Without any explanation, my Saturday plans would seem a little odd. Regardless, last weekend found me spending my day at a cemetery. Not just a random cemetery, though. I was at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. A longtime fan of Washington Irving’s short story, as well as Tim Burton’s much later film adaption, I thought the easy three-hour drive from Philadelphia would be a fun fall day trip for my husband and me. Blink at the right moment and you’ll completely miss both the town and the cemetery. There are no fanfare or tourist attractions here, which I found surprising. I assumed that, particularly with Halloween season, the town would try to play up its history and the famous story. Sure, there were a few guided tours, but not much else. We were able to grab a map at the cemetery’s front office with ease and were on our way. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery expands for acres back off of the main street into a very hilly, wooded area, with a maze of roads dipping over embankments and taking sharp turns around grave plots. My poor map skills didn’t make matters better, but we soon found our way around. The cemetery features an “unofficial” Sleepy Hollow bridge, where a steady stream of visitors can be found taking photos. The famous graves and mausoleums include those of Elizabeth Arden, William Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie and Walter Chrysler. Washington Irving’s family plot is located in one of the oldest parts of the cemetery, near the historic church, which was originally built in the late 1600s. Adjacent plots belong to members of the community who some believe inspired Irving’s iconic characters (such as the Van Tassel family), as well as Revolutionary War veterans. While I can see why maybe my little day trip would not be as appealing to some, I also think it was an excellent opportunity to learn about the area and its history. — Holly Riddle, marketing & sales assistant