Family Daycations

Now is a perfect time for a break from city life. From state parks to theme parks, beaches and mountains–here are 10 fun family day trips, all less than two hours from NYC.

City Island (drive time from NYC: 25 minutes) Located just off the Bronx, City Island resembles a quaint New England town, right in our backyard. Boating, beaches, a nautical museum, art galleries—and lots of fresh seafood can be found here.

Rockefeller State Park Preserve (drive time from NYC: 45 minutes; pictured) Less than an hour from NYC, the preserve is great for strolling with the kids and great for a family picnic. Enjoy chirping birds and a little taste of nature. nysparks.com

Bear Mountain State Park (drive time from NYC: 1 hour) An idyllic setting for the perfect day in the country: There are shaded picnic areas, playing fields, swimming opportunities (lake and pool), fishing, hiking, biking–and a zoo, too! nysparks.com

Robert Moses State Park (drive time from NYC: 75 minutes) A great day at the beach–with five miles of clean, wide, sandy beach and grassy dunes. Plus good fishing and playgrounds for kids—and don’t miss the Fire Island Lighthouse.

Six Flags Great Adventure (drive time from NYC: 75 minutes) Located in Jackson, NJ, with lots of fun rides for parents, teens, and the little ones. Daily shows and concerts, and a water park. Your day also should include a visit to the Wild Safari–a sprawling, drive-through animal park, with exotic zebras, giraffes, elephants and more.

Sandy Hook, NJ (drive time from NYC: 75 minutes) Seven miles of pristine beaches and lovely parkland. Good swimming, surfing, boating, migratory bird watching, and a historic military base. Instead of driving (and traffic!), try taking the high-speed ferry ride from Manhattan, then shuttle bus straight to the beach.

Rocking Horse Ranch (drive time from NYC: 90 minutes) Kids will love the indoor water park with four heated pools and six water slides. Plus outdoor pool and lovely private lake with water sports—and tons of fun activities, games, and entertaining shows. But the real treat: a stable housing 100 horses! All ages enjoy guided trail rides, from beginners to experienced riders. A great place for your child’s first horseback ride or country hay ride.

Point Pleasant, NJ (drive time from NYC: 90 minutes) Famous for the boardwalk, kids will love the aquarium, skee ball, rides, and the beautiful “Jersey Shore” beach.

Sesame Place (drive time from NYC: 90 minutes) The Sesame Street fans in your family will love to get up close for a hug from Elmo, Bert, Ernie—or any of their favorite furry friends. Located in Langhorne, PA, with plenty of exciting rides and a water park to cool off. They also host special activities and events throughout the season, including kids concerts and entertainers.

Mystic, CT (drive time from NYC: 2 hours) The village of Mystic offers lots of fun for families- including an aquarium, Mystic Seaport (the largest maritime museum in the country), hiking, birding, exploring nature. Every Memorial Day weekend, the Rotary Club hosts their annual “Lobster Days”—a celebration of all things lobster.

The Music Institute of Long Island

Established in 1990, the Music Institute of Long Island (MILI) is a classical music school staffed by exceptional instructors from many of the most prestigious conservatories and graduate music schools in the United States and Europe. Long Island&rsquo;s foremost musical academies, its instrumental programs include violin, viola, cello, piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone and voice classes. MILI has been voted # 1 BEST MUSIC SCHOOL Consistently.&nbsp; They teach the Traditional, Suzuki, and ABRSM methods. Students participate in All-National, All-Eastern, All-State, youth orchestras, and score highly in NYSSMA and Royal Academy Music Festivals. First prize winners of competitions earn solos at Carnegie Hall and with orchestras. MILI offers Fall/Spring semesters plus Summer Sessions. Semesters include 15-17 weeks of private lessons, solo recitals with a final GALA Concert featuring chamber music. About the Directors: Carol &amp; Geri Kushner: The sisters are violinists, violists, chamber coaches &amp; performers. They believe in instilling the love of music, &nbsp;fostering proficiency, success, confidence &amp; believe all MILI students achieve success. Degrees BM, MM (+), K-12 certifications, attended Manhattan School of Music, Queens College &amp; Stonybrook University.They have been adjunct professors at Syracuse University, Aaron Copland School of Music Pre-College &amp; Five Towns Colleges, Stonybrook University &amp; have taught in L.I. public schools.

Dance Workshop - NY

Nestled in the heart of the UES, Dance Workshop is a community-focused studio committed to dance education in a loving and safe environment. Dance Workshop offers Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Musical Theatre and Acro for ages 2+. They also offer a Pre-Professional Company track for dancers interested in taking their technique to the next level. Trial classes may be scheduled with the studio at the start of the season. Dance with Dance Workshop! MaryAnn Grasso founded Dance Workshop in 1979. Her daughter Nanci later joined her at the helm and in 2016 established Dance Workshop on the Upper East Side of NYC. MaryAnn and Nanci have devoted their lives to dance education, community and the development of children; raising dancers and sound human beings alike. Dance Workshop has seen thousands of dancers pass through the doors. They believe dance has the power to elevate and change lives!

PaleyLand Holiday Experience

Celebrate the holidays at PaleyLand at the Paley Museum, New York's must-visit destination for a holiday adventure, just steps from Rockefeller Center! Our five-floor immersive holiday extravaganza, includes photos with Santa and holiday characters, crafts, giveaways, screenings of classic holiday favorites, hot chocolate, a magical train display, and more. Escape the cold and the crowds, and enjoy our indoor wonderland where families can play, relax, and create timeless memories together in our holiday oasis in the heart of midtown Manhattan. General Admission to PaleyLand is free for children under 12. The holiday extravaganza is open from November 20 &ndash; January 5 at the Paley Museum, 25 W 52 Street, NYC. Paley Members enjoy free access. Come to PaleyLand again and again to see all your favorite characters and screenings. After just one visit, membership pays for itself! &nbsp;