Ultimate Fall Bucket List: Cortland County
It’s October, which means it’s time to go full fall mode! So, throw on your favorite flannel and start checking off a few autumn bucket list activities, and adventures in Cortland County.
BABY, I’M A-MAZED
A totally bucket list-worthy activity to do in the fall is tackle the Trinity Valley Dairy Farm corn maze. Surround yourself with 8- to 9-foot stalks of corn as you journey your way through the life-sized puzzle.
Trinity Valley is more than amazing corn mazes though. Pick your own pumpkin, feed the barnyard animals, or take a hayride - the farm guarantees enough fresh air and playtime to tucker out you or your mini farmer. Don’t forget to try their doughnuts, made-from-scratch bread and cinnamon sugar pretzels, and wash it all down with their legen-dairy milk.
THE SQUEEZE IS ON
During fall, it’s all apple all the time, and there’s no better place to get your apple fix than Hollenbeck’s Cider Mill. The Cortland County staple will open its doors for its 90th season and will feature all your favorites. From their delicious selection of New York state apples to their famous fresh-pressed cider, and heavenly doughnuts, your taste buds will thank you.
LEAF PEEPING
Sure, you could hop in your car and take in the scenic fall foliage, but we recommend stepping outside your vehicle and exploring these unique leaf-peeping spots. Examine the fall colors from the Tioughnioga River, or Little York Lake. View the brilliant colors from the air in the 1890 House Museum cupola, which offers 360-degree views of Cortland. Try out Greek Peak's Nor'Easter Mountain Coaster for some added adrenaline to your leaf peeping this fall.
If you’d rather soak in the fall from the ground, there are quite a few places you can go hiking. Some popular places to consider are Lime Hollow Nature Center, Tinker Falls and Hoxie Gorge State Forest. You can also take a leisurely walk through Cortland Rural Cemetery, which offers the colors of fall in a mysterious, gothic setting, thanks to its age (opening in 1853). It was also named one of the Top 11 Spooky Cemetrails You Can Visit by Travel Channel.
OH MY GOURD
Picking your own perfect pumpkin is the thrill of the hunt. Whether you want the largest one you can carry or the perfect shape for your carving, half the fun is finding it! Pay a visit to Theresa's Pumpkin Patch in Little York, right next door to Anderson's Farm Market. This pumpkin patch is great for families because it is easily accessible from your car to the pumpkins. If you plan on getting a few or even just one large pumpkin, you can borrow one of the many wheelbarrows available.
WICKED ADVENTURES
If you’re looking for heart-pumping scares, there are endless ways to celebrate the spooky season in the county. The Center for the Arts of Homer plays host to ghosts and ghouls during the 40th Annual Chiller Haunted House, the county’s scariest little haunted house. Beware of the undead during Greek Peak Mountain Resort’s Freak at the Peak, a Zombie-inspired zipline tour, or pop into Just Chill Custom Gifting for the Annual Witches Brew Halloween celebration. Be sure to go dressed in costume to receive 10% off your entire shopping purchase Oct. 28-29. The Cortland Water Works is also hosting their Haunted Hayride on Oct. 21 & 22 that will be suitable for all members of the family.
Request a FREE Visitors Guide to learn more about Cortland County’s fall activities.
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