What a combo: the urban attractions of the City, plus terrific recreation and family resorts just hours away.
1. New York City: Top Things to do With Kids
New York City has plenty of fun for families visiting with kids of any age, and a visit with a teen can make a special "coming of age" type trip. Check out highlights from from several trips. Movie tours, harbor boat ride, great art museums, Top of the Rock...
2. More New York City With Kids
Photo of Toys'R'Us © T. Plowright
Check out great New York City toy stores that are more like entertainment venues, Big Apple Greeters (- explore with a friendly local volunteer who loves their town), toddler-friendly attractions, Disney on Broadway, good places to stay, and more.
3. Lake George
Photo courtesy of Visitlakegeorge.com.
This popular vacation spot for families is 3 to 4 hours drive from NYC. Features include: lake watersports; a setting within the giant Adirondack Park (with miles of hiking trails); centuries of history, brought to life at several museums; Victorian-era grand hotels; theme park and waterpark; and tourist-pleasers such as outlet malls.
4. Catskills Family-Friendly Resorts & Hotels
Photo courtesy of Mohonk Mountain House.
Just a hundred miles from NYC, the Catskills Mountains have been a summer getaway since the early 20th century; though the heydey's gone, there are still choices for families.
5. Frost Valley YMCA Family Camp
Photo courtesy of Frost Valley YMCA.
Family camps offer families a basically all-inclusive and affordable vacation, with lodging and meals provided as well as many outdoors activities. The Frost Valley YMCA Camp is in the Catskills and dates back to 1901; it moved to its current location in the fifties and now has 6000 acres for its summer camps for kids, teen adventure camps, Elderhostel programs, and Family Weekends. The latter are offered any weekend that's not during the summer camp period. Families can stay in platform tents, cabins,lodges, the inn-style Forstmann Castle, or the historical Straus Center. Seasonal fun includes just about any activity you can think off, including a 65-foot climbing tower. Horsriding is a special focus.
6. Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Photo courtesy of Rocking Horse Ranch.
A great choice for families, in the Catskills Shawangunk Mountains: on 500 acres just 90 minutes from NYC, with a mind-boggling array of activities, including trail rides, mini-golf, climbing wall; winter ski area with free instruction, boots and skis; indoor pool; nursery, day camp for ages 4 to 12. And all-inclusive pricing!
7. Mohonk Mountain House
Photo courtesy of Mohonk Mountain House.
Another example in the Catskills, Shawangunk Mountains: picture a Victorian castle perched on cliffs by a mountain lake; with 1200 acres, 85 miles of hiking trails, lots of outdoors activities year-round; and only 90 miles from NYC. Kids Club runs during summer and occasional weekend throughout the year; theme programs include Haunted Happenings at Halloween.
8. Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark
Photo courtesy of Six Flags Great Escape Lodge.
This Adirondack-themed family resort -- the first hotel with an indoor waterpark in New York state -- is part of the Great Escape theme park across the street. The Lodge is open year-round (while the theme park is seasonal.) Location 50 miles from Albany, 210 miles from NYC.
9. Cooperstown: Otesaga Resort Hotel
Photo courtesy of Otesaga Hotel.
A member of Historic Hotels of America, this grand lakeside New York resort hotel was built in 1909 and is walking distance from historic Cooperstown, "America's most perfect village", which has a living-history Farmer's Museum, the Baseball Hall of Fame, and more. Pool and lake swimming, canoeing, tennis, bike routes; kids stay free right up to age 18.
10. More New York State Resorts
Photo courtesy of The Sagamore.
From the classic Victorian grand hotel, The Sagamore, to a family farm...
11. New York Winter Vacations
Photo courtesy of Rocking Horse Ranch.
Ideas for winter season, in several regions of New York state, or out-of-state within 3 to 4 hours drive.
