Spooky Sleepy Hollow Kidtinerary

KIDS NYC HALLOWEEN

Spooky Sleepy Hollow Kidtinerary

This is a pre-kidtinerary. We’re so excited about this adventure we decided to share our anticipation with the world. In a few days this post will mutate into a real kidtinerary with our personally tested suggestions.

The proximity of Tarrytown to New York city makes the Legend of Sleepy Hollow an ideal way to get kids tangibly into a slightly more learned form of Halloween. We found the florid language and 19th Century vernacular of the Washington Irving’s actual book too abstract and complex for the short attention span and early vocabulary of most single digit kids.

Strangely, it was hard to find other interpretations for kids. There is Disney’s actually good Legend of Sleepy Hollow with its good songs and suspenseful drawn-out ride home. But the only book we could find was Natalie Standiford’s Headless Horseman .Bonus:  It’s a “Step into Reading” book, so older kids can practice reading with it, and younger ones can learn the story in 10 minutes or less.

Having read the book, watched the Disney movie and even checked out the stamp issued by the United States Postal Service (and this is an illustration from the postal museum),we are ready to begin our journey!

STOP #1

SLEEPY HOLLOW CEMETERY

During Fall (mostly October and November) the cemetery’s historian Jim Logan leads very popular evening tours stopping at Washington Irving’s grave and other notable spots. We were assured that although it is dark, the tour is not a scary or gory tour. Our 7 year olds will be fine, he said, but to prepare for at least one mile of walking.

STOP #2
GREAT JACK O’LANTERN BLAZE

Van Cortlandt Manor is home to 4,000 intricately carved Jack O’Lanterns scattered about the property with atmospheric music and sound effects. WHOOOOOOOOOO! Exciting!

STOP #3

CASTLE ON THE HUDSON

Stay in character by sleeping in a castle reminiscent of Ye Olde Englande.

STOP #4

BLUE HILL CAFE

Stone Barns is an organic foodie’s fantasy come true. Alas, as much as they claim children 5 and above are welcome in the main dining room, at $105 per person and given their menu (someone in the kitchen would have a coronary if you asked for Kraft Mac ‘N Cheese) it really isn’t a place we’d take 7 year olds.

Now, the Blue Hill Cafe, that’s perfect for kids. Informal, reasonably priced, fresh delicious food picked straight from their gardens or sourced locally and inviting decor. So this is breakfast for us.

STOP #5

WASHINGTON IRVING’S SUNNYSIDE

On most weekends, a guide dressed in period hoop skirt, gives a tour of Washington Irving’s house. But this weekend is a big Lefends of Sleepy Hollow Festival with kids games, tours and more family friendly activities.