Autumn at Storm King

Sometimes in NYC I forget it's even fall. There are a few trees turning on my West Village block, but it's hard to get that full autumn effect without getting out of the city. So this weekend we journeyed out of the city to the Storm King Art Center and saw a magnificent fusion of natural and man-made wonders:

The Storm King Art Center is, according to its website, "one of the world's most oustanding sculpture parks" and includes works dating from 1945 to the present in a beautiful 500-acre setting. It's a wonderful place to explore on a sunny afternoon, and I'd suggest allowing three hours to casually wander throughout the park. The website notes that it is also beautiful under cloudy or rainy conditions as the sculptures take on a whole new meaning. That could be cool too.

This off-kilter lighter-like structure is an architectural enigma (at least to us):

Many of the sculptures were created to summon UFOs:

 Although we didn't connect with UFOs, the waves spoke to us:

There is also a little cafe with coffee, gourmet sandwiches and other delicious treats. Food must be eaten in two designated picnic areas. We thought it could be nice to pack a bottle of wine and drink along the way, but you'd probably have to be stealthy about it.

Getting there: 

Storm King is an easy one-hour drive from NYC via the Palisades Parkway. Alternatively, the Short Line Bus offers a day trip for just $45.