Travels with Laurie: Fall

A Home Educator's Travel Guide

There are still some Summer Music Festivals and Summer Outdoor Film & Theater to enjoy. Also check out Summer Phys. Ed.

Medieval Festival

Enjoy the last rays of Indian summer at outdoor festivals. In early October, there's the Medieval Festival in Fort Tryon Park, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.. See the Festival website or call (212) 795-1600. If you love raptors, you won't want to miss the Hawk Watch, 1-2 p.m.

Halloween

Read about the history of Halloween, see what's happening in New York, and remember safety tips for trick-or-treating.

Build a Boat

The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT, used to offer an all-weekend boat-building workshop where families each built their own 7-foot seaworthy pram. Now, you will have to settle for their 20-minute toy boat-building workshop (at a cost of only $5 instead of $1,250). They also have afternoon fall foliage cruises for about $20/person (passengers must be over 42"tall). For info call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206

Explore the Parks

Autumn arrives late in the Big Apple, so you can still collect leaves in November. Aside from Central and Prospect Parks, favorite leaf-picking trails include Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. Park at the north end of Orchard Beach and try the trails on the adjacent twin islands. You'll find good bird-watching there too, wild pheasants and more.

Just across the Hudson River is Fort Lee Historic Park. Take the GW bridge to the first exit in NJ, Fort Lee. Turn back towards the Hudson to Edgewater Road, and turn right (south). Directly under the GW bridge you pass the original Fort Lee, with old Revolutionary War fortifications still intact. ($5 parking fee in season.) Revolutionary War reenactments are held on the weekend closest to November 20th.

Further south, just before you pass the big shopping malls along the river, two stone pillars flank a road to the left. This is the southernmost entrance to Palisades Park (closed in winter), a magnificent drive along the Hudson, with picnic spots, marinas, and loads of maples and pines that offer colorful leaves and huge pinecones perfect for holiday decorations. This is the closest park to NYC that is truly wild and unspoiled.