The Rockefeller family estate at Kykuit, in nearby Pocantico Hills, is open by guided tour. The property includes terraced gardens, Hudson River views, and an impressive collection of modern and classical art. Photo: Jake Carter

Tarrytown and neighboring Sleepy Hollow make for one of the Hudson Valley’s most accessible escapes — just a 40-minute Metro-North ride from Grand Central. The villages sit side by side on the river, tied together by their literary history as the home of Washington Irving and his iconic Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Each October, the area transforms into one of New York’s most spirited destinations, with haunted hayrides, lantern-lit cemetery tours, pumpkin displays, and festivals that draw visitors from all over. Outside the fall season, Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow remain year-round draws with historic estates, Hudson River views, and a growing restaurant scene.

The draw to Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow starts with history. Anchoring downtown, the Tarrytown Music Hall remains Westchester’s oldest theater, with a full calendar of concerts and film screenings. Along the river, landmark estates tell the story of the Hudson Valley’s Gilded Age: Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, the Gothic Revival masterpiece of Lyndhurst Mansion, and the grand Rockefeller Estate at Kykuit. Each is open seasonally for guided tours that highlight architecture, art, and gardens.

Equally compelling are the town’s atmospheric haunts. The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and Old Dutch Church, set among rolling hills and ancient trees, are especially evocative in autumn. Lantern-lit tours, historic reenactments, and the annual Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze make October the busiest time of year.

For a quieter escape, outdoor options abound. Check sources like AllTrails for wooded trails and preserves just minutes from Main Street. The landscaped lawns of Lyndhurst make a perfect place to roam after a mansion tour, while the Mario Cuomo Bridge Path provides walkers and cyclists sweeping views of the Hudson and Manhattan skyline. On Saturdays, the TaSH Farmers Market at Patriot’s Park brings local produce and makers to the historic village green.

Begin the day at Coffee Labs Roasters, where inventive espresso drinks and playful latte art have made it a Tarrytown institution. Down the block, The Bakehouse of Tarrytown, tucked into the historic train station, turns out excellent breads, sandwiches, and pastries in a photogenic setting.

For lunch, The Taco Project delivers consistently good tacos in a colorful, casual space, while Mint Premium Foods — recognized by the Michelin Guide — serves Mediterranean plates in a quirky market-restaurant hybrid that feels more Brooklyn than suburb. A short hop south in Irvington, MP Taverna brings chef-driven Greek cooking with a contemporary edge, another Michelin-noted spot that’s earned a devoted following.

In the evening, Goosefeather is the standout: chef Dale Talde’s modern Cantonese restaurant inside the historic Tarrytown House Estate. The menu is inventive, the cocktails are sharp, and the setting — a 19th-century mansion with layered interiors and leafy grounds — makes it a destination on its own.

For a more casual night, Horsefeathers is a beloved pub rumored to be haunted, with shelves of books, an encyclopedic burger list, and decades of local lore. Setback Inn, neon-lit and a little rough around the edges, preserves a bit of old Tarrytown grit in a town that otherwise leans polished. Last but not least, Bridge View Tavern stays reliable for a pint and sunset views over the Hudson before catching the train.