6 Day Trips From Manhattan

Let’s face it: as exciting as it is to live in “The City That Never Sleeps,” there are times when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle. The good news is that there are many destinations within an hour or two of Manhattan where you can get away from it all. There are great beaches, nature preserves, and historical sites.

If you don’t have a car, don’t worry. Many of these day trips can be done by train or bus. Or, if you want to have more control over your itinerary, you can rent a cat and go at your own pace. Be sure to double-check timetables and schedules if you are relying on public transportation. Take along water, sunblock, and some snacks if you’re going to be outside all day. Most of all, plan to have some fun and relaxation.

There are great trips for families with kids who live in New York luxury real estate or couples looking to get away from the grind to spend time together. Singles have numerous choices for fun and relaxation to keep their batteries charged.

Fire Island is one of the top summer day trips from Manhattan due to the relative ease of getting there and the incredible natural beauty of the seashore. Fire Island is known for miles of gorgeous, protected beaches, natural preserves, wilderness areas, small resort communities, and campgrounds.

The only area that’s accessible by car is the western end of the island and the Robert Moses State Park, which includes the iconic 19th-century Fire Island Lighthouse. The state park also includes a golden beach, picnicking, and a pitch-and-putt golf course. The rest of the island is car-free, so visitors who come from the city must take a ferry from the mainland across the Great South Bay. Once there, they can get around on foot or by bicycle. There’s a train service from Penn Station to Islip Town Hall that takes just under two hours. Bus service is available but takes longer. Be sure to sync up with ferry schedules.

The Pocono Mountains, or simply the Poconos, are about two hours by car from Manhattan and offer a wide variety of outdoor activities spread out over more than 2,300 square miles. The Poconos are known for their stunning natural beauty, which includes mountains, forests, lakes, and rivers. There’s so much to do, in fact, that you could fill several day trips. In the summer, there is swimming, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and whitewater rafting. The Poconos offer wonderful winter day trips for skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, and sledding.

State parks in the Poconos include Beltzville, Big Pocono, and Hickory Run. Additionally, there are the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. There are also fun places for the kids, like Claws 'N' Paws Wild Animal Park and Costa's Family Fun Park.

People of all ages love to visit an aquarium, especially families with kids. One of the best around is the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead, about an hour and a half outside of Manhattan, near the split of the North Fork and South Fork. Families can easily make a full day of it by visiting the aquarium, which features numerous exhibits both inside and outside. Among them are one of the largest coral reef systems in the Western Hemisphere, a fun Lost Temple of Atlantis display, and the Lost City of Atlantis Shark Habitat. The aquarium is home to all sorts of fish as well as everyone’s favorites, such as penguins, otters, and seals. The quickest way to get to the aquarium is to drive, but you can also take a train or a bus.

Although Manhattan is world-renowned for arts and culture, sometimes it’s fun for residents to get out of the city and enjoy various musical performances in a gorgeous rural setting. One such destination is the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts which is located at Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, about 100 miles north of Manhattan. The Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts is a massive 110,000-square-foot center where patrons can enjoy chamber and orchestral music, theater, opera, and dance. Performances are held at the 900-seat Sosnoff Theater and the 200-seat Theater Two. The Fisher Center is home to the Bard Music Festival every summer in this Hudson River hamlet.

Bear Mountain State Park is another natural wonderland with year-round recreation activities just an hour north of Manhattan on the west bank of the Hudson River. This 5,205-acre state park is extremely popular during the hot summer months because visitors from SoHo luxury real estate can cool off by swimming or getting some fresh air while hiking, biking, boating, or having a picnic. There are several little towns in the area where day trippers can grab a bite to eat or visit quaint shops. Winter sports enthusiasts can get out of the city and enjoy sledding, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.

Music lovers can attend any number of concerts in Manhattan, but how about hearing live music right next to the site of the iconic 1969 Woodstock music festival? The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts features The Pavilion at Bethel Woods, which has 5,000 seats and additional lawn seating that can hold 11,000 more for popular musical acts. The smaller Event Gallery hosts orchestra and choral group performances. Woodstock is just under two hours from Manhattan.

If you’re looking into day trips from Manhattan because you’re on the hunt for a new home in the Big Apple, Caryl Berenato is the perfect partner to help you find New York luxury real estate. Caryl is a long-time New York City broker who heads a team of passionate, experienced agents and has the marketing know-how and hands-on experience to ensure you find the perfect home. Reach out today to learn more.