Adobe Stock/ Joshua Haviv
This sleepy little collection of hamlets may be known for A-lister celebrities and well-to-do pastimes, but it’s also a farm-to-table paradise.
By Samantha Garbarini and Anthony Tornatore
One of the county’s least densely populated towns, North Salem is a collection of hamlets best known for pursuits like equestrian competitions and fox hunting, and for its famous faces (David Letterman, among others, has called North Salem home). But come October (and pretty much any time of the year), it’s the quintessential fall escape, with apple picking, leaf peeping, and cozy autumnal cuisine.
10 a.m. – Get your apple on for breakfast
If you love apples, then North Salem is the spot to be. Start at Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard (130 Hardscrabble Rd; 914.485.1210) for a bag of craggy, still-hot cider donuts. Pick up pies and apple butter at the farm store, and grab a few bottles of local hard cider at the onsite Hardscrabble Cider. Then make your way across the street to Outhouse Orchards (139 Hardscrabble Rd; 914.277.3188), where Westchester residents have picked bags of McIntosh and Red Delicious for generations.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
12 p.m. – Visit Lift Trucks Project’s Drive-By Gallery
On your way to lunch, make a quick detour to visit Lift Trucks Project’s Drive-By Gallery (3 E Cross St; 914.602.4681), where a few pieces are always on display in the window, so art-savvy drivers can experience local culture without ever leaving their vehicles.
1 p.m. – Dig into comfort food at The Blazer Pub
Time for lunch in North Salem? You can’t go wrong with a bite at local institution The Blazer Pub (440 Route 22; 914.277.4424). The too-big-to-get-your-mouth-around burgers, cups of rich beef chili, and thick-cut steak fries haven’t changed in 40-plus years, and that’s exactly the way loyal customers like it. Looking for something a bit lighter? Try Hayfields (1 Bloomer Rd; 914.669.8275), where sandwiches, salads, and wraps share the menu with fresh-baked scones.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
2:30 p.m. – Walk off lunch at Mountain Lakes Park
Walk off lunch — and try to snap that perfect shot of the surrounding landscape reflected in the water — with a hike around Spruce or Hemlock Lake at Mountain Lakes Park (201 Hawley Rd; 914.864.7312). For something a bit more relaxed, head to the Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden (28 Deveau Rd; 914.669.5033) for a calming walk through the gardens.
View this post on Instagram
4 p.m. – Shop for home décor at BB Abode
Browse the eclectic home décor — everything from furniture, fine art, and tabletop pieces to nautically-inspired wares and unique equestrian finds — at BB Abode (2 Keeler Ln; 914.485.1339) in the historic Union Hall building.
View this post on Instagram
5 p.m. – Enjoy farm-to-table cuisine at Purdy’s Farmer & the Fish
Let cocktail hour bleed into dinner at one of North Salem’s farm-to-table restaurants. It’d be a mistake not to start with a few cocktails and a plate of briny oysters at Purdy’s Farmer & the Fish (100 Titicus Rd; 914.617.8380), where the seafood- and produce-heavy menu revolves around what’s currently growing on its surrounding four-acre farm.
View this post on Instagram
7 p.m. – Make a stop at the Balanced Rock
Make a quick stop at Balanced Rock (667 Titicus Rd) and marvel at how this 60-ton granite boulder — a local landmark — is perfectly perched atop smaller stones (and come up with your best explanation of how it got there).
View this post on Instagram
8 p.m. – Take a load off at the Bedford Post Inn
A few miles away from downtown North Salem sits the Bedford Post Inn (954 Old Post Rd; 914.234.7800). This luxurious hotel features three distinct dining experiences and a renowned yoga studio featuring daily classes, workshops, and more. With only eight rooms, you are sure to receive excellent customer service.
View this post on Instagram
Related: 3 Charming Colonial Homes for Timelessly Classic Living in Westchester
