It’s no secret that I can’t wait for my kids to go to bed at night so that I can unwind after a long day. But as soon as they’re finally tucked in and I’m ready to relax with a glass of wine or bowl of ice cream (try chasing my son around and you won’t feel guilty about one calorie), what do I think about? My kids! Seriously, I’m either thinking that the sound I heard better not be my three-year-old tiptoeing out of bed or I’m searching for things to do with them. One of my favorite parts of motherhood has always been exploring New York City with my children, but I also find it refreshing to go to other places – everything is new and interesting to them and their excitement is infectious. When my children are a bit older, I hope to take them on longer trips, perhaps even to another country (in the meantime, there’s always the World Showcase at Epcot Center), but while they’re still so young, shorter ones work really well. I’ve gone on a lot of day trips with my husband and kids over the past three years and these are some that have been lots of fun, provided great memories and which we all agree are worth checking out.
Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain, New York. (1 hr 10 minutes from NYC.) New York City is known for many things, but nature is not one of them. Fortunately, there are parks like this nearby, where you can give your child a taste of nature up-close on the hiking trails. Be sure to visit the Perkins Memorial Tower at the top of the mountain for an incredible view of the area. Kids will especially love the Merry-Go-Round, which replaces the traditional horses with 42 native animals! Depending on which season you visit, you can also take advantage of a swimming pool or outdoor ice-rink. $8.00 per vehicle to enter the park.
Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia, PA. (2 hours from NYC.) I’d give up being outdoors on the last warm day of summer to take my kids to this museum. My son’s face lit up the moment he saw the Please Touch Garage, which gave him the opportunity to build a racecar and then climb in and pretend to drive it. He even got a chance to dig in a ball pit with a powered excavator. There was so much to do in the garage that it was nearly impossible to get him away. We did finally make it to the other side of the building where there is a huge water table with boats and water wheels as well as a play area for very young children. Downstairs is a mini city with a supermarket where my daughter loved pushing around a shopping cart sized for her. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the carousel too, but you’ll just have to go yourself to see the many other great activities they have. $15.00 per guest (ages 1 and up).
Robert Moses State Park, Long Island, New York. (1 hour from NYC.) Once you drive over the bridge into this beautiful beach, you’ll forget about the Long Island Expressway traffic you had to deal with to get there. Aside from the clean sand and ocean, kids enjoy visiting the lighthouse, fishing and of course the fabulous playground. Another great feature (especially for those of us with young children) is that the beach is not very wide, so you won’t have a long trek across the sand to get to the water. If you plan to spend the whole day, you can get food there or bring your own–there are plenty of picnic tables. Robert Moses is a bit further from the city than some other beaches (around 50 miles) which means that it doesn’t generally get as crowded, though no promises during summer weekends! $10.00 per vehicle.
Sesame Place, Langhorne, PA. (1.5 hours from NYC.) As long as my husband continues to be the one to take our son on Grover’s World Twirl (which is similar to the nauseating teacup ride found at amusement parks), I’m happy to keep using our season passes to this popular family destination based on the TV show. The park has a great mix of water rides for hot summer days and many rides and attractions designed for young children. Both my kids love Flyin’ Fish, the Sunny Day Carousel and Cookie Mountain, which is great for climbers of all ages. Your kids will be able to take pictures with their favorite characters throughout the day and see even more of them during shows and parades. Be sure to hold onto your children during the Neighborhood Street Party Parade though, as the temptation to run out and dance with their favorite characters might prove a little too much. $56.00 for single day admission (ages 2-55).
White Post Farms, Melville, New York. (1 hour from NYC.) My son would be content feeding the birds all day at this #1 rated petting zoo, but there are a lot of other animals to feed, pet or just look at, from goats, sheep and llamas, to antelope, zebras and monkeys. They also have an assortment of inflatable bouncers for kids of all ages to jump on. Some are even set up as water slides, so be sure to bring a bathing suit. The train ride and playground area were hits with both of my kids and my son especially loved climbing into and pretending to drive the fire truck. Just be sure to leave before closing time so you can buy some of the fresh fruit and enjoy one of their delicious smoothies sold in the on-site farmer’s market. $14.00 per person.
