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Day trips from Manhattan without a car

I've combed through so many travel books about one-day and weekend getaways from New York City. Unfortunately, most of them require a car.

I've been to some great places without a car like Cold Spring, New York on the Hudson via Metro North Railroad. Spring Lake and Point Pleasant via New Jersey Transit. The Long Island Railroad also has some day trips.

Would love recommendations for one-day trips not more than two hours on public transportation. Love quaint towns, seaside or mountains, good restaurants and shops.

Thanks for all suggestions.

There are a couple of books devoted to just that, daytrips from Manhattan without a car: Frommer's Great Escapes From NYC Without Wheels (Wonderful Weekends)
Heavenly Weekends: Travel Without a Car, 52 Daytrips, Overnight and Weekend Getaways Near NY (City and Company

I think they hit all the usual places , including the ones you've already mentioned. The problem is usually that once you get off your train, you still need a cab to get to someplace. Buses work for some towns, but you won't get very far for your 2 hour liimit

Still, I'd add:
New Canaan Connecticut -- town, shops, restaurants, and Philip Johnson's Glass House if that interests you, The train stops right in town.

Norwalk Connecticut. I'm not sure which train stop is best, but one takes you close enough to the SoNo area, good shops, restaurants, water --the Maritime Center is there, aquarium Imax theater. I think there are boat rides to a nearby island and lighthouse.

Any place near mountains (not many within the 100 miles or so that you'd be able to cover in 2 hours or less)is less likely to have a train stop right near the area so you'd have to allow for taxis . Then you're also probably not near a town with shops and restaurants

There are a lot of places you can get to by train - but then would have to organize a cab to get around.

Tarrytown and houses in the area

On Long Island:

Old Bethpage village Restoration is fascinating
Air and Space Museum in Westbury
Teddy Roosevelt's home in Oyster Bay

the problem is that the RRs don;t go directly to the tourist sights.

You could take the train to Huntington, LI, cab down to the village, hang around for awhile eating and shopping and then cab (you'd have to call one) over to the exceedingly pretty Cold Spring Harbor. And when it's over take the train from Cold Spring Harbor (cab again). Or train directly to CSH. Not trying to confuse you.

Do not forget the Hampton Jitney, a bus that can take you out to the East End of Long Island, to one of the many towns that dot the North and South Forks.

http://www.hamptonjitney.com/cgi-bin...?page=res.html

Thanks to all for your recommendations. I will definitely check out the books you listed, nyer.

I should have mentioned that I don't mind taking a cab or car service to the town.

Please keep all suggestions coming. I'm sure there are many people who live in Manhattan and the other boroughs who would love to getaway without a car.

Here's another site for day trips

http://www.drvoyageur.com/guides/nyctrips-kykuit.html

NY Waterways also has a day trip up the Hudson to the Rockefeller estate at Kykuit.

If you could stretch to 3 hours each way you could take Amtrak to Mystic CT. Mystic Seaport is a good destination.
The late train back to NYC gets back about 10:30PM.

hi nyer,

Thanks for your book suggestions. I couldn't find them in my local Barnes & Noble or in used bookstores but I was able to order them on Half.com by Ebay.

I'm really looking forward to reading the books. Thanks again to you and other posters for the great suggestions.

Additional suggestions are really appreciated.
Beau

nyer said: "Norwalk Connecticut. I'm not sure which train stop is best, but one takes you close enough to the SoNo area, good shops, restaurants, water --the Maritime Center is there, aquarium Imax theater. I think there are boat rides to a nearby island and lighthouse."

Have been there, and the commuter rail station is South Norwalk. The station is a short distance from the aquarium and IMAX theater, and the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion is about a mile walk away. The little downtown in South Norwalk is very pleasant, with shops and eateries.