<p>I actually thought about Newport last night. </p>
<p>I don’t know where we’ll wind up this time but I’m definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference.</p>
<p>How about the Berkshires? Lenox and Lee sound like what you’re talking about: Natural beauty nearby; cute, classy stores.</p>
<p>Actually we went to Lenox last vacation. Could repeat.
Like last time, nothing happening at Tanglewood or Jacob’s Pillow. Great timing.</p>
<p>90 miles from NYC -
New Paltz is a cute small town in NY - with restaurants and shops. The local U has arts and theater events. Very near, Mohonk Preserve in the Shawangunk Mountains – thousands of acres of forest- carriage roads and trails, beautiful cliffs and views. Bike or Walk. Wineries are nearby. Also other state parks - we did an hike through “ice caves” when we went a few years ago - in August. Very cool!
Might be hard to find a house though. We saw one on VBRO recently (Vacation Rentals by Owners) - nice but a bit pricey. Mohonk Moutain House is a great place to stay - and worth a visit even if you don’t take a room there (awesome walking trails). Can you tell that I like to hike??</p>
<p>Great Escape Lodge with an indoor water park at Lake George is something I think teens would actually like.</p>
<p>Another thought about Red Bank, NJ… it is 10 minutes from the beach, Sea Bright, Monmouth Beach, Gateway National Park, also Red Bank happens to be on the Navesink River, very picturesque. Whatever you do, enjoy!</p>
<p>Hopefully others are getting some ideas from this too.</p>
<p>We went to Mohonk years ago, and it was absolutely great.</p>
<p>But that was when I was making the bucks, & no college tuitions. That place is quite costly, especially for 2 or 3 rooms like we’d need.</p>
<p>For others with a smaller brood, and/or other circumstances, this is indeed a great spot.</p>
<p>New Paltz area has some nice wineries to visit. My husband has been to Mohonk for retreats and says it’s gorgeous.</p>
<p>I vote for Cape May. Love it there!</p>
<p>Forget Ithaca - it is graduation weekend at Cornell and hotels have been booked for 4 years - and even the cheapest flop house has raised its rates to hundreds of dollars per night. But, I’ll be there.</p>
<p>reverse idea
go inot Manhattan and get hotel rooms there.
Everyone else is leaving.
The “Bodies” exhibit, which teenagers would love is still on exhibit at the South Street seaport.
Get 1/2 price tickets at the TKTS booth there also.
Do something really touristy like the Circle Line Cruise,or a double decker tour.
don’t know where you are located,but you wouldnt eveh have to drive in,take the railroad!</p>
<p>monydad - I hear ya on Mohonk. We actually have never stayed there due to the prices. We stay locally - at a house - or once in a nice lodge near New Paltz. Then we visit all the nice places in the area - wineries, Minnewaska Park, AND Mohonk. I must admit we were a little turned off by having to pay a hefty “day pass” fee. They give you colorful wrist bands to mark you as outsiders. Wow - I feel poor! But once you’re up there, who cares? It’s so pretty. You can hike and eat in their restaurants. No tennis or other stuff though. Since you’ve stayed there before, that would probably be quite a letdown for your family though. For us - we just love it there - and we don’t mind stopping in and then waving goodbye. New Paltz has a few good restaurants - and there’s lots of stuff to do within a short drive.</p>
<p>I concur with CathyMee (I wrote a LONG post to the same effect that was eaten by the CC Gremlin). My idea: in the morning take the 1/9 train to South Ferry and walk your way north, stop at the TKTS booth south of Fulton Street, go to the Strand Bookstore on Fulton, have dim sum at Nice Restaurant on East Broadway, and go to the Tenement Museum (have pickles across the street at The Pickle Guy), walk through Soho and then up through the Greenmarket in Union Square (buy snacks), take a nap, go to the show, go to late dinner in the Village (anywhere on Cornelia Street, e.g.), go back home (or to your hotel). And that’s just Saturday. </p>
<p>Have fun.</p>
<p>I vote for Cape May. An alternative to Rehoboth is Lewes, Delaware, just north of Rehoboth. There is a beautiful state park there and you can take the ferry over to Cape May. You should be warned though that the trip to the beaches of New Jersey or Delaware is not for the faint of heart. Take a map and be prepared to swing off for a scenic tour when there’s a traffic jam. I grew up in lower Delaware and spent many a summer (and even a winter) in Rehoboth. It’s not the outer banks but shore is nice!</p>
<p>Ever done Hyde Park? About two hours or less north from the city. Bucolic, walkable, historic, artsy. They’re going to do a Memorial Day parade if you’re so inclined.
<a href=“http://www.hydeparkchamber.org/tourism.htm#links[/url]”>http://www.hydeparkchamber.org/tourism.htm#links</a></p>
<p>Scroll down for the tourism map with links. Note: Home of the Culinary Institute (your kids DO love to eat, don’t they?).</p>
<p>The reverse NYC idea may work for many; however my kids were actually born & raised thru mid-childhood in lower Manhattan, and still go there frequently. Going to the Seaport, the village, or anyplace on East Broadway, was basically daily life for my girls for a good while and therefore doesn’t seem too special.</p>
<p>For others contemplating that tenement museum plan though: be sure to hit Katz’s deli on Houston & Ludlow, and Kossar’s Bialys on Grand & Essex.</p>
<p>Lancaster, PA and Hershey, PA are lovely areas to explore and are very family-friendly.</p>
<p>Well… if I were willing to drive 6 hours, I would go to Montreal.</p>
<p>They wanted to do that, but I’m worried about massive traffic jams and customs backups crossing the border at that particular weekend.</p>
<p>It’s funny what you said about not going to Saratoga Springs for Memorial Day Weekend…that’s where I will be!</p>