Weekend Trips

The Fall is a great time to head out of town for some family travel. For the best weekend getaways over the Columbus Day weekend, look no further than Pennsylvania. That's right! It is just an hour or two away but offers a wide variety of activities and venues that are just perfect for a day trip or more with the kids. Here are six great ideas for places to visit in Pennsylvania over Columbus Day Weekend, or any time. From the Poconos to Amish Country, Hershey Park to Philadelphia and even a fun-filled factory tour, there's lots to do with the kids:

Halloween is around the corner. Time to hop in the Zipcar and head out for some pumpkin picking, farm fun, Fall festivals and corn mazes. Here’s a list of some of the best pumpkin picking farms on Long Island, each with their own special reasons that they're worth the trip.

All Aboard!  Your train loving kid will flip over these trains--eight miles of miniature railway track, old fashioned train trips, a ride through the Allaire State Park and kid sized trains in parks.  Put away the that Thomas video and check out the real deal--bring your child (and your inner child) to the trains of New Jersey.

Many people want to know where you can pick your own organic apples near NYC. I've asked the farmers about this and they say that in our climate it's very hard to farm apples organically and nobody really does it. Instead what you'll find is farms that use low-spray or sustainable farming practices.

While apples are one of the foods that are recommended that we eat organic because of the high amounts of pesticides and fungicides generally used, if you can't get organic local apples, at least know that picking your own apples or buying local apples is much better for the environment than buying organic apples shipped in from distant climes and supports small local farmers.

Here are a couple of places where you can pick your own not-quite-organic apples in New York:

If you want to get out of the city for Labor Day weekend but you don't have a car, don't fret. You don't have to feel left out of the weekend getaway crowd, just because you don't have a car and loads of cash. There are several fun places you can go for the day or weekend using public transportation. These inexpensive getaways are fun for the whole family. Just hop on the bus or train and you're on your way to a world of fun.

The end of summer means time for one last fling with fun. One last chance to lose yourself to the joys of summer. It also means time for The Fair. Just a short drive from NYC families can find themselves in 4H country. State and county fairs boast agricultural exhibits where farm kids compete for the best rabbits, chickens, goats, pigs, cows, crafts and more. It's a wonderful view into a completely different type of childhood experience, not to mention a great big petting zoo. New York County Fairs have agricultural exhibits, carnival rides, live music, and much much more. It's really a great time for everyone and kids of all ages love it.

If you're heading to the beaches of Long Island, there's a great new site to check out. KidMontauk gives parents the inside skinny in everything you need to know to have a blast on and off the beach in Montauk, NY. Heather D'Agostino, the site's founder offered to fill us in on her Top Ten Things to Do with Kids in Montauk. Thanks, Heather!

They don't call it The Garden State for nothing. New Jersey is a great place to go to pick your own summer fruit and veggies. Whether it is strawberries, peaches, or peas, you can find plenty of u-pick farms in New Jersey.  Picking your own produce is great thing to do, especially with kids. Not only does it help you eat locally with farm fresh produce, but it's important for kids to learn about where their food comes from and make that connection with the farm. Plus it's lots of fun.

The NJ picking season starts end of May for strawberries with other berries and peaches coming in season end of June through end of July and apples, pumpkins and other vegetables available through the Fall.  Here are some of our favorite farms close to New York City for picking your own fruits and vegetables. Click through to each u-pick farm to find out what they have ripe for u-pick now, plus hours and directions, but also call ahead before you go to make sure they aren't picked out.

There is another great Summer vacation spot out East on Long Island, and it is a great place to visit for a weekend or a long day with your family. Thanks again to our friend Jill for sharing her ideas on the can't miss spots in Sag Harbor.

Sag Harbor is a great little Hampton town that doesn’t feel like you are in “the Hamptons”. It is an old whaling village that still retains its old style charm. Most of what you want to see is right on Main Street or on some of the smaller side streets – all within walking distance. It is best to find parking and just walk around. To me, the walk itself is very soothing as the town is so quaint it makes the perfect escape from bustling New York City. There are great stores to do some shopping ranging from clothing to toys to surf shops and book stores to antiques and even art galleries; Sag Harbor offers something for everyone.

We love state fairs. With all the animals, games, rides and junk food, they are full of old-fashioned fun for the entire family. While we've written about all the New York State and County Fairs and that post is in our Summer Activity Guide, but we also love the New Jersey State Fair, which is opening in the end of July.

The NJ State Fair was started in 1821 and retains an old-fashioned charm today. Just one hour’s drive from NYC, the NJ State Fair is filled with a slew of animals rivaling Noah, a fairway full of rides, pig races, butterfly exhibits, bee-keeping exhibitions and a food court offering everything from home-made baked-potatoes to blooming onions and corn-dogs—your kids’ll be enthralled.  And did we mention a wine-making competition and a beer tent?  And there's even free parking.