The Best Spots for Family Summer Travel

It is officially Summer! And what better way to enjoy summer than to travel? Before you say, well, it may be too late to plan something. Let’s remember that we live in New York! We have gorgeous towns that scream Family Road Trip, hotels in our city that are a vacation in themselves, amusement parks, water parks, and world-famous museums in the city and nearby.

Another biggie is that we are a major hub with some of the largest airports- there are three major airports, two cruise ports, and our trusty train stations.

Of course, we all love to go away and have new experiences, but let’s be real: traveling with kids has its challenges. Whether traveling with young children or kids of all ages, the word “vacation” can be a loose term. Our curated trips are perfect for young kids, kids of all ages, solo travel, and nearby getaways -all geared for parents and families.

So, yes, take the trip. Gas prices are lower than a few years ago. Look into the deals many airlines offer and plan away.

Psst…Rethinking the Family Vacation: Intentional Travel (a new kind of trip)

Stay in the City

Many of us ‘locals’ rediscovered the benefits of staycations from the early days when the pandemic lockdown lifted. It was a lovely reminder that people come here, and we live here, the city that never sleeps.

We have epic hotels -some that offer local discounts. If you don’t want to book a hotel stay but want some of the perks a hotel provides, many offer day passes to their pool. Yes, work remotely while you sip on a cocktail (we won’t tell) while the kids are at camp, or spend the day with the kids and splash away at a posh pool for a ‘day-cation.’

The TWA Hotel is perfect if you are looking for a staycation that is only a subway (and AirTran) away. The vibe is Mad Men, but don’t let the martinis fool you- this hotel has family in mind with its nooks of fun and rooftop pool, making for the perfect city “getaway.”

It looks like we are in for a hot summer, and these Family-Friendly Hotel Pools are a way to stay cool and allow the family to explore an unfamiliar neighborhood!

Nearby Getaways

Travel isn’t always a two-week trip. Short trips can also do wonders for the soul and family, especially since we have the privilege of living in one of the country’s best cities. There is an endless cache of nearby weekend getaways or longer adventures to Lake George or Central Massachusetts. Essentially, we have a steady list of travel opportunities on our coast.

The waterparks in and near New York are like no other. There truly is a waterpark experience that will not only be memorable for the family, like Camelback Resort and The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark; it is the ultimate summer experience.

Psst…Tips for Taking Kids to the Water Park

Travel Far

When the budget is in sync and you are ready to plan the trip- traveling abroad can be great for families for several reasons.

Education is one of them, from exploring historical sites to museums. Seeing how other cultures live, eating new foods, and learning to adapt to a new area while many of us walk in New York- did you know that biking is the most popular mode of transportation in Amsterdam?

The kids may even learn a few new words in the language of the country you’re visiting. This break from routine not only bonds families but also introduces a new understanding of how vast our world is when traveling afar. Whether you’re exploring St. Lucia at The Landings Resort & Spa, Paris, a Carnival Cruise, or Barbados, we’ve got you covered!

Athletic Association of Yorkville Youths

Serving the families and children of NYC for over 50 years with high-quality recreational activities that foster life-lessons which empower young people to succeed beyond sports. Our programs encourage positive attitudes and growth through teamwork and sportsmanship, attendance, fair play, respect, hard work, integrity and fun. Your child can participate in clinics and leagues in such sports as baseball, basketball, flag-football, lacrosse, soccer, hockey, wrestling, track, and tennis. We also offer weekly dodgeball tournaments, drama and musical theater workshops, and after school programs.

The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center

The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center offers year-round, community-based dance and music programming in a fully inclusive and nurturing environment, located in the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District. The School&rsquo;s diverse and professional faculty provides progressive and non-competitive instruction with all of our classes accompanied by live music. Though we are a non-recital school, there are opportunities for students to perform and for parents to see their dancers in action.

New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

Summer Game Camp There are many who do not feel safe sending their children back out into the world with summer camp, this year. To serve those parents and keep the children connected and stimulated during this challenging time, we are offering NYSP Digital Summer Camp. The name of the game with NYSP Summer Camp is community. We have made a large effort to make our camp feel like a living space, with features including &ndash; - Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers! - Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more! - Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch! - A digital campus! - Moderated chat hours! &nbsp; Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more! Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm &nbsp; Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons &amp; Dragons No experience is required to join one of our Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our game masters have pre-made character sheets, so you'll be able to start playing the game right away! We adapt the rules of traditional Dungeons &amp; Dragons to make them more approachable to children of various ages. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop!&nbsp; &nbsp; Public games meet once per week, with different groups every time. Private games meet 1 to 2 times per week with the same group of kids. Since the players and the storyteller in the group are consistent, this enables us to tell epic tales of adventure together! &nbsp; Dungeons &amp; Dragons Junior No experience is required to join one of our drop-in Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our Dungeons &amp; Dragons Jr. game provides a D&amp;D storytelling experience without character sheets. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop! A great way to introduce young children to D&amp;D so they can eventually move onto the main game.