Cooperstown, from $115 per room per night
Cooperstown, home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, makes a great vantage point for leaf peeping, as it's between two mountain ranges that burst into color: the Catskills and the Adirondacks. Cooper Inn has a starting rate of $115 per night, which includes accommodations, breakfast daily, and a bottle of wine when you purchase dinner at the neighboring Otesaga Resort Hotel (you also get access to the resort's pool and golf and tennis facilities). Also of note are the nearby Fenimore Art Museum's new exhibits: "America's Rome: Artists in the Eternal City, 1800–1900" and "Walker Evans: Carbon and Silver." Rates start at $115 per room per night.
When: Ongoing.
Details: Does not include taxes of 12 percent. Based on single or double occupancy.
Contact: 800/348-6222, cooperinn.com.
Horseheads, from $129 per room per night
The Escape to Wine Country package at the Holiday Inn Express Horseheads includes accommodations, breakfast daily, a $20 voucher good at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, and a $30 voucher for dinner at Tanino Ristorante. Horseheads is in the Finger Lakes region, which encompasses a chain of lakes and is known for its wine production and scenic views. Rates start at $129 per room per night.
When: Through Dec. 31, 2009.
Details: Does not include taxes of 12 percent. Based on double occupancy; single occupancy rates vary depending on travel dates.
Contact: 607/739-3681, fingerlakeshotels.com.
Buffalo, from $150 per room per night
The 100 for 150 package at the Millennium Hotel Buffalo includes accommodations and a $100 credit for use at the hotel's restaurant or lounge, or for room service. Holiday Hollow, in nearby Corfu, hosts family-friendly events including a Halloween festival and pirate-themed shows. The powerful Niagara Falls are only 30 minutes away. Rates start at $150 per room per night.
When: Ongoing.
Details: Does not include taxes of about 15 percent. Based on single or double occupancy. Use promo code 100.
Contact: 716/681-2400, millenniumhotels.com/millenniumbuffalo.
Lake Placid, from $195 per room per night
The Dawn Picnic on the Lake package at the Mirror Lake Inn includes accommodations, a picnic breakfast, while you make use of the inn's complimentary canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats. Mirror Lake only allows non-motorized boats, so it's always peaceful, and there's plenty of bright fall foliage—plus the Adirondack Mountains—to admire from the water.
Breakfast includes muffins and scones, fruit, granola, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Rates start at $195 per room per night.
When: Sept. 7–Oct. 25, 2009.
Details: Does not include taxes of 11 percent. Based on double occupancy; single occupancy rates start at about $175 per night.
Contact 518/523-2544, mirrorlakeinn.com.
Tarrytown, from $199 per room per night
The Blaze Package at Tarrytown House Estate includes accommodations, breakfast daily, and two tickets to the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze (a $30 value). The Blaze features more than 4,000 creatively hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns—expect pumpkins styled like UFOs and beehives. Rates start at $199 per room per night.
When: Oct. 3–Nov. 1, 2009.
Details: Does not include taxes of about 10 percent. Based on single or double occupancy. Use promo code BLAZE.
Contact:: 800/553-8118, tarrytownhouseestate.com.
Check out New York State's fall foliage report to plan the best time to see the colors. There are also more deals at iloveny.com.