111op

So finally I feel like I don't have any commitments later this week. I'm looking to take a very short trip that will be easy to plan just for a change of scenery.

Does someone have any suggestions? This could be a day trip or perhaps a 2-day trip.

I've never been to the Hamptons, so I was thinking of going to take a look. But I've no idea what's there.

A beach of some sort seems appealing, even though I'm not a fan of beaches. I was thinking of Provincetown, but I've to fly to Boston and take a ferry. I've been to Fire Island also. I've not been to Cape May. This seems appealing, but it seems hard to get to.

I don't want to drive.

Since I'm not working, leaving on a weekday makes sense. I'm not too interested in being involved with big crowds.

I'll consider Hudson Valley too, but again, I'm not sure what's there and what's accessible without a car. I've been to Beacon to see Diaeacon.

I've been to the major cities around here already, including DC, Philadelphia, Boston, so I don't think that that's the way I really want to go.

Thanks!

joesorce

You can fly to Provincetown if you don't want to take the ferry, JFK to Boston then Boston connection to provincetown or nantucket or Martha's Vineyard. Actually I think Delta has nonstops JFK to Nantucket.

emalloy

Take Amtrack to New London, CT and then take the ferry to Block Island, RI, stay at the hotel there. The ferry port is very close to the train station.

SusieQQ

You could take a NJ Transit train to a number of nice New Jersey Beach Towns. Check out any from Asbury Park on down to the end of the line, Bay Head.
http://www.newjerseyshore.com/
http://www.state.nj.us/travel/shr.html

suite7

How many days do you have total? Bermuda is only 90 mins by air. Miami is fun, and inexpensive now with lots to do. Montreal is a great city with terrific restaurants. or just get in the car, drive through the Berkshires, up to Vermont or Maine with no specific plan in mind...

smixson

Go to Charleston, SC

111op

Thanks for the suggestions so far. A friend actually just went to Asbury Park. I'll check that out (I'd forgotten what town it was -- just somewhere in NJ -- until this note jogged my memory).

I've been to Montreal and Toronto. As I was saying, I don't want to drive.

I think that I can be away for 1-3 days. I probably would need to be back before next week for additional commitments. A day trip is probably the best, but a little longer should be fine.

Since it's very last-minute I don't think that I can fly anywhere, but I'll check the ticket prices.

I suspect that I'll be doing some more short trips through part of August anyway, so if I can't use these suggestions for this week, I'll be sure to try to use them in the near future. Thanks again.

escargot

How about Mohonk Mountain Resort in New Paltz - there is a bus from NYC that brings you a few miles from the resort and they will come and pick you up - once on property you do not need transport - you can hike, rock climb, paddle boat, canoe, golf, horse back ride, swim in pool, enjoy the spa, read in rocking chairs on the deck - there are movies and entertainment at night - beautiful gardens to walk through - and I think about 90 minutes for you on the bus - my daughter met us there once and it was easy for her - the buses leave almost very hour or two -
If you click on my screen name and scroll down, to where my trip reports are, the report from that trip is there -

for 1-3 days,personally, I wouldn't want to waste more than 2 hours getting somewhere

escargot

and if you don't want big crowds, and that might mean you don't want to stay in the main house - then rent one of the cottages like we did - we rented the old golf cottage right on the course - it was charming and secluded and you can bbq and sit in peace !

111op

Sadly, I've managed to do nothing yet. But I've done some flipping through of guide books, and one of them mentioned Block Island, RI also. I'll take a look.

In the meantime I just Googled and came up with this link of beaches near NYC. Others may find it useful:

http://nymag.com/guides/summer/beaches/

I am looking also at day trips to the Hudson Valley. Under consideration are Hyde Park (topped a thread on this) and Kykuit (the Rockefeller Estate). If anyone has any comments, I'd appreciate them.

Thanks again.

(I'm determined to do something before the end of August.)

111op

Is there anything interesting in New Paltz? I seem to remember reading about it in a guidebook somewhere, but this is not that helpful:

http://www.newpaltz.org/Highlights.html

I'm thinking that maybe I can combine this with a trip to the FDR Estate and Vanderbilt Mansion. New Paltz is not far from Poughkeepsie.

Thanks!

doug_stallings

But I'm not sure how you do this trip without driving. I suppose there is some kind of taxi service at Poughkeepsie that can get you to the Vanderbilt Mansion and FDR Estate since they are not far, but they are certainly not walkable.

doug_stallings

On short notice, I think Montauk would be quite doable during the week. There are hotels, and you don't need a car there.

Sandy Hook, NJ, is suitable for a day trip.

There is a fast ferry now direct to Martha's Vineyard from the west side, but Iit runs only on weekends.

You could get to Providence, RI, by Amtrak easily, and you don't need a car there.

111op

Thanks, Doug. Yes, I've called the FDR site and taken down the number of a cab company. Otherwise there's a "Roosevelt Ride" between Poughkeepsie station and the site -- it's just that I'd want to visit the Vanderbilt Mansion also, so cab will be better.

I wasn't aware of the ferry to Martha's Vineyard.

But yes, I've thought about Sandy Hook and also Jones Beach. I'd like to go but I just haven't had time.

Any thoughts about New Paltz?

anthonybiondojr

There are a ton of great places along the Jersey Shore that are a short trip away from NYC. You can check out some of the shore towns at http://www.visitnjshore.com

Hope this helps,
Anthony

nytraveler

The OP was traveling in 2009.