What are the best side trips maximum 2 hours from NYC.

Storm King, vast outdoor sculpture garden.
Philly
Berkshires-but that is three hours.

Spring Lake, NJ

I'll second the Storm King recommendation.

For who - a family, a couple, seniors? What time of year? What are your interests? By car, or do you need public transit?

There are a ton, but you need to give more info so we advise you.

Right on, nytraveler, but, in any event, Sagamore Hill National Historic Site and Old Bethpage Village on Long Island, or, up the Hudson, West Point and the FDR Library and Vanderbilt Mansion at Hyde Park.

HTTY

During December
Will have Car
Family of 5 youngest 12
Small towns

If it's December, then you can forget about Storm King. It's closed. Knowing you're coming during the cold-weather season means we'll have to rethink our recommendations!

OK - December is a little iffy, since many places have shorter hours. And within 2 hours of New York is mostly suburbs - although some of them have small town centers.

As long as the weather cooperates you could consider the following:

Teddy Roosevelt's home at Sagamore Hill along with the town of Oyster Bay

The Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City which you could combine with Roslyn for a cute town with park

Bear Mountain State Park or the US Military Academy at West Point combined with one of the Hudson River Towns

Tarrytown along with 1 or more of the Restoration houses/sights


If the weather is bad I reco doing these only if you have experience driving in ice/snow - and the 2-hour limit probably won;t apply.

Not sure I'd do too much driving in Dec. Holiday/shopping season makes roads packed and our roads are not particularly scenic. I'd consider some daytrips by train. Heading north from Manhattan, the train tracks follow the Hudson River. The roads don't. http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/outbound.htm

nytraveler

thank you great recommendations

have a great weekend

I would not consider outdoor sites along the Hudson (i.e., West Point, Bear Mountain State Park, etc.) as A-List destinations in December. Cold weather does put a damper on many outdoor activities. Further, some of the best sites, i.e., Kykuit (the Rockefeller mansion) aren't even open that time of the year.

Many towns such as Spring Lake, NJ have special December events with a Christmas theme.

Most weekends starting on Thanksgiving weekend they will have Hayrides, Santa's Workshop, and a Miniature Village Train display

And on December 4, 2010
there is a Spring Lake Candlelight Christmas Inn Tour - Sponsored by the Historic Inns of Spring Lake -

And the local community theater always puts on a production of Scrooge

Not sure from where in NYC you will be starting your drive, but do keep in mind that 30-45 minutes of you 2 hours could be taken up with just getting out of Manhattan. Time of day, day of week, holiday season, and weather will all affect drive time.

Bear Mountain can be gorgeous in Dec - it depends on the temps and it it's snowed or not. Upper 40s can be a very bracing walk - 30s and sleeting is obviously not a great idea. The same is true for the other places. If you pick the right day it can work.