Nature & Parks Excursions

Bear Mountain State Park sits less than two hours from New York City — close enough for a spontaneous Saturday, dense enough to fill two full days if you stay overnight. Day Trip Overnight Option Ages 3+ No Hiking Required Year-Round I want to give you an honest picture of this place before you load […]

Constitution Marsh will strand you in mud if you miss the tide window — and that’s actually the first thing worth knowing before you load the kayaks and drive up from the city. Day Trip Ages 3+ Wildlife Viewing Guided Options Tidal Waters Rentals Available The Hudson Valley has a lot going for it as […]

The Dover Stone Cave trail near Dover, New York is one mile in and out, passes through forest and a stream, and ends at a cave with a waterfall inside — and it’s rated easy enough for a six-year-old to walk the whole thing without being carried. Day Trip Easy Trails Wildlife Viewing Waterfall Ages […]

The Palisades cliffs are 200 million years old and start about fifteen minutes from the George Washington Bridge. You can be standing under a 500-foot wall of volcanic rock before your coffee’s gone cold. Day Trip No Entry Fee Dog-Friendly Kayak Rentals No Swimming National Landmark The Palisades aren’t a single trail or a single […]

Harriman has 200 miles of trail and exactly two beaches, which means the hardest part of this trip is picking which version of the park you’re getting. Flat lakeshore with a six-year-old, or a rock scramble with a teenager — it’s rarely both. Day Trip Ages 6+ Two Swim Beaches Not Stroller-Friendly Dog-Friendly Under 4 […]

Kaaterskill Falls drops 260 feet in two tiers, takes under an hour to hike round trip, and sits about two hours from Manhattan — which makes it one of the most rewarding half-days you can give a family without booking anything in advance. Day Trip Family Hiking Ages 6+ No Booking Required Under 2 Hours […]