3. Harriman & Bear Mountain State Park
Only an hour north from the City, Harriman State Park, spanning 47,000+ acres, is the second largest park in New York State. Together along with Bear Mountain State Park, it offers countless hiking trails in varying difficulty levels, including 20 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Located only 60 miles away from NYC, this park is accessible via buses leaving from Port Authority. One of the best views there is at Perkins Memorial Observatory in Bear Mountain. Thanks to its locations, situated on the crest of a hill, the observatory affords a spectacular, panoramic vista of the Hudson River Valley, the Hudson River, and even some parts of New York City. The view is especially breathtaking in the Fall, when the leaves cast a colorful blanket over the lush hills.