Sleepy Hollow

Washington Irving published The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in 1820 and set it in this stretch of the Hudson, where he later lived at Sunnyside downriver. The village was called North Tarrytown until 1996, when residents voted to rename it after the story - a rare case of a place taking its name from fiction. The Old Dutch Church of about 1685 and its burying ground are the setting of the headless horseman scene; the adjoining Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, a large rural-style Victorian cemetery, holds Irving's own grave along with Andrew Carnegie's and Elizabeth Arden's. October brings a heavy programme of lantern tours, a large jack-o'-lantern display and considerable crowds.

What to look for

• The Old Dutch Church of about 1685 - and its burying ground.
• Sleepy Hollow Cemetery - with Irving's grave among others.
• A village renamed after fiction - by a 1996 vote.
• A large October programme - lantern tours and pumpkin displays.

When to go

September to November; October is the season and the crowd. Half a day.

Good to know

October books out weeks ahead and parking is very difficult. The cemetery is a working burial ground - behaviour matters. Outside autumn there is comparatively little on. The famous events are ticketed separately.

Nearby

Sunnyside and Kykuit are downriver; Tarrytown is adjacent.