Anyone longing for the golden yellows, brilliant reds and oh-so-oranges of the fall foliage season, hail a taxitout de suite — a New York Water Taxi, that is.
Okay, so you can’t actually hail one of these boats. But when the leaves begin to make their colorful displays this autumn, travelers can board one of the company’s brilliant yellow watercraft (trimmed with that familiar, black-and-white checkerboard pattern) on Pier 17 at the New York City’s South Street Seaport for a five-hour cruise on the Hudson River.
On the way up to Bear Mountain and West Point, the trees showcase their vibrant hues from on high. Really high. The Palisades cliffs, which rise up to 550 feet above the water, offer a dramatic stage for festive fall colors. Along with the onboard guide, you’ll also get to play spot-the-wildlife along the way: The Hudson is home to animals and birds aplenty, including the eastern bluebird, the pileated woodpecker, yellow warblers, white-tailed deer and a diamondback terrapin turtle or two.
Since man has joined Mother Nature in building some wondrous sights in the New York area, bring an extra-large memory card for your digital camera. Cruising under the city’s beautiful bridges and past the stately lighthouses, castles and mansions that dot the shoreline, you’re sure to snap away without stopping. (Well, at least until your New York Water Taxi Guides serve the apple cider and doughnuts.)
Though the cruises usually begin the third Sunday of October, the leaves run on their own schedule. Be sure to call in advance for times.