Day trips out from NYC

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

I'm hoping to take my missus to New York in November or early December for some retail therapy. Nothing is certain yet as it depends on finalising my mother's estate.
The one problem I have is that my wife loves the big cities and I'm much less keen.
I'd be interested in any suggestions for places to visit in more rural locations that are accessible either by public transport or on organised trips from New York. They really need to be practical to visit in one day, even if it's a long one, or with an overnight stay at a push.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Close by is Queens and Brooklyn. About a 30 min train ride if even that much. If you come you do know we are getting together right.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Keith, for an overnighter, you might consider the East End, of Long Island. It won't be beach weather, but it's beautiful out there. I enjoy going, year round.

There is also the Berkshires, Croton-on-Hudson, Bear Mountain, that you could visit on a day trip. Possibly even a day cruise, out of NY city. Then there's Westchester, NJ, and PA, as possibiities, also.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I'm hoping to take my missus to New York in November or early December for some retail therapy. Nothing is certain yet as it depends on finalising my mother's estate.
The one problem I have is that my wife loves the big cities and I'm much less keen.
I'd be interested in any suggestions for places to visit in more rural locations that are accessible either by public transport or on organised trips from New York. They really need to be practical to visit in one day, even if it's a long one, or with an overnight stay at a push.

How long will you be in the city? If only a week, I just really can't imagine taking a day to leave. Unless in the summer for a beach day, but by November it's too cold for that.

When the Seedsmans were here, they took a day trip to Niagara Falls. That was LOOOONNNNNG but they enjoyed it. I can email Jim and ask how they did it, if it interests you.

If nature and hiking are of any interest, there are many State Parks within a few hours; that could be nice if the weather's not too cold, I just don't see that as worth spending a New York day, but that's me, CityGirl

There are also some cute towns in a variety of places. New Hope, Pennsylania comes to mind, less than a 2 hour drive from the city (you'd have to do that on your own), on the Delaware River. New Paltz, NY is a nice college town upstate, about 2 hours from the city, and there is great hiking up there, too.

There are myriad other choices, I'm sure others will chime in. But if you want to stay in town and lose some of that "Big City" feel, get away from midtown. There are some charming, cozy, neighborhoods around, particularly the West Village, and the Lower East Side. Or cross the East River and explore Brooklyn...

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Keith, for an overnighter, you might consider the East End, of Long Island. It won't be beach weather, but it's beautiful out there. I enjoy going, year round.

There is also the Berkshires, Croton-on-Hudson, Bear Mountain, that you could visit on a day trip. Possibly even a day cruise, out of NY city. Then there's Westchester, and NJ, as possibiities, also.

East End could be nice. Quiet, but very pretty. South shore has lots of great restaurants and ocean beaches. The North fork of Long Island is more 'farmland,' and less upscale, but there are quite a few nice wineries there that could make for a nice wine-tasting day. There are pretty beaches there, but they aren't ocean beaches, and they are harder to find.

[mschatz Member Find all posts View Profile Close mschatz]

Travel by train

Here are the one day trips from Metro North the northern suburbs. There are lots of choices.

MTA Metro-North Railroad

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

Maybe my image of New York is wrong, but I expect nothing other than high rise buildings, masses of people and no room to breathe! Tell me I'm wrong The thought of a full week of that would drive me crazy. If there are areas that are attractive and more laid back I could cope.
This really is planned as a trip for my wife as she has spoken many times about wanting to visit New York. She's earned it with all the hassles and stress she has put up with since my mother died. I've been handling the estate and it hasn't been easy!

[Linda74 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Linda74]

Keith, New York is a vibrant city with many neighborhoods . Our friends from West Yorkshire can't get enough of NYC. You have many Tug friends here, and I am sure we can find ways to help you keep your sanity. We live in the suburbs, a quick train ride away. There are some lovely mansions along the Hudson River. The FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) home and museum in Hyde Park, NY are beautiful. And, I bet you will just love seeing how much of an influence your great country has had on ours, right down to the naming of towns.

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

I can't believe none of you have mentioned beautiful Connecticut!

Visit Connecticut - State of Connecticut Office of Tourism - Official CT Tourism Site

The Maritime Aquarium

Mystic Seaport: The Museum of America and the Sea™ : Home

However, as Avery said, a week is not that long to spend in the city. If you decide to come in October, though, I would definitely consider coming to Connecticut to see the foliage, as it is spectacular.

If you do want to venture out of Manhattan but stay in New York City, you might also consider:

The New York Botanical Garden

Sharon

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

If you do want to venture out of Manhattan but stay in New York City, you might also consider:

The New York Botanical Garden

Sharon

One of my favorites but I think it will pretty much be limited to the conservatory at that point.

Keith what are your interests? You could always come up to "Lawren Country" for the day and we can go up to Bear Mountaiin and West Point. There are quite a few revolutionary war sites up here as well. If the weather is good I can easily be co-erced into a hike at Minnewaska. New York State Parks :: Minnewaska State Park Preserve

If you have any interest in european medievel art you can take a train ride up to the Cloisters The Cloisters, New York the unicorn tapestries alone are worth the trip.

You would never know you were still on the island of Manhattan

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

I can't believe none of you have mentioned beautiful Connecticut!

You're right, the foliage is beautiful, and Foxwood is also in CT, if you have an interest in visiting a Casino.

[IreneLF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close IreneLF]

Walk through Central Park - you will not think you are in the city - on the way to visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Also pay a visit to the Guggenheim or Whitney museums while you're in the area, if what they have on display is of interest.
Visit a real neighborhood in Manhattan - Greenwich Village, Chelsea or Soho. More small townhouses rather than big highrises, and meandering streets. These areas would tend to be more crowded on weekends so go during the week.

[Ann-Marie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ann-Marie]

You can take the city bus tour, and hop on and off all day. Visit the 9/11 memorial. Circle Line cruise will probably still be running. Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island. Empire State Buiding. Can't miss at least one or more Broadway shows. Carmine's for dinner.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Maybe my image of New York is wrong, but I expect nothing other than high rise buildings, masses of people and no room to breathe! Tell me I'm wrong The thought of a full week of that would drive me crazy. If there are areas that are attractive and more laid back I could cope.
This really is planned as a trip for my wife as she has spoken many times about wanting to visit New York. She's earned it with all the hassles and stress she has put up with since my mother died. I've been handling the estate and it hasn't been easy!

If your wife likes shopping and loves to see shows too, she will love NYC. I only wonder about the weather if it will be nice enough for walking in the city?

A week in New York flies by way too fast, imho. You may meet some great people too. By the way, the high rises in NYC are built a certain way so that there is always enough of a breeze to make walking pleasant and I was there when it was pretty hot and humid too. Parking a car would be very expensive in NYC and walking is almost faster.

They even have a red double decker bus which may remind you of home. I loved the loop tours too.

[rklein01 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rklein01]

Another vote for the Cloisters Museum in Upper Manhattan.

Getting there is easy - - it's the last stop on the M4 bus. By the way, although the suggested admission is now $20 per person, the Cloisters like the main Metropolitan Museum has a pay-what-you-wish policy, so simply tell the cashier how much you'd like to pay.

We were just in Edinburgh Castle, where they're hand-weaving copies of the Unicorn Tapestries that you'll see there.


Manhattan of course is an island, so another change of pace might be either to visit the Statue of Liberty or take the 3-hour Circle Line boatride around Manhattan.