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Best Places to See Fall Leaves in NYC

1. Fall Foliage Lunch Cruise – Chelsea

The Fall Foliage Lunch Cruise by City Experiences makes it easy to enjoy the changing colors by letting families see them from a whole new perspective. The three-hour cruise takes riders up the Hudson River and past George Washington Bridge, where they can view the fall colors from an outdoor rooftop deck. A fall-appropriate lunch buffet and unlimited coffee, hot tea, iced tea, and apple cider are included in the price.

2. Fort Tryon Park's Linden Terrace – Washington Heights

NYC has plenty of spots for leaf peeping, but some of the best views are found in Fort Tryon Park. More specifically, visiting families should to head to Linden Terrace, the highest point in the park. The terrace offers excellent views of the park, including the golden autumn hues of the linden trees the spot is named for. It also features panoramic views across the Hudson River and the blanket of orange, yellow, and red that covers the landscape every fall.

Find more local hiking trails and places to view fall leaves in NYC in this roundup.

Best Places to See Fall Foliage on Long Island

3. The Adventure Park at Long Island – Wheatley Heights

Adventurous families can take in the fall views of the trees from within during a climb at The Adventure Park. The park has more than 200 platforms built right into the trees, with rope ladders, bridges, and zip lines for getting around them. The courses consist of different levels located at variable distances from the ground, starting with 10 feet and climbing higher for the more advanced options. They're designed to accommodate any level of fitness safely, and kids ages 7 and up are welcome to climb along. The views above are magnificent, and even more impressive once the leaves start to turn, making this a perfect fall foliage getaway.

4. Belmont Lake State Park Bike and Hike Trails – North Babylon

Located just an hour and a half from central NYC, Belmont Lake State Park offers stunning views all year round. The park trails become awash in color with fall leaves providing a perfect backdrop for a bucolic autumn adventure. Families can choose their level of activity when they visit, whether they want to go biking or hiking along the beautiful trails, rent a kayak, rowboat, or pedal boat, or just settle down and enjoy a picnic. Don't miss the picture-perfect fall leaves along the park's iconic small waterfall!

RELATED: 22 Fall Weekend Getaways from NYC for Families

Biking at the Revolution Rail Co. is an eco-friendly way to take in nature, and allows riders to get up close and personal with the fall foliage. Photo by Lisa Warden

Best Places to See Fall Leaves in New Jersey

5. Woodstown Centra Railroad – Woodstown

The scenic train rides of the Woodstown Central Railroad serve as a reminder that sometimes, it's all about the journey. Families can choose from several special fall-themed trips, including the Autumn Leaf Pumpkin Train, the Fall Foliage Rambler, and Fall Festival train rides. Trips range between 70 and 120 minutes in length on beautifully restored old trains. The Autumn Leaf Pumpkin Train is especially popular among families, as it also includes pumpkin picking, cider and donut tastings, and other fall-themed activities. The other two train trips are all about enjoying the views as the train rambles past beautiful autumn countryside views. You can find more fall-themed train rides on our list of kid-friendly pumpkin and Halloween train rides in New Jersey.

6. Revolution Rail Co. – Cape May

Rail biking, for the uninitiated, consists of riding a special rail pedal bike along established railroad tracks. It's an eco-friendly way to take in nature, and allows riders to get up close and personal with the fall foliage. The Cape May Run by Revolution Rail Co. is a family-friendly, all ages experience that takes travelers from Cape May out into the Garrett Family Preserve and back again. The trip spans 4 miles and about 1 1/2 hours through meadows full of migratory birds, for a different fall experience. We have found nine other rail trails nearby offering a similar leaf peeping experience.

7. Zipline Tours Over Mountain Creek Resort – Vernon

Mountain Creek Resort is best known as a ski area but it offers tons of all-seasons activities including a popular summer-only water park. In the fall, it provides an unrivaled view from above the fall leaves by taking a ride along its zipline course. The course consists of a 2-hour guided tour along a series of ziplines ranging from 200- to 1,500-feet in length, suspended high above the mountain lake. Note that the latter has no age requirement, but does have a weight requirement of 60 pounds and height minimum of 48 inches. In addition to the ziplines, Mountain Creek Reseve also has a treetop ropes course for more birds-eye views of the fall colors, and a bike park for adventure types.

Best Places to See Fall Foliage in the Hudson Valley

8. Walkway Over the Hudson – Poughkeepsie & Highland

Spanning an impressive 1.28 miles, the Walkway Over the Hudson is the world's longest elevated pedestrian bridge. Walk across the bridge for awe-inspiring 360-degree views of the Hudson River and the brilliant red hues of the surrounding autumnal trees. The walkway connects Poughkeepsie and Highland, both of which have fall-themed attractions around this time year, like Walktoberfest in Highland and the Cider Festival in Poughkeepsie.

9. Above the Clouds Hot Air Balloon Rides – Middletown

What better way is there to see the fall colors than from high above them? Families of up to four can reserve a private hot air balloon ride all to themselves. The balloons rise up over the treetops, sometimes soaring to 3,000 feet, for a fantastic view of the colors below. The one-of-a-kind family experience lasts about an hour and is sure to make lasting memories.

10. Storm King Art Center – New Windsor

Families who prefer to stay closer to the ground can enjoy exploring the grounds of the Storm King Art Center. This unique 500-acre outdoor museum features more than 100 sculptures, and visitors are encouraged to wander the space at their own pace. The changing colors of fall leaves alter the museum's natural atmosphere, adding a unique backdrop to the many contemporary pieces on display. Bring a picnic and spend the whole day relaxing among the views.

11. New York State Route 97 – Delaware River Valley

Route 97 is also known as the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, and it's earned the title. The road follows the Delaware River along the border between New York and New Jersey. It follows a serpentine, elevated path that offers incredible views of the fall leaves. Take a leaf-peeping car ride and don't miss Hawk's Nest for the best overall views.