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Fall Foliage Cruise Out of NYC Is the Perfect Escape From the City

See the colors from the water!

New York City can be a charming destination in the fall, but outside of Central Park and a handful of other public green spaces, you're limited when it comes to really good leaf-peeping opportunities in town. This leads many New Yorkers to travel into the country well outside of the city when they're craving some serious autumn-themed sightseeing.

But what if you could appreciate autumn's natural beauty without venturing far beyond the Big Apple? This special Fall Foliage cruise out of Manhattan, featured in an October 25 TikTok from New York Bucket List, provides sightseers with a perfect fall-themed escape from the city... without actually going all that far from the city.

Immediately, I can say that the scenery captured in @newyorkbucketlist's video is incredibly striking. The banks of the Hudson River are bursting with vivid fall foliage as far as the eye can see, and out on the water, it's a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple. However, this sightseeing river cruise doesn't require you to travel hours outside of the NYC metro area. The cruise disembarks from and returns to Chelsea Piers in Manhattan! 

On the Bucketlisters website, there are multiple options listed for this dreamy fall foliage cruise. The most basic option is a 2.5 hour ride in a 1920s-style yacht offered on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the fall. This tour brings leaf-peepers past Manhattan's Upper West Side and under the George Washington Bridge. This basic river tour costs $108 and includes a free complimentary beverage, hot or cold.

What if you want a more deluxe experience? For ten dollars more, there's a version of the tour with an urban naturalist who can tell you about the ecology of the Hudson River as you sail past NYC and up to the Grand Palisades. Starting at $124 per ticket, there are also brunch and lunch cruises that offer fall-themed prix fixe meals as you take in the autumn splendor.

The tours are, admittedly, a bit on the pricier side, even at the most basic levels. However, the experience you get for your money is luxurious and serene. If you want a break from the big city and a chance to scope some fall scenery without making a day trip upstate, consider one of these Bucketlisters-hosted fall foliage cruises!

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