Travelers from all over the globe regularly take flights to New York City, or “The Big Apple” as it’s known. Unfortunately, too many travelers merely stay in Manhattan, forgetting to visit the surrounding boroughs of New York City and adjacent states like New Jersey and Connecticut.
Here are some day trips which neither break one’s bank or take up too much time.
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The Bronx Zoo
The Bronx, New York
Accessible by city bus, subway, Bee-Line express buses, and automobile, this zoo is easy to get to and worth the trip! Covering almost 300 acres, the Bronx Zoo houses a vast array of animals and has become a leader in the conservation of wild species. Their collection includes endangered animals from every continent, an aviary and a children’s zoo complete with camel rides.
Visitors can partake in most exhibits with a general admission ticket, which is free of charge for all park visitors on Wednesdays. Members of the military and their families are provided with discount tickets all days of the week. Special exhibits change regularly and may require a premium ticket, each priced at only five dollars.
Mystic Seaport and Museum
Mystic, Connecticut
Travel north to Connecticut and the most extensive maritime collection in the United States. Every member of the family will marvel at their historically accurate recreation of a 19th-century village, complete with tall ships and classic boats that you can explore. This “living museum” continues to be a favorite with both landlubbers and seafaring travelers year-round.
Jones Beach
Wantagh, New York
Leaving NYC for the expansive suburbs of Long Island contains many interesting rewards. Not the least of these comes with a visit to Jones Beach Island and Jones Beach State Park. Located on a barrier island connected via causeway to Wantagh, New York, this beach offers a wide variety of sporting facilities, sandy beaches, and entertainment possibilities.
Visitors swim in its large public swimming pool, dip into the ocean, or simply suntan on the shore. Animals lovers will want to tour the Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center, to meet marine animals and walk through the butterfly garden. Live shows and concerts by big-name artists are held at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, only steps away from the roar of the great Atlantic Ocean.
Woodbury Commons
Central Valley, New York
Shoppers who want to find spend a little less on designer fashions, schedule a day trip to the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets. Home to over 220 retail stores, this shopper’s paradise is located in the suburbs just north of Manhattan. Visitors from around the world flock to its many stores and boutiques, via rental car or buses that leave directly from the New York Port Authority. To serve the needs of all of their customers, the Woodbury staff maintains a currency exchange center, a shipping service, and foreign language interpreters.
Morristown National Historical Park
Morristown, New Jersey
The expression “Washington slept here” is completely true when you visit the Morristown National Historical Park. Tour where Washington’s Continental Army camped during the Revolutionary War. Original and recreated buildings join a museum filled with artifacts reflecting life in the 1700s. Once your flights to New York land and you arrive at your hotel, it’s just about an hour car ride from Manhattan (assuming that’s where you’ll be staying). Special programs and historical reenactments are routinely scheduled to reflect the patriotic spirit of this region.
Nature lovers should hike the nearby Jockey Hollow Trail. It is especially beautiful during the autumn months, when the forest displays its full fall foliage. Have you discovered another day trip out of New York City that you’d like to share? Let us know. We’re always on the look-out for new places to tour, shop and explore.
Have you taken any other day trips out of New York City? Tell us where you went in the comments!
