It’s been a while since we returned from Israel, we have worked hard on our new house and grass is beginning to grow beneath our feet. So one unseasonably warm and sunny October Sunday we packed up the kids, made plans with my sister and her husband and went on a Halloween day trip to Tarrytown, NY and Sleepy Hollow, NY.

Originally we went to view the "Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze” display, but from some reason we couldn’t find any information on it, lack of planning has never stopped us before and Planned Spontaneity is always fun.

The town of Tarrytown has a lot to offer, beautiful downtown, great architecture, small shops, cafes, lots of history and a church on just about every corner. This is the town where Washington Irving wrote “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow” (the next town over) and where in 1780 three local militia men caught English Major John Andre carrying papers from Benedict Arnold, a very significant event in U.S. History . The town has beautiful buildings and was once home to railroad magnate Jay Gould and John D. Rockefeller as well as many others giving Tarrytown the nickname of “Millionaire's Colony”.

We crossed the Tappan Zee Bridge, the town is immediately following the bridge (we still had to pay the $4 toll), and drove down Main St. and made a left onto Beekman Ave. and got a view of the lighthouse. However we were a bit disappointed because we couldn’t get close enough since it is open by appointment only and for a fee.

We drove around a bit looking at, and for, Halloween displays. This is the big holiday around town, the “headless horseman” theme is all around – every lamp post is adorned with a pumpkin, ghost of witch, and a straw scarecrow for good measure - our kids loved it.

The downtown area was bustling with people and the streets and parks were clean. After we figured out that we are not going to find the “Great Jack O’Lantren Blaze” we simply parked and started to walk around town. It was a bit too late to go to all the historic sites, but we stopped at the bi-annual library book sale (which there we found out where we need to go) and at Patriot Park – where Major Andre was captured.

After letting our kids run around in the local park (Patriot Park) we decided to go to a local restaurant for dinner. While walking we passed a Greek restaurant called Lefteris Gyros, right on Main St., very good and not expensive ($80 for four adults, one child, including drinks, 2 beers and tip). We sat outside on the sidewalk and enjoyed ourselves.

We made a point to say that we will be coming back.

Pictures at: http://www.travelpod.com/travelblogp.../YES/tpod.html

Great trip report but Main Street and Beekman Ave are in different towns and not connected.

They are having a Haunted Hayride this Friday and Saturday night at Douglas Park in Sleepy Hollow. YOu ride on a wagon thru the aquaduct thru part of the cemetary into the park and they have scarey things going on to amuse. Usually just as you are leaving the park the Headless Horsemann is riding his steed.

Give it a try. Glad you liked our town.

You're right, I meant N. Broadway.

Thanks.

I just came from St Louis, oh boy, do they take this day seriously! Nearly every house was decorated. Even Southwest airlines counter at the airport was covered in the web and what not. I wonder what they do for thanksgiving.

You couldn't find the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, because it takes place in Van Cortland Manor in Croton, about eight miles north of Tarrytown.