Hudson Valley Fall Foliage: Breathtaking Beauty and a National Heritage October 16, 2014

If you spend any time in New York City during autumn, you will definitely hear the phrase “seeing the leaves change.” While you may find it to be an unchangeable certainty that comes with the colder seasons, in New York, autumn is the perfect excuse for a trip to the Hudson Valley to see some of the most impressive and inspiring autumn scenery in the United States and just about anywhere in the world. The area is so beautiful that it has received the nickname “America’s Rhineland,” being compared to the stunning stretch of land that follows the Rhine River in Germany.

Art and Literature from the Hudson Valley

During colonial times, the Hudson Valley along with its stretch of connecting rivers and canals, made a perfect location for early Dutch settlers. The first settlements were established by the beginning of the 17th century with numerous trading posts and future cities being erected in a short period of time. The area also played an important strategic role in the wars that followed, including the American Revolutionary War in the late 18th century.

However, it was in the 19th century that the Hudson Valley made a name for itself with some help by the famous writer Washington Irving, author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, as well as the Hudson Valley River School of painters known for their landscapes of the Hudson River and its surrounding fall foliage.

Hudson Valley Activities

Currently the 150-mile stretch of stunning countryside that starts at the northern edge of Manhattan is ranked by numerous travel websites and agencies as one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.

Having been built up over the years as a large tourist destination, there are a variety of options available depending on your interests, whether they are outdoor recreation, fine dining and local wineries, art exhibits, or a good old American road trip. If you are planning a trip, you can easily access the valley by car (2–3 hours from Manhattan) or train (Amtrak, Metro-North, and New Jersey Transit all offer routes that includes stops). There are also scheduled bus routes available with service from New York City. For more information on transportation, trip ideas, accommodations, and more, visit the Hudson Valley’s tourism website.

Autumn Vocabulary and a Copy of Rip Van Winkle

There are numerous ways an English student can enjoy the surreal beauty of the valley’s autumn scenery without ignoring his or her studies. For beginner and intermediate level students, the season offers a chance to learn English autumn vocabulary in a real-world setting, and for more advanced students, taking along a few short stories by Washington Irving provides an afternoon of light reading surrounded by the beauty of the Hudson Valley. Just one word of warning: make sure to take some warm clothes with you as temperatures can drop quite low this time of year.

If you find the history behind the Hudson River Valley to be interesting, be sure to read our article “Exploring the East Coast: Boston, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia.”