Whether you’re planning to place a pumpkin in your front window or on your stoop this Halloween, venturing away from the city to find the perfect gourd makes for a more adventurous autumn. And once you’ve caught a whiff of the crisp autumn air, and felt the crunch of colored leaves beneath your feet, you’ll probably be craving sweet pumpkin pie and crispy salted pumpkin seeds to snack on while basking in the glow of your creatively carved jack o’lantern.
Each of the four farms we’ve chosen for pumpkin picking can be reached via train or bus from New York City, and each one will provide a taste of the country life while reminding you to soak up all that is autumn.
1. Queens County Farm Museum | Queens | queensfarm.org
Why the picking’s good: Dating back to 1967, this is New York City’s biggest swatch of peaceful farmland, covering 47-acres. Before you scramble to find a pumpkin, check out the charming old farm buildings.
The Pumpkins: According to staffer Kristin Allocco, the farm grows some of its own pumpkins and supplements with some from other farms. To keep the pumpkins pretty, Allocco said they were picked early and brought into the greenhouse to mature. She offered an essential tip for keeping a pumpkin fresh once you’ve carved it: smooth Vaseline over the cuts.
Special Events: The farm hosts several events throughout the season, including the free-to-attend Apple Festival, when the nation’s largest apple cobbler will be baked in a massive pan over a roaring fire, the Children’s Fall Festival, and a Haunted House.
When to pick: Visit Saturdays and Sunday in October to enjoy the corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides and pumpkin painting from 11:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
How to get there: Take the E or F train to Kew Gardens/Union Turnpike Station, then the Q46 Bus (eastbound) to Little Neck Parkway stop. Cross Union Tpk and walk North 3 blocks on Little Neck Pky to the Farm Museum entrance. Or take the LIRR Port Washington Line to Little Neck Station; there is 24-hour car service located at the station to bring you the 2.5 miles to the farm. (73-50 Little Neck Parkway, 718.347.3276)
2. Greig Farm | Red Hook | greigfarm.com
Why the picking’s good: Greig Farm sits amid Red Hook’s gorgeous rolling hills and stretches of road-trip-worthy back roads draped in crimson leaves, and is within reach of a hodgepodge of Hudson Valley travel excursions. Plus, you can pick all varieties of apples and red and yellow raspberries after you grab your pumpkin.
When to pick: Every day, 9a.m.-7p.m.
How to get there: Take Amtrak north to Rhinecliff station, where taxis are available to bring you to the farm, located about 5 miles away. Call Red Hook Taxi 845.758.1478 (223 Pitcher Lane, 845.758.1234)
3. Fritz Lewin Farms | Calverton
Why the picking’s good: No-nonsense and strewn with pumpkin vines, this is the farm to visit if you’re in the mood for rural rusticity. Pick your own plump pumpkin from the field, and stock up on vegetables and apples while you’re at it.
When to pick: Daily, 9a.m.-4p.m.
How to get there: Take the LIRR to Riverhead and then get a Riverhead Cab to the farm, which is seven miles from the train station (1989 Sound Avenue, 631.727.3346)
4. Decker Farm | Staten Island | historicrichmondtown.org
Why the picking’s good: Kitschy and catering to families, Decker Farm has unusual activities that go beyond basic hayrides—although they offer those, too. “There’s always someone dressed in 1810 garb, doing some type of farm chore,” explained Felicity Beil, director of education at Historic Richmond Town. Little ones are invited to try their hand at the old-fashioned chores before they pounce on the pumpkins, which include a mix of homegrown and trucked-in purchases from another nearby farm. “The vines get very prickly,” which turns off some of the younger guests, Beil said.
Special events: Visitors are invited to walk around the giant cornfield on weekends.
When to pick: Weekends, 11a.m.-4p.m., including Columbus Day.
How to get there: From the Staten Island Ferry terminal, take the S74 bus to Richmond Road and St. Patrick’s Place and catch the shuttle (running every 10 minutes and included in the $5 admission fee) to the farm site. (441 Clarke Ave., 718. 351.1611)
Photo: Movement Six
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram