family activities
Hit the Road This Summer! 11 Best Road Trips from Staten Island By Jessica Allen & Barbara Russo
L
ooking to plan an exciting road trip with the family this summer? Consider heading to one (or more!) of the many destinations located not far from Staten Island. Take a look at our roundup below and start working on your action-packed getaway! Although most venues and locations are fully open, it’s a good idea to confirm availability when it comes to activities and restaurants. Everything from opening hours to the reservation process can change or be different from pre-pandemic times. We highly recommend contacting individual venues before heading out.
The Berkshires, MA berkshires.org
Approximate drive: 4 hours
This rural swath of western Massachusetts couples adventure and art, an irresistible blend for young and old alike.
Stuff to see and do:
Adirondacks - Fort Ticonderoga
The Adirondacks visitadirondacs.com
Approximate drive: 6 hours
Here’s a fun fact: Adirondack Park
is larger than Glacier, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Great Smokey Mountains and Yellowstone put together. At 6 million acres the Adirondacks are truly awesome, in every sense of the word.
Stuff to see and do:
• Check out the Ausable Chasm, a deep Ice Age-era gorge often called “the Grand Canon of the East.” • Summit a high peak. With 46 mountains to choose from, the Adirondacks High Peaks have options for everyone, from the little hikers to individuals with physical disabilities.
32 August 2021 • siparent.com
• Drive the Mohawk Trail. This trail was once used by members of the Five Nations to travel between Connecticut and upper Hudson Valleys. • Enjoy art at kid-friendly museums and art spaces, including Kidspace and ArtBar. • Visit Magic Wings, an 8,000-square-foot sanctuary dedicated to Lepidoptera in South Deerfield. • Go butterfly watching. The Berkshires is home to nearly 4,000 native and tropical butterflies. • Hike Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts. This mountain has approximately 70 miles of trails for hiking, biking, skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing.
Bucks County, PA buckscounty.org
Approximate drive: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Bucks County blends small-town charm with big-time fun. In addition to well-known attractions, like a Sesame Street-themed park, you’ll find natural wonders and Americana galore.
Stuff to see and do:
• Hit the park! Visit Sesame Place, Hershey Park, or, for the younger kids, Dutch Wonderland. • Visit Ringing Rocks Park. The boulders at this 8-acre site make music and “sing” when hit with hammers, hands, or other rocks.
The Catskills visitthecatskills.com
Approximate drive: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Catskills - Kaaterskill Falls
For years, the Catskills have been synonymous with recreation, relaxation, and resorts. Some things never change, as you’ll discover over a long weekend. Parts of it feel charmingly retro and happily hipster, while other parts, such as Kaaterskill Falls, no doubt look as beautiful now as when the first people stumbled upon its rushing waters.
All photos: Courtesy Garrett Ziegler
• Visit Fort Ticonderoga, a key location during the French and Indian Revolutionary Wars.
