Scott Walters lives with his wife Ellie and three children in Nanuet. He is a freelance musician and music teacher currently a stay-at-home dad while seeking new teaching adventures.
As a father, there is sometimes a different paradigm for discovery and exploration with children. Having three children (Sydney, 8, Andrew, 5, and Emma, 4), I find that although they have some common interests, they sometimes have disparate thoughts on where to go. I offer my top five that they all can enjoy with notes on how they enjoy them differently:
1. Go to the Zoo. There are many zoos to go to the New York area, so whether you want a big zoo experience like the Bronx Zoo, or a small zoo feel of, say, the Turtleback Zoo in West Orange, you can find great things to do and to watch. Observing the children observing the animals is also a treat. I find that my oldest, 8, is very much into feeding pets at the petting zoo and watching animals that are in motion. My son, 5, can stay by the monkeys or gorilla house for hours, and my youngest admires exotic birds and, oddly enough, the reptile house. Allow the children to gravitate to their favorite animals, and plan your trip accordingly beforehand by looking at the zoo’s map online. Make sure to bring a cooler full of snacks and bring the stroller, even for older kids. Having your own stroller with an identifying tag (I tie a bandana on the handle), keeps your gang controlled between exhibits.
2. Hit the Driving Range. Look, I’m a dad who likes to tee it up, but with three kids and a limited income, golf isn’t as accessible as I would like. So I will take the kids to the driving range for a bucket of balls. I let them hit a few balls in their own way, and the driving range offers protection against being hit by a stray ball. If a driving range has multiple levels, walk up the stairs and go from the top. The kids like looking out from the higher elevation. Be sure to explain though that the first step off the front is one they CANNOT take. Let them watch daddy flex his muscle—it’s good for daddy’s ego to hear his kids say, “You da man!” Many driving ranges will also have a miniature golf course, which is an adventure unto itself, but can be combined without much difficulty. When a little kid makes a hole-in-one on the miniature golf course, their joyfulness is always something worth watching.
3. All Aboard the Choo Choo Train. Kids love trains. It doesn’t matter what kind of train, they all love them. I live near NJ transit and my kids get to go for FREE! FREE! You know, F-R-double-E! Trains are great fun, and a local can be as much fun for kids as an express. Going from Nanuet to NYC is also cool since you have to switch trains, and there is a charm to herding children from one platform to another. As well, people smile when they see kids on a train (not like how they behave when they see kids walk down the aisle of a plane!). Feel free to look up other trains that are not commuter in style. The Strasburg Railroad in PA Dutch country is highly recommended.
4. Go to a Kid-Sized, Kid-Friendly Amusement Park. Several of these amusement parks exist here in the NY area, including Rye Playland, Lake Compounce, Knoebel’s, Dutch Wonderland. By choosing a “kid-sized” park, you are mitigating all of the walking and some of the waiting in line that occurs with the big boy parks. The kids will also find their own comfort zone with rides. My oldest has no issues with any ride; she is tall enough to go on. She and I will sneak out and leave mommy with the two little ones so that we can go on rides only she is tall enough to go on. The little ones are peas in a pod for many of the rides in the “kiddieland” sections of these parks. Parks that have water sections are also usually great for the kids. Bring changes of clothes, of course, and again, look at the park’s website to map out your day and give the kids a say in where they want to go. It reduces the drama later.
5. Yes, Go to Disney World, But Be Sure to Tack on the Disney Cruise, too. The charms of Disney World are well documented, but the Disney cruise line ought to make me a paid endorser since everything they do on the cruise is exceptional. Here are just a few reasons to go on the boat AFTER a stay at the “Mouse House” (You go AFTER since you need a vacation from going to Disney World).
- First, the children’s programs are top shelf, with age-appropriate groupings. Kids will meet other kids from all over and will often keep in touch long after the cruise. Parents get a beeper that they can choose to answer or not depending on the severity of the page. We have seen parents ignore the pages, and have had to answer the page ourselves back in the day when Sydney was being a bit unreasonable.
- Second, the activities on the ship are family friendly. You won’t find a casino on board, but that space has been replaced by a movie theater, where you can see Disney movies that you’d normally have to pay for at your local multiplex, and larger live performance spaces. Family karaoke is a staple, as are many other activities.
- Third, when you send your kids away to their activities, you can play in the rather fun adult-only section of the ship. From dueling piano bars to the ESPN-themed lounge to adult-only restaurants, you will have fun without your children.
- Fourth, Disney allows you to BYOB on board and offers no corking fees on wine. This can be great for a mother and father who enjoy a bottle of wine and/or other potent potables.
- Fifth, you change dining rooms every evening, each with a different theme and cuisine. Even fussy eaters are catered to with good quality food and entertainment. The Animator’s Palate is exceptional as the walls change from black and white to color during the course of your meal. There is a free shuttle form the resorts at Disney World to the port and from the port to the airport, and your bags are all portered!
I could go on, but I really feel I would need to be paid in order to do so.
I didn’t put in historic places or national parks as I feel those are better saved for when the kids are older…Sydney could handle going to those great places, but Andrew and Emma, not so much. When Emma turns 8 we just might rent an RV for the summer and see where that takes us.
Scott can be reached at scottthetenor (at) yahoo (dot) com.
What are your top summer vacation spots for kids? Share them in the comments below and check out what NYC Single Mom picks as her top 5 summer getaways.
