last minute travel suggestions?

on the spur of the moment, the gf and i have scheduled a zip car for a day trip tomorrow.

any suggestions on where we should go?

we'd like to go somewhere nature-y, where we can hike about and ideally i can see water of some kind (river, waterfall, etc -- does not have to be the ocean). we'd like to keep the driving distance under 2 hours if possible.

i'm doing other research of course, but i'd love to know what your favorite spots are.

Subject: Re: last minute travel suggestions?

sweet tea wrote: on the spur of the moment, the gf and i have scheduled a zip car for a day trip tomorrow.

any suggestions on where we should go?

we'd like to go somewhere nature-y, where we can hike about and ideally i can see water of some kind (river, waterfall, etc -- does not have to be the ocean). we'd like to keep the driving distance under 2 hours if possible.

i'm doing other research of course, but i'd love to know what your favorite spots are.

daily candy (dailycandy.com) just had a "travel" issue and it included a spot ... somewhere that was 2ish hours from nyc.

I like to drive out to the state park on Fire Island, park it & go. Very nice. Also Bear Mountain up north is pretty cool, and you can go shopping at Woodbury after. But my fav for hiking might be Breakneck Ridge up in the same area - steep climb right over the Hudson. Then you go to one of the little Hudson towns after.

Storm King is a sculpture park around 1:45 away, depending on traffic getting out of the city. It's excellent paired with the Audubon Nature preserve that's up there too - very swampy, wooden pathways, on the Hudson. Magic, but I'm blanking on the name, sorry. :oops: That one can be a little hard to find.

http://www.stormking.org/

If you're ever headed out for the weekend, and a little further up, there's a used bookstore in Hillsdale NY called The Book Barn that y'all might really enjoy. That's closer to 2 1/2 - 3 hours up. And even farther than that is North Adams MASS, and MASS MOCA, the fannnnntastic contemporary arts place in a compound of old factory buildings. Pretty up there...

Like the Big Guy, I bet Fire Island would be great in this weather. I haven't been to the nature preserve part of that (or of Queens for that matter) but I imagine it's good.

don't forget about your mileage... only 125 included for less than a 24 hour rental. we got pretty close and we just putzed around long island.

Check out the Delaware Water Gap on West I-80. Both the NJ and PA sides are very pretty although I will say the NJ side has better hiking, easier access to the river and has a ton of wild flower poaching opportunities.. It's about a 90 minute drive.

thanks guys!

we ended up going to harriman state park -- and bear mountain too, briefly, to eat bratwurst at their oktoberfest. the hiking around silvermine lake in harriman was gorgeous.

then we had a bit of antiquing and a ghastly dinner (oh well) in cold spring.


if people have ideas for other daytrips, keep 'em coming, i say!

I think it's a bit father than 2 hours, but Cape May, NJ is a really cute old town in the bottom of New Jersey. Think well restored old victorian houses, kinda cheesy tea rooms, main streets on the beach. great to stroll around though in moderate temp. and look at houses and foiiage. Accessible by 95 south.

Cold Spring!
That's where the Audubon marsh or tidal basin or whatever - nature walk with birds and boardwalk...but I guess you're not too keen on going back there...

Cold Spring!
That's where the Audubon marsh or tidal basin or whatever - nature walk with birds and boardwalk...but I guess you're not too keen on going back there...

oh, i'm sure we will be back. we do want to check out storm king sometime, although this weekend was not the time. so i'l happy to know about the marsh.

Malibu Dude Ranch in Milford PA: http://www.malibududeranch.com/