vacation spot within 4 - 5hrs of NY
 

Looking for high end vacation spot/resort within 4 -5 hours of NY. Will be traveling with a 7yr. old and 3 yr. old. We don't care if it is near a beach or not, just as long as it is nice,good food, has a pool and things for the kids to do.

Lake George, NY

Woodstock, Poconos, Catskills regions are all 2-3 hours with little traffic--unlike the Hamptons, Montauk and the Jersey Shore where you will sit in traffic no matter what time of day.

I've had good luck with VRBO rentals in Woodstock, in town--on the main street and outside. A 3 bdrm house with a pool for a week runs approx. $1K-1600 with a pool near the main street, few hundred for a weekend, again less further away--like a 15 minute drive.

Are these high end--meh, depends on what you are looking for but it is better housing rental stock than on LI. I'm high maintenance and it works for me.

The
Emerson, Mt. Tremper NY-in the Catskills

How about Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz. One of my favorite places. We took our son there a couple of times in the summer and he had a blast swimming in the lake, running on the trails, boating, etc. I think they still have a kid's program.

Tanglewood (the festival), Lee (there is beach nearby), Stockbrige, especially the Red Lion Inn. www.redlioninn.com

Stockbridge also has great summer theatre and a very 'Norman Rockwell' feel: our daughter loved this town as a youngster.

4-5 hrs from NY covers alot of territory; BUT I cannot ok Lake George-- if anything to me it is low end. The Hudson River Valley is lovely, but with little kids, they'd be bored stiff; ditto for Berkshires/Tanglewood and Saratoga Springs. I'd put them in the car and head south to the beaches with rides--Spring Lake NJ is lovely and amidst the mansions -- check out The Breakers but take them to Pt. Pleasant for the boardwalk and rides. Just dont get on the Parkway on a Friday afternoon, otherwise you'll be there in 2 hrs. Every big city has Friday rush-hour traffic-- OR, even better go 3 hrs to Cape May NJ, staying in a top resort (too many to mention) and take the kids to nearby Wildwood Crest where the beach is the best in the tri-state area, bar none. Check out Diamond Beach resort in Wildwood and boardwalk is like none other. Cape May has many 4-star restaurants, but doubt that would impress your kids. Hamptons are gorgeous but not for little ones, go back there in 10+ years.