Overcommitters Anonymous: Tree Peep'n in NYC

"Autumn in New York, why does it seem so inviting?" - Billie Holiday's AMAZING song.

I love, love, LOVE the change of seasons with bright colored leaves in the trees and on the ground. I only discovered, after I moved to NYC, that people call the tourists who travel to see the colorful leaves, tree-peepers.

Central Park in the Fall by Stephen Davis Phillips sdp-p.com

A few years ago, Ker & I took the best road trip I have ever been on, up to Vermont (actually 5 states in 2 days), and saw the most beautiful fall foliage (a girl from the coast of Cali is easily impressed by this whole seasons thing). The last few years I have investigated and visited a lot of places right here in NYC, where you can see the beauty of fall, without having to rent a car or get a hotel room.

It is gorgeous out this weekend – the perfect Fall weather – sunny, but crisp and cool! It also happens to be the peak time for fall foliage to see the most range of colors this week and next here in NYC!

A few of my favorite places to get a dose of the fall foliage (without renting a car) are Fort Tryon, Wave Hill, Green-wood Cemetery and, of course, Central Park.

* Fort Tryon is stunning! It is the highest point in Manhattan and is along the Hudson River with views of the New Jersey Palisades. It is also home to the Cloisters, the only satellite location of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the largest medieval museum in the United States. Don’t miss the medieval garden and the famous Unicorn Tapestries!

Inside the Cloisters by Stephen Davis Phillips sdp-p.com

My recommended trip would be to take the A train to the 190th Street stop. Before heading into the park, take a peak inside St. Francis Cabrini's Shrine to see the Snow White-esque remains of the first American citizen to be canonized. Then stroll through and enjoy the park and the views. If you are hungry, New Leaf Café is in the park. It is owned by Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project. Eventually, you will stumble upon the Cloisters in the depth of the park.

My friend Robert is the most amazing tour guide (and a published author). His website has video blogs about different areas around the city, but his video based on Fort Tryon and the Cloisters is the best! Check it out Here.

Under my favorite tree at Green-wood Cemetery

* Wave Hill has similar views as Fort Tryon, but is located in the Northern Bronx and has 28 acres of beautiful scenery, greenhouses and trails to stroll though and explore. You can take the 1 train to the last stop, 242nd Street. I used the GPS on my phone to walk to Wave Hill from the last subway stop, but it is a bit of a trek. The homes are gorgeous up there, as well as the trees this time of year, so the walk was nice. If you prefer, there is a free Wave Hill shuttle by the train station (in front of Burger King) that departs 10 minutes after the hour from 9:10 am – 3:10 pm. Admission is $8, but on Tuesdays and Saturdays it is free if you arrive before noon! There is a yummy café and on Sundays in the Mark Twain Room, brunch features organic produce fresh from Katchkie Farm (produced by Great Performances catering).

Central Park a few weeks ago

* Central Park in the Fall is stunning. A couple weeks ago, I took Jules for her first visit to the Conservatory Gardens, around the Harlem Meer and northern Central Park. This is my favorite part of the park because there are less tourists (or people in general) and you can go from the extremely manicured gardens to a completely woodsy area where you can’t see a single high-rise building. From there you can wind down toward the Reservoir, then the Boathouse and ultimately the Mall before ending-up near the subway stops at 59th Street & Fifth Avenue. I usually start by taking the 6 train to the 103rd Street, walk over to Fifth Avenue and then up to the entrance gates of the Conservatory Gardens at 105th Street. On six acres, there are three formal gardens: French, English and Italian – all different and special!

* A few other fun places to do some tree-peep’n are the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx and the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.

* The last on my list was my most recent venture, and maybe my favorite. Last weekend, after cheering on Iman in the New York Marathon, I strolled over to the Green-wood Cemetery (super easy by subway, a block off the R train in Brooklyn at the 25th Street station). It might sound creepy, but it was actually so beautiful, you forget you are surrounded my dead people. I spent hours strolling the streets and trails and only saw a fraction of the 478 acres. Don’t miss the wild Quaker parrots (aka monk parakeets) that have nests in the towers of the main gate. The list of famous people buried here is impressive (and the variety of mausoleums, cherubs, gargoyles and graves is fascinating), but the stunning natural surroundings steal the show in the fall!