Summer Road Trips with the Family in NYC!
We all have fond memories of family vacations from our youth; as children, we recall only the amusing and enjoyable aspects of our experiences. Now that we're parents, we understand that, while road trips can be exhausting, especially with young children, this time together will strengthen our bond and become part of our children's memories.
As we emerge from the pandemic, we may have realized that New York and the cities and states surrounding our hometown are full of beauty, history, and adventure.
Here is to a summer of awe and travel with these must road trips for Summer 2022.
1. Hudson County, NJ
If you're searching for a day trip or a long weekend getaway with the family this summer, Hudson County, New Jersey is the place to go. Hudson County (NJ) is on point when it comes to education, history, and enjoyment on these road trips. Head to one of the several skate parks in the area (Bayonne, Hoboken, Jersey City, Union City, and West New York) for your skater kid to show off their backside moves. Pier A Hoboken, North Hudson Braddock Park, and Hamilton Park Weehawken, to name a few, are all beautiful parks for children. Liberty State Park, on the Hudson River, is my personal favorite for the entire family.
The family can explore the two-mile Liberty Walk promenade with views of the One World Trade Center and Battery Park (bring the stroller for the little ones). If you need a break or a bite to eat, stop by the Liberty House Restaurant and take in the view of the waterfront. To continue the educational and historical tone of the trip, take a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with Statue Cruises.
Travel Tip: If you, like me, value a well-planned map, you'll like these printable road trip itinerary maps. I'm interested in the map that informs and traces New Jersey's Black Heritage in Northern New Jersey, as well as the Warren Heritage and Western Highlands: New Jersey Scenic Byways, but there are plenty more.
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2. Catskills, NY
My family and I recently visited the Catskills. When I visited the Catskills, there were a few things that came to mind. One, we should do this more often, and two, what a simple journey it is. And three, can the Catskills get any more stunning? While New York is reopening and there are plenty of things to do, I loved our road trip to the Catskills since it was something we could do while the world was in chaos.
Of course, it's always fun to go places and experience new foods, but the Catskills' natural beauty is breathtaking. We started by going for a trek. In the Catskills, there are several hiking routes to choose from, and my mother recommends visiting the Great Northern Catskills website to select one that is right for your family. While Greene County is known for its natural beauty, I've compiled a list of places we'll be seeing this summer. Horseback riding, more hiking trails, restaurant food tasting, and taking our oldest son camping or to one of the family resorts are at the top of our agenda. Summer is finally here in the Upstate!
Travel Tip: Mountain Top Arboretum, a public garden situated in the Catskill Mountains where kids may discover native plant groups, natural meadows, wetlands, and, of course, wander the forest, is a great place for a family hike.
3. Annapolis, Maryland
Since the epidemic, one sly parenting move I've been doing with the kids is choosing pleasant places to visit that are also historically significant. Annapolis is the place to be. The trip takes roughly 3.5 hours by automobile (starting from Midtown). Take a long weekend or make it a family vacation and stay for a week; there's enough to see and do. We enjoy staying in one of the quaint bed and breakfasts, old inns, or hotels located downtown. Because Annapolis is a walkable city, we park the car and explore on foot. The City Dock is the first stop. The boats march along Ego Alley is something we enjoy seeing.
Take a 40-minute harbor tour or a sail aboard the historic skipjack, the Wilma Lee, if your family enjoys being on the water. You may also rent kayaks or stand-up paddle boards with the older kids for some fun. Annapolis and Anne Arundel County have 533 miles of waterfront, providing unlimited chances for water pleasure. When it's time to feed the kids, take a water taxi to a delicious supper along Restaurant Row and pay a visit to the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park, which recently reopened with a new state-of-the-art display called Our Changing Waterfront, which the kids like.
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Travel Tip: Be sure to make time to head over to the Banneker-Douglass Museum of African American history and culture, focusing on the history of Maryland.
4. Poconos Mountains
(northeast Pennsylvania’s Carbon, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties)
If you're looking for a mountain getaway this summer, the Poconos should be on your list. With nonstop mountain terrain, rivers, waterfalls, and woodlands, this beauty is straight out of a fairytale book. The Poconos are just as beautiful and exciting in the summer as they are in the winter. A total of 261 miles of cycling and hiking paths, as well as fishing and boating, are available.
The nine state parks and two national parks are also available for families to visit. Families may pitch a tent and enjoy the outdoors with a variety of camping alternatives. Your younger children would enjoy checking out the giraffes at claws n paws or learning about the history of local art at the Antoine Dutot Museum & Gallery if they need a break from nature (yeesh, I know only kids would need a nature break).
Travel Tip: Want to make a more long-term commitment to your Poconos vacation and come year-round? I'm sorry, but I don't blame you. Camelback Mountain's Sérénité is a private home club.
5. Rockland County, NY
When you live in the city, a day trip may become a road trip. Re-exploring is at the top of many of our summer bucket lists after a rough year. Rockland is only an hour's drive from Manhattan by car. You could take the bus in the same amount of time. The first destination you should visit is beautiful Piermont, where I would happily live for the rest of my life. The Piermont Piers, which run along the river, is a popular spot for kids.
Piermont has wonderful restaurants and quaint shopping; if you want to immerse the family in nature, head to Harriman State Park, which has 31 lakes and reservoirs, hiking trails, beaches, and camping sites. Walk the new 12-foot wide sidewalk at the Governor Mario M. Cuomo bridge with the larger kids. The trail is 3.1 miles long and has six magnificent viewpoints.
Travel Tip: West Nyack, home to the renowned Palisades Center, is just over the Mario Cuomo Bridge. This four-level shopping center, which is equipped with security features, houses 225 brands in one location.
6. Putnam, NY
Road trips are nothing like they are in the movies unless they are the type in which you stop every half hour at a rest stop to use the restroom a million times. Yes, the kids must be amused at all times. Putnam County is a great place for a family vacation because it is only an hour and a half away by vehicle.
Putnam is a wonderful visit if you seek a region with gorgeous scenery and enough to do outdoors as New York reopens. Beautiful lakes, such as Lake Canopus in Fahnestock Park, are worth visiting for a picnic lunch and to soak up the sun. If you're traveling by train, take the metro north train from Grand Central to Brewster; bikes are permitted on the train, and you can begin exploring straight away.
If you're looking for activities for your younger children, take a self-guided tour of Tilly Foster Farm (10 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week) to see the farm animals. There are plenty of good food alternatives after a day of jogging about. There's something for everyone in the family, from Mexican, Italian, and Japanese cuisine to a good old cheeseburger.
Travel Tip: The West Point Foundry Preserve is a must-see for history aficionados in the family. View the first steam engines, locomotives, and water pipelines utilized in New York City's water system.
7. Lexington, Massachusetts
Lexington, Massachusetts, is a terrific destination to visit if you're searching for a road trip where you may go on tours every day. While history aficionados will enjoy simply walking around this ancient town, the tours provide a fantastic opportunity for children to learn about the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolution. Take a one-hour guided Battle Green tour or a self-directed phone tour of the 1690 Lexington Battle Green and The Old Burying Ground. Visit the Buckman Tavern, where locals and visitors would assemble and hold town meetings, for a brief (35 minutes) yet spectacular tour.
