The leaves change from greens to golds, the air is cooler, and suddenly every corner on LI is Instagram-worthy. It’s the perfect season for outdoor time with the fam on the North Fork, a brisk beach stroll on the south, cozying up in a coffee shop solo or letting loose with a pumpkin beer at a brewery with friends. Whether you’re looking to enjoy the scenic backdrop or the seasonal flavors, autumn on Long Island is built for the perfect weekend or day getaway.
Add these activities to your bucket list this fall:
Leaf Peep
From lush parks to scenic waterfronts, here are some stunning spots to take in the fall foliage and beauty of fall:
- Brookhaven State Park, Ridge
- Heckscher State Park, East Islip
- Trail View State Park, Woodbury
- Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, Shirley
- Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park, Oakdale
- Quogue Wildlife Refuge, Quogue
- Blydenburgh County Park, Smithtown
- Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, Smithtown
- Caumsett State Historic Park, Huntington
- Sears Bellows County Park, Hampton Bays
Attend a Fall Festival
A range of fall festivals are coming up this season on Long Island, showcasing local cuisine and seasonal specialties. Check out our Events page for all the latest happenings!
Pumpkin Picking
Whether you leave them on your porch on display all season, or carve a funny face for Halloween, pumpkins are a must-have fruit of harvest. Here are some places to pick:
Apple Picking
Apple picking is another staple of fall here on Long Island. Head out to the East End some time this fall and pick your own from one of these spots:
Spend a Sunday at a Vineyard
Fall is the perfect time to explore the North Fork’s picturesque vineyards, where the autumn foliage creates an Instagrammable backdrop for a day of wine tasting. Sample award-winning local wines and take in the views of the colorful vineyards. Although Long Island Wine Country boasts 60+ distinct wine producers, consider these five favorites:
- Kontokosta Winery, Greenport
- Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Winery, Southold
- Croteaux Vineyards, Southold
- Peconic Bay Vineyards, Cutchogue
- Rose Hill Vineyards, Mattituck
Learn more about Long Island Wine Country here.
Spookwalk
It’s spooky season! Gateway’s Haunted Playhouse in Bellport is running September 26-November 1, and should be on all thrill-seekers’ lists. This spookwalk is half indoor, and half outdoor for a full immersive, disorienting, scary experience.
Have little ones? Check out their “Not So Scary Kids Adventure” on weekends during the day, a family-friendly version that’s all fun, no fright.
Bake a Pie
Channel your inner Ina Garten and whip up a tasty treat for the whole family to enjoy. Buy produce from a local Long Island farmer’s market or farm stand to make a classic pumpkin pie, all-American apple pie, or perfect pecan pie.
Don’t feel like baking? No problem. Visit White Post Farms Bakery for an award-winning pecan pie, and other goodies.
Seal Watching
Autumn marks the beginning of seal watching season on Long Island. Either watch for seals on the shore with a Seal Walk, or head out on the water on a Seal Cruise with the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island, CRESLI.
Drink Some Cider
Fall isn’t over until you have a drink with a cinnamon sugar rim! Here are some must-visit spots to complete your boozy Long Island fall with a pint of cider or seasonal beer:
- Tap Room, Various Locations
- Long Island Farm Brewery, Manorville
- Riverhead Ciderhouse, Riverhead
