Real New Yorkers know how busy and commanding the city life can be.
Sometimes you just want to get away for a bit, but you may not have the extended time (or wallet) to do so.
We know as well as anyone, and we're here to help you.
Yes, again.
We’ve put together a list of some of the best ways to escape the city’s bustle for a day or weekend, and not break the bank while you’re at it either.
1. Cape May, New Jersey
Grab your overnight bag and take the two and a half hour bus ride out to Cape May, a quaint beach town full of food, shopping and nature excursions.
You can hop aboard the Cape My Whale Watcher for their three-hour quest to find humpbacks and dolphins or take a stroll through the eclectic shops of the Washington Street Mall.
There are a number of colorful bed and breakfasts that line the streets, so finding a charming room walking distance from the beach for the night isn’t hard at all.
Finish off the day at Lucky Bones Backwater Grille for some of the best seafood found in this picturesque beach hideaway.
2. Hunter, New York
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For those of us that crave a little adrenaline, there are plenty of things in Hunter to quench that thirst, such as New York Zipline Adventures.
Their SkyRider Tour is the longest, fastest and highest zip line tour in North America and the 2nd largest in the world with over 4.6 miles of line to traverse. The very first one launches you down a 3,200-foot cable 600 feet above the valley below, reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.
They also offer a special Night Zip Tour, a family friendly expedition of six zip lines and a 65-foot ravine rappel guided by the moonlight and nine illuminated tree platforms.
Come off your adrenaline high at Cosmic Charlie’s, which is a local gastropub favorite with regular live music that offers discounts if you zipped that day.
3. Atlantic City, NJ
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After the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy, this seaside adult playground has banded together to not just rebuild, but also improve the already vivacious casino and shopping town, such as adding Boardwalk Beat; an eight and a half-minute 3D visual experience with sound and laser effects right on the side of Boardwalk Hall that starts up every half hour.
The annual Atlantic City Airshow on September 2nd is the perfect day to lie out on the sand as vintage planes preform daredevil dives and spins in the skies above.
Find your Zen in the Fountain Room on the Boardwalk, a Tibetan-inspired lounge complete with Buddha statues, delectable small plates and nirvana-like cocktails.
4. Fire Island, Long Island
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Known to some for its white sandy shores where you can tan au naturale, and as a professional party paradise to others, Fire Island combines some of the best of both worlds.
The 31-mile barrier island plays hosts to an array of “neighborhoods” and scenes, from lighthearted family swimming and beach exploring at Sailor’s Haven, Atlantique, and David Park to the lively LGBT communities of Cherry Grove and the Pines, and even over to the Ocean Beach and Kimset for the young professionals bar scenes.
Only an hour and a half train ride from Penn Station, and a skip across the channel on a ferry, it’s a quick island escape that has a little something special for everyone.
,5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Whether you’re a foodie, a fashionista or a fad-chaser, Philly has the right ingredients to provide all of the above.
One thing not to miss is Reading Terminal Market, a walk-through smorgasbord some of the city’s best pizza, burgers, ice cream and, you guessed it, Philly cheesesteaks. Try and dodge the 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. lunch rush.
If you’re looking to do some shopping, head downtown to the secondhand scene of Philly’s sprawling vintage clothing shops, such as Briar, a men’s shop catering to the more dapper gentleman with Americana-style coats, suits and tailored accessories, or WILBUR, known for its vibrant array of women’s apparel and costume jewelry, circa 1940 and on.
6. Sleepy Hollow, NY
If a day of historical discovery is your idea of a good time, then take the 45-minute trip up to the Philipsburg Manor Upper Mills, a living-history museum set on a 1750 farm, and try your hand at 18th-century life on a flour mill.
Complete with period garb-wearing staff, you’ll learn how to grind grain, tend to wheat and how these precious supplies were shipped with the limited resources and transportation available at that time.
The scenic backdrops of Sleepy Hollow’s wooded wilds that surround you only add to the authenticity of this hands-on experience.
The Bridge View Tavern is only a short walk from the mill and provides dramatic views of the Tappan Zee Bridge stretching across the Hudson River while you indulge in a craft beer and some pub fare.
7. Cold Spring, NY
Unleash your inner tomb raider and take a hike along the rustic Cornish Estate Trail, a path that winds through old stone ruins, including a crumbling dairy farm and an old world mansion with only its bare bones still intact.
Don’t worry; they’re stable enough to walk under the antiquated arches. For those who want an even more epic adventure, take the challenging climb up to the top of Breakneck Ridge where you can get a full panoramic view of Storm King Mountain, Bannerman Castle and the Catskills beyond.
It’s important to note that, although beautiful, these trails are commanding. Water and proper walking foot-gear are definitely recommended, even if you're doing the less challenging footpaths.
New York City is full of such life and sound that we often forget what lies beyond its concrete borders. All different kind of adventures awaits just outside the city. Do some planning, take a summer Friday and get out there and find it.
Speaking of Summer Friday, check out 7 Ways to Celebrate Summer Fridays in NYC.