home to Goosefeather<\/a>, Chef Dale Talde\u2019s acclaimed Cantonese-inspired restaurant, and combines classic mansions with modern touches \u2014 think terraces, fire pits, and lounges. It\u2019s one of the few local hotels that\u2019s both stylish and (relatively) affordable. During fall, the property leans into the season with festive touches like pumpkin displays and glowing jack-o\u2019-lanterns scattered across the grounds. It\u2019s an ideal base for exploring Sleepy Hollow\u2019s haunted happenings \u2014 close to the action, but tucked away once the lanterns dim.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd 49 E. Sunnyside Ln., Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591<\/p>\n Snack: Irvington Station<\/p>\n However you choose to travel, make a morning pit stop at Irvington station. Grab a matcha latte or flat white from the Australian-accented Ludy Caf\u00e9<\/a>, and a sage-scented apple-cheddar scone from Red Barn Bakery<\/a>, walking distance from one another right along the train tracks.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd Ludy Caf\u00e9, 7 N. Astor St., Irvington, N.Y. 10533<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd Red Barn Bakery, 4 S. Astor St., Irvington, N.Y. 10533<\/p>\n Learn: Blue Hill at Stone Barns<\/p>\n Continuing north, head into the woods of Tarrytown to chef Dan Barber\u2019s famous Blue Hill at Stone Barns<\/a> for a guided Explore Tour <\/a>of their elysian farm and agricultural center. Take a spin through the market, admiring the hand-thrown ceramics and exquisite preserves, and stay for lunch the cafeteria. Reservations required.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd 630 Bedford Rd., Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591<\/p>\n Stroll: Sleepy Hollow Cemetery<\/p>\n After arriving in Sleepy Hollow proper, ease into the spookiness at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery<\/a>, where the one-hour guided tour (in full daylight) leans more history than horror. Not only is the cemetery beautiful, it\u2019s also a great context-setter for the region, providing all the background on its most famous storyteller, Washington Irving, who rests here among other notable figures. <\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd 540 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. 10591<\/p>\n Solve: The Headless Horseman Files<\/p>\n