I'm looking for suggestions for interesting places to day trip to, by car, from central New Jersey. My son has been living there for a couple of years and normally doesn't have a car, but will have the use of mine for three weeks and wants to make use of it to visit some places he can't get to by train. He's done the Jersey shore in previous years. I was thinking Northern New Jersey, New York Catskills, or PA. But he'd like some specific suggestions of places to go in those areas. Any ideas?

Walk around downtown Ridgewood, NJ and have lunch...

Visit West Point...(it's in NYS)

Vanderbilt Mansion and FDRs house in New Hyde Park, NY

Catskill Game farm if you have kids...

New Hope, PA

Are you completel ruling out NYC? Where in Central Jersey is your son located?

A drive along the upper Hudson river is well worth it and you have plenty of stops as mentioned, Hyde Park, West Point, Culinary Institute of America, etc.

Also visit the Finger Lakes.

He is rightfully ruling out NYC ... because he wants to drive.

Anyway, the Poconos is about a couple of hours away.

I second the suggestion on the Hudson Valley in NY for, among other things, wineries, apple orchards and quaint towns.

New Haven, Connecticut for some great pizza.

Two more ideas: New Paltz and Rhinebeck...

Cape May, NJ

New Hope, PA & Lambertville, NJ two quaint towns that straddle the Delaware River.

Hudson River Valley as mentioned in several posts above has great options.

Oops missed the driving part in the OP - sorry! What time of year are you planning to do this? If it's in the summer, he should definitely check out some of the Jersey shore points (Cape May, Stone Harbor). I love Bucks County, especially New Hope. There are great restaurants and shops to check out. Bucks County is also really close to Central Jersey, so it would be an easy day trip. The Delaware Water Gap is also a beautiful area for hiking.

Thanks for the responses thus far! This is the son in question. I'd like to clarify a few things.

First, I actually live in northern NJ, not central--I commute to Manhattan's financial district, so not only is it not exactly a "trip", but bill boy is correct that I certainly don't want to drive there. Jersey driving is bad enough for someone who grew up driving in a rural area.

I have no kids, the trip would just be myself and my fiancee, so we don't need kid-friendly stuff. We'd prefer to avoid the Jersey Shore, if only because we've been to multiple towns there already, and it's going to be pretty crowded this time of year. And we'd also prefer to avoid New England--I grew up there, so most of it's not new.

And finally, don't rule out places in inland NJ; if there are any hidden jewels in the Garden State that would be worth driving to from Union County, do let us know.

Thanks again, and please keep the ideas coming!

Oh, and a final clarification, this is going to be next weekend (not this upcoming one, but the following one). We usually have a car at this time of year, so your advice will mostly be applicable for the summertime.

As far as inland Jersey, I saw this on Tony Bourdain's travel show about NJ, and I've been bugging my husband to go there ever since.

http://www.cowsoutside.com/

It's a small farm with grass-fed cows that makes artisinal cheeses and breads. Sort of dorky, but it looked interesting to me.

How about either Longwood Gardens or Chanticleer (English style gardens). Both are in Pennsylvania - less than 3 hr drive from Northern NJ. The gardens should be beautiful this time of year. Longwood has a nice restaurant (for lunch). Chanticleer allows you to bring your own picnic basket.

Just had another thought. How about Gettysburg?

Cowtown Rodeo around exit 2 on the turnpike is supposed to be really fun. I haven't gone yet but have family members who love it. For some really unique trips check out www.weirdnj.com and www.roadsideamerica.com.

Hey...my wife and I live in Union County also.

We are very lucky to live in this area, you could do different things every Sunday and never run out. Some of the day trips we are planning are:

1) Bushkill Falls, PA
2) long weekend at Philly / Washington D.C.
3) Boston (and other New England locations)
4) Mystic, MA
5) Bear Mountain, NY
6) Martha's Vineyard

We are going August 11th on a long weekend to Niagara Falls.

Z.