2. Go for a Freshwater Swim
Dive into a freshwater lake at one of these nearby swimming holes.
3. Conquer SplashDown Beach
Float down the lazy river at SplashDown Beach, a popular water park in the Hudson Valley.
4. Head for The Shore
Hit the beach and the boardwalk amusem*nts at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. It’s one of the closest Shore towns to the city where you can get the full, family-friendly Jersey Shore experience during a summer day trip from NYC. Drive a bit further to Atlantic City to check out the Island Water Park at the Showboat Hotel.
5. Go to a Nature Center
TheGreenburgh Nature Centerisone of our favorite nature centers in Westchester, and it has plenty of wild friends to meet, plus kids can romp on the natural playground made of wood and surrounded by boulders for climbing. There are plenty of gentle walking trails surrounding the grounds, too. So, pack a picnic to make a day of it.
6. Climb a Lighthouse
Long Island’s East End and North Fork offer some stunning options.
7. Float Splish Splash's Lazy River
Keep everyone cool at the 95-acre Splish Splash water park on Long Island's East End. A word of caution: Traffic to the Hamptons in the summer can, of course, be excruciating. The only way to avoid it is to go very early in the morning, which makes this full-size water park the perfect day trip. Turn it into an overnight with these hotel recommendations.
8. Visit an Animal Farm
Cozy up to the animals at Brookhollow’s Barnyard in North Jersey or one of these petting zoos near NYC.
9. See Large-Scale Art
Pack a picnic and spend the day among the outdoor art at the 500-acre Storm King Art Center or one of these other outdoor art destinations nearby.
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Explore Field Station: Dinosaurs just over the GW Bridge.
10. Play Paleontologist
Walk the grounds ofField Station: Dinosaursin Overpeck County Park, just over the George Washington Bridge. Watch out for T. Rex at the end.
11. Go North to the Nutmeg State
Connecticut abounds with family-friendly summer fun in its state parks, nature centers, and charming waterfront towns
12. Spend a Day in Tarrytown
One of our favorite “rivertowns,” there's plenty of family-friendly fun in Tarrytown, from touring Lyndhurst Castle to strolling down Main Street, where you can find great restaurants and coffee shops. Treat the family to a few scoops of ice cream at Main Street Sweets.
13. Explore Another Hudson Valley Spot
Hop on the Metro-North to visit one of these other cute towns, including Beacon, New York, home to the famous large-scale art museum Dia Beacon.
14. Hit the Slopes at Mountain Creek
Mountain Creek is a sure bet for winter activities and summer excursions, when its water park is open for splashing fun, along with a bike park, zip line, and even a mountain coaster.
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There's tons of fun to be had at Playland Parkin Rye. Photo by Anna Fader
15. Enjoy Old-School Amusem*nts at Playland Park
Another Metro-North option? All aboard to Westchester's old-fashioned, but super fun,PlaylandPark. You can even hop a ferry straight to the park onselectdates!
16. Explore the East End
See the undersea creatures at the Long Island Aquarium, and spend the rest of the day exploring the town of Riverhead, with its vineyards, beaches, and mini-train rides.
17. Experience Niagara Falls
Visit Niagara Falls to marvel at stunning waterfalls and explore the Buffalo area.
18. Build STEM Skills at the Liberty Science Center
If you haven’t yet checked out the Liberty Science Center, go now! It offers hands-on fun for all ages in an enormous multi-floor building in Liberty State Park. There are climbing structures to conquer, plus hands-on exhibits, and so much more for ages 2 and up.
19. Build Some Fun With Legos
Sure, you could visit the Legoland Discovery Center at Westchester's Ridge Hill or American Dream in New Jersey's Meadowlands, but for completely over-the-top, everything-is-awesome-fun, why not head to Legoland New York, the larger-than-life theme park in Goshen, New York.
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The beach, the boardwalk, and more fun await in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
20. Adventure to Asbury Park
Enjoy the beach atAsbury Park, sure, but there are plenty of on-shore entertainment options here, too, from boardwalk murals to great eats, music, and even a skate park.
21. Forget Fruit, Pick Flowers
Long Island's Lavender By The Bay comes alive with fragrant, beautiful blooms in mid-June. You can also find tons of flower farms in New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York. Pack some good shears for cutting and a good camera for colorful photo-ops.
22. Go for a Thrill Ride...
There are plenty of picks for amusem*nt park thrills nearby, including the these top thrill rides and roller coasters at area theme parks.
23. ... Or a Wild Ride
The Six Flags drive-thru safari features a whopping 1,200 animals from six continents, including elephants, rhinos, tigers, giraffes, and lions.
24. Go Country
Speaking of fairs, try theDutchess County FairinRhinebeck, from Tuesday, August 20-Sunday, August 25, with rides, games, food, and animals. Or theEmpire State Fair, from Friday,June 28-Sunday, July 14, which is one ofLong Island's biggest summer fairs.
Rockefeller State Park has miles of trails to wander. Photo by Sara Marentette
25. Go for a Hike
We've got tons of family-friendly hiking picks, from the lovely state parks of the Hudson Valley to beach walks on Long Island and waterfall hikes in Northern Jersey.
26. Step Back in Time
Don your best princess or knight gear to take in the New York Renaissance Faire, which runs from Saturday, August 17-Sunday, October 6, with jousting, crafts, and more performances in New York’s Sterling Forest.
27. Explore a Historic Estate
We were blown away by the stunning panoramas and sweeping views at the Olana State Historic Site when we visited. It's easy to see why these vistas inspired Frederic Church's professional artistry.
28. Test Your Fear of Heights
We love a goodzip line, adventure course, or ropes courseto get the blood flowing. Conquer dozens of climbing challenges at thePalisades Climb Adventureinside the Palisades Center mall. A separate Sky Tykes course is geared toward kids under 48 inches. Or take the big kids for Hudson River views while climbing the outdoor aerial course atSpins Hudsonin Peekskill.
29. Enjoy aDaycation
A day trip doesn't have to take you outside city limits. When was the last time you explored another borough? On our summer bucket list: visitingStaten IslandincludingSnug Harbor, taking theferry out to Governor's Island, exploring Manhattan's coolestgreen space, Little Island, and trekking out to Sunset Park to exploreBrooklyn's Industry City.
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Pick summer peaches at Alstede.
30. Hit the Farm
Pick your own blueberries and blackberries or even peaches. Plan to pick at a farm with a little agri-entertainment like these 10 New Jersey farms.
31. Hunt the Jersey Devil
Visit the mythical Pine Barrens of New Jersey, where you can learn local folklore, go for a hike, catch a fresh fish dinner, and visit the Popcorn Zoo.
32. Ferry Yourself Away
Catch aferry to Fire Islandto enjoy access to the car-free fun, clean beaches, and an old-time feeling. Of course, the ferry ride is part of the allure.
33. Explore Long Beach
Spread your blanket atLong Beach, Long Island, one of the easiest NYC-area beaches to get to via publictransportation—justhop on the LIRR from Penn Station or the Flatbush Terminal. It feels like a real beach and is often less crowded than, say, Rockaway. It’s a quick walk to the sand from the train.
Search for fairies or a waterfall at the South Mountain Reservation.
34. Search for Fairies
Walk the fairy trail in New Jersey’s South Mountain Reservation, or explore this green space’s more commercial spots like the Turtle Back Zoo with lions, a train ride, a ropes course, mini golf, and even a destination-worthy playground.
35. Head for the Hills
The Pocono Mountains are close enough for a day trip and action-packed with family-friendly fun. Woodloch Pines is a great, all-inclusive family resort offering loads of activities if you want to extend your stay.
36. Ride a Bike
Tackle New York's spectacular 750-mile-long Empire State Trail, the nation’s longest multi-use trail. It runs from Manhattan up to the Canadian border and from Buffalo to Albany, with lots of family-friendly stops along the way.
Photos by the author except where noted. A version of this post was published in 2018; it is updated annually.
