Three Great Weekend Getaways Close to NYC

Fire Island, NY has some pristine sand dune beaches, dazzling nightlight, fine dining and striking scenery that will take your breath away. Whether you are searching to relax, have fun, or find an adventure, Fire Island has something for everyone. You get to Fire Island by ferry, no cars on this island. There are many locations on Long Island where you can catch a ferry and take it into many locations on Fire Island. Prices usually run about $14.00 for a round trip. There are a handful of hotels, and B&B’s to stay at as well as many weekend or weekly house rentals. Important things to bring with you to Fire Island Include:Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ A laid back attitude this is Fire Island not the Hampton’s, Good pair of sunglasses, Beach towel, Beach chair, Casual clothes, A big can of bug repellent, A good Sun block, Water bottle and or cooler, Your license or official Photo I.D – they card no matter how old you look or are, and finally don’t forget to bring enough cash to last you for the weekend because there aren’t many ATM’s and they all have a $100 maximum withdrawal and the charge is $3 per transaction. The bottom line is that Fire Island is one of the most fabulous weekend getaways the NYC tri-state area has to offer.

Norwalk, CT is a great weekend getaway and or a day-trip destination for anyone living in The City because it is only 60 minutes from Grand Central Station. Norwalk has a lot of activities and things to see. The best place to go is their downtown seaport area, which the locals call SoNo. SoNOhas The Maritime Aquarium with anÃ?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ IMAX Theatre, cruises to Sheffield Island, a booming shopping district, plenty of fishing, and beautiful beaches. The best thing about SoNo is that it is walking distance from the Train Station so a car is not necessary. Most of the restaurants are wonderful but seafood is a definitely a town staple. If you can try to get out to Norwalk in early September because the town hosts a huge Oyster Festival that many flock to from all over NY and CT, yes its that good.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ If you planning on going to Norwalk in the summer and you have the time or the desire take a trip out to a deserted Island, Sheffield is the place to go. Have a picnic on the beach at the Island and or tour the lighthouse. On a clear day, you can see New York City above the horizon. The bottom line with Norwalk is that there are a few hotels in the SoNo area but this trip is perfect for a sunny Saturday or Sunday in July, August or September. You can stay over night if you want but since Norwalk is so close by it’s not necessary.

The Jersey Shore is a perfect weekend or weeklong getaway, there are a couple of beautiful towns that you can choose to stay in my personal favorite is Point Pleasant Beach. You can get there by taking a NJ Transit train (taking about 2 hours from Manhattan), and you’ll be let off at Arnold Avenue and Route 35, which is in the north part of Point Pleasant Beach. There is a canal that splits Point Pleasant the town from Point Pleasant Beach where most tourist attractions are. From the train station the beach and boardwalk will be about a six-block walk to the east. If you walk a few blocks in the other direction and you’ll also hit water – the Manasquan River. I think that the biggest draw in Point Pleasant Beach is Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, it is a beautiful place where you can enjoy the beach, go on some of the fun rides at the amusement park, see marine life at the aquarium, try your luck at the game booths, listen to live music and entertainment and much more. During most of the summer they also have fireworks and laser light shows. There is also great shopping and dining in Point Pleasant Beach as well as exciting nightlife; I say check out the Tiki Bar on the Boardwalk for early evening and late night fun. The bottom line with the Jersey Shore is that it is the place for beach laying and board walking.

Of course there are many more fabulous weekend getaways within hours of the city where no car is needed to have a wonderful time. These three are three of my favorite hot summer spots.