When school ends and summer kicks in, you could all use a little new scenery — and keeping travel-time to a minimum is key. Below is a list of grown-up spots that a kid will also find fun. No Disney. No Club Med. Just family-friendly weekend getaways within a few hours of the city.
Lake Placid, New York: Home of the Olympic village and situated in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains, there’s plenty to do here: Hike, fish, canoe, bike, swim, indoor ice skate, take a tour of the Olympic sites, or a scenic boat ride to check out the Great Camps on Lake Placid. Mirror Lake Inn on the lakeshore has its own beach and a health spa for some adult pampering.
Northwest Corner Connecticut & the Berkshires: Walking, lake swimming, hiking, art galleries, impressive restaurants — plus music, dance, and theater in Tanglewood. Visit the Norman Rockwell Museum for family fun activities, and check-out the famous Lime Rock Park raceway. The Interlaken Inn offers extensive country gardens, an outdoor pool and special family packages.
Spring Lake, New Jersey: Just about an hour outside of Manhattan via car or NJ Transit from Penn Station is the sleepy beach town of Spring Lake. Founded in 1892, you’ll find rambling Victorian mansions with wraparound porches, and a kid’s park surrounded by weeping willows and a spring-fed lake with swans. The two-mile non-commercial boardwalk is great for strollers and leads to an immaculate stretch of beach. Let the kids experience some traditional Jersey-style rides and amusements at the Point Pleasant boardwalk. The Breakers Hotel is just steps from the ocean and has a unique Jersey Shore style.
Amagansett, NY: For Hampton diehards, check out the family-friendly Gansett Green Manor, which is happy to accommodate requests for high chairs, baby monitors, cribs and babysitters. Charming, comfortable cottages, surrounded by beautiful beaches — all within walking distance of shops and restaurants.
Mystic, Connecticut: About as family-friendly and fun for adults as it gets with its nineteenth-century seaport, cool aquarium, nearby beaches, and namesake pizza joint.