Is It Fall Yet?

Yesterday I wrote about the HOT summer vacation we took recently to Georgia. I saw someone's IG post yesterday saying they were ready for pumpkins and lattes. I am right there with them. I don't drink coffee, but I love everything else about the fall.

In yesterday's blog about traveling to Georgia, I mentioned that my son, Myers, is a great little traveler. Last summer, I got A LOT of anxiety about taking him on his first international trip, but he did SO WELL, that I took him on a Momma and Mini Me trip to New York State and Connecticut last fall. This was the best little fall trip and for it being just the two of us, was so easy!

We flew from Charleston to Westchester, NY. Super simple flight. I checked his carseat, and our luggage, gate checked the stroller, and took my carryon with my fav freezer bag full of perishable snacks (Myers eats a ton of fruit-it's really the one thing I know I can get in him). Since this trip was nearly a year ago, I don't remember ALL the details, but I do remember getting to the airport, taking our Uber to our amazing hotel, and being super proud that we'd made it without any hiccups.

The reason for our visit was twofold. One, I wanted a "true fall" and thought there was no better place than Sleepy Hollow, NY. I LOVE the story of Sleepy Hollow and our hotel was less than 10 minutes away from the town of Sleepy Hollow. We Ubered from the hotel after an incredible breakfast and got dropped off at the Sleepy Hollow cemetery. I know, this may sound a bit weird, but it's a huge space (Myers loves to run around) and I love the history behind tombstones. The only problem was, it was raining. I had an umbrella and our rain jackets, but I didn't yet have the stroller cover for rain (notice I said yet). We made it through the cemetery and across the Headless Horseman Bridge. 

We went into the shops in town, a great toy shop where Myers played for what seemed like forever, and bought some goodies. 

With the rain still coming down, we went in a little vendor with all the things. Think NYC bodegas with umbrellas, car polish, snacks, you name it. Well praise Jesus, they had the plastic cover we desperately needed for the stroller.  I've linked one very similar, because quite frankly, I don't know why it took me so long to get one. These things are GREAT! 

Notice our fav water bottle!

With the gear, you know the rain stopped, but only for a bit. We walked a little more, through a farmer's market and to a playground (but it was too wet to play), and finally got an Uber to Lyndhurst Mansion. Because the rain wasn't great, we didn't walk the grounds too much, and unlike the great homes in Ireland, this place didn't have a tea shop (I was heartbroken), so we didn't stay long. Truthfully, we could have walked to the hotel, but wet child, etc., we took one more Uber back to the hotel. 

The rain continued, but we had our new toys, including a Fairy Kit, so we made fairies sitting inside our room, and then by evening, we decided to brave it because we had something really special planned. I had no idea how incredible (or disastrous) the evening would be, but we called a car and headed to a diner I had found nearer to the location where our big night would occur. 

One more Uber after dinner and we were at the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze. Y'all, if you ever get a chance to go, please don't pass this up. The rain stopped, we walked through all of these ornately carved pumpkins in the most incredible displays. It was magic. 

With the night being over, we headed back via Uber to our hotel. The trip was going incredibly well, and we still had a few more days in a new destination. 

The next morning, we got up and Ubered to Washington Irving's house. It was the perfect, crisp fall weather. We had plenty of space to explore, stretch legs, etc. They even had corn hole on the grounds, so Myers and I played. The beanbags looked like spiders, which was super cute. 

We went back to the hotel to grab our bags, then headed to the airport to pick up our rental car. From there, we drove to visit friends in Connecticut. They live in NYC, but invited us to their Connecticut house for a few days. We had a wonderful trip with them, playing in their house with the baby and toys (one of which we purchased for him at the shop in Sleepy Hollow. We went to a pumpkin patch and played in their play space. We had such a perfect fall break!!

It's hard to believe that this was last October and now, I'm planning fall trips for this year. We've got a cabin booked in Hendersonville, NC for apple picking thanks to HomeforExchange, and I'm really hoping if not this year, maybe next year we can get to Salem, Mass for some fall fun!

#countingdownthedaystillfall

A few more things we had with us or purchased:

Since I'm a teacher and always trying to connect things, I purchased The Little Golden Book "Sleepy Hollow" book for us to read before and during the trip

This is the great Montessori toy we got for our buddy in Connecticut, but Myers played with it a lot (and picked it out)

The Fairy Kit Mentioned above was by Klutz, and although I can't find the identical one on Amazon, here is a similar option. PS-we still have our fairies and their house. The whole thing made it back from NY!

*The Amazon links are affiliate links, so if you purchase something from any of them, I will get a small commission.