Autumn is a wonderful time of year in New York City: The horrific temperatures of underground subway stops cool down, the leaves change and, as F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”

There’s still plenty to take advantage of before the colorful leaves give way to gray slush -- here are seven suggestions to make the most of the rest of the season.

Have a picnic in Prospect Park

The fall foliage in Prospect Park is stunning right now; it’s the perfect time to take one last stroll under the colorful canopy and set up a picnic brunch before winter comes. The park, Brooklyn’s second-largest, is also home to Brooklyn’s only lake, which only adds to the beauty of the trees changing color throughout the month.

Go on an art walk around Bushwick

A section of the L train route easily accessible from our Bushwick and East Bushwick houses is bursting with color around every corner, so grab your scarf and some coffee and get ready to take a self-guided tour of one of Bushwick’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

Get off the L at the Morgan stop if you want to see the street art gradually transform from graffiti to permission-based murals; otherwise, hop off at Jefferson to start right in the thick of things. Wandering around the blocks surrounding the stop will take you right through the well-known Bushwick Collective murals that are a constant draw for locals and tourists alike, and you can find more as you walk toward the DeKalb stop.

Take a walk through Brooklyn Heights

The historic Brooklyn Heights is beautiful at any time of year, but something about the leaves changing really makes it shine in autumn. The tree-lined streets and centuries-old brownstones feel so quintessentially Brooklyn that you can’t help but to take your time and drink it all in. Head toward DUMBO and you’ll hit the fruit streets -- Cranberry, Orange and Pineapple -- which look (and sound) like they’ve been plucked out of a children’s book set in New York, in addition to having great views of the city.

 

Bike the Brooklyn Bridge

The view from the Brooklyn Bridge is great regardless of what time of year you visit, but autumn is where the bridge really shines: You don’t have to deal with the humidity of the summer, but it’s not yet too cold to keep you indoors. If you don’t have a bike, your best bet is to rent a Citi Bike for $3 from one of the three closest stations to the Brooklyn side: Front St./ Washington St., Henry St./Poplar St. and Cadman Plaza E/Red Cross Pl. Your best bet to avoid crowds is to go during the week; the bike lanes can get crowded with pedestrians on the weekend.

Check out the shops in Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill

Just a short walk from our Downtown Brooklyn House is a plethora of indie shops ranging from decades-old family-run businesses to trendy new shops. Head to Court Street to find a bustling area packed to the brim with shopping, eateries and bars. Walk down Smith Street to find an eclectic mix of boutiques, bars and a few indie bookstores. It’s the perfect neighborhood to grab a coffee and see where your feet take you.

Get some cider at Brooklyn Cider House

Brooklyn’s first cidery hasn’t even been open a year yet, but has already undergone an expansion and become a local favorite. Brooklyn Cider House makes cider in the traditional Basque style with apples sourced from its own orchard in New Paltz, New York, and has plentiful seasonal food pairing options, as well. This time of year is perfect for drinking cider because the apple harvest wraps up in early October.

 

Visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is the perfect respite from the hustle of city life. It has 52 acres of gardens and conservatories and regularly holds events and tours, although visitors are welcome to visit just to take in the sites. Look for the katsura tree, just east of Oak Circle, which is one of the of the oldest trees in the garden and at its most spectacular in autumn.

Tagged: Brooklyn