Fall Frolics in Upstate New York & Connecticut

My heart is a’flutter.

I’ve just returned from a week in New York (& Connecticut). I’d had a vision months ago of making my way back up north for a taste of my favorite time of year there. Even though it’s the tail-end of Fall, this part of the Northeast was not lacking in color as so many trees have held onto their leaves. And for the leaves not on trees, I enjoyed sloshing through them in my boots. My favorite ones are these golden leaves that look like small, golden medallions. I just looked it up and I think these leaves come from Ginkgo trees.

I had mentioned my Fall Frolicking vision to a couple of my NYC girlfriends and before I knew it they had planned an entire upstate adventure for us! Wow, am I grateful for them (thank you, Dragana & Ciera) because they planned the most wonderful visits to quaint towns in New York & Connecticut, with stops at Thorncrest Farm & Milk House for chocolates, insanely delicious ice cream at Arethusa, a hike at Overlook Mountain (basically one very long, winding vertical incline - we made it half-way and then cheered on everyone else as we strolled back down to find snacks), apple picking at Dubois Farm paired with my first apple cider donut, just to mention a few happenings on the detailed itinerary.

Thorncrest Farm & Milk House - captured on film by our very talented photographer-travel-companion, Ciera Battleson.

Thankfully, good-quality coffee is as much a priority for Dragana & Ciera as it is for me (the three of us used to work together at REX Coffee in NYC ♥️ ) so we found some great coffee spots along the way such as Rough Draft in Kingston & Mud Club in Woodstock. Bread Alone in Woodstock was my favorite spot for breakfast (their nut butter toast… drool central).

Mud Club in Woodstock, NY.
Pic - Ciera Battleson

I hadn’t yet looked at the itinerary and was just trusting the journey (shows how I travel… plus, Dragana actually could be a travel planner with the detailed research she does to find the best spots) so I was absolutely chuffed when we drove into a town called Washington Depot.

“Wow, this looks like Stars Hollow!” (the town from the show, Gilmore Girls, my most-watched show, and Dragana’s as well).

”This is Stars Hollow!!! If you would have read the itinerary!!” Dragana exclaimed in the back seat.

So it ended up being a pretty fab surprise for me! Washington Depot is the town that Stars Hollow is based off of! We also made a stop to wander through the stunning, Mayflower Inn, the inn where Gilmore Girls’ director & writer, Amy Sherman-Palladino, stayed and gathered inspiration for Stars Hollow’s Independence Inn.

The Mayflower Inn & Spa
Pic - Ciera Battleson

We stayed at a cool airbnb in an artist’s community in Woodstock. I learned that the actual Woodstock festival did not take place in Woodstock. It was supposed to happen in Woodstock, but from what I’ve read it seems it was not approved by the residents, so a farmer in a nearby town called Bethel, offered up his farm for the festival.

We very much enjoyed our stay and I especially enjoyed the outdoor shower that came with our airbnb.

According to our airbnb host, “it’s good for the skin” to shower outside. Honestly, I’m on board. New goal is to have my own outdoor shower in my future home.

My favorite town was Kingston, NY. It’s like New England and The Cotswolds had a town-child.

View from Rough Draft (cafe/book shop/bar) in Kingston, NY. And my favorite golden medallion leaves!!

We walked through Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, a Buddhist monastery in Woodstock

Soundbath from Overlook Mountain Wild Forest in Woodstock, NY

Fall Frolics in Upstate New York & Connecticut

Groundlessness