Undoubtedly, New York City with its iconic skyscrapers is amazing and great for family travel. Times Square, Museum of Modern Art, Broadway, Empire State Building, Central Park – you and your kids will be delighted to have a great time there. 

However, what if you are tired of the ubiquitous concrete jungle and want to get closer to nature and history? Then what you need to do is rent a car and go explore the New York‘s surrounding area. There’s a lot to see, so you won’t regret such a road trip for sure…

Bear Mountain Park 

If you dream of enjoying the nature and coolness of the forest, go to the Bear Mountain Park. It’s located an hour’s drive from Manhattan, and you can get there quickly with a rental car. In summer, you can swim in the pool or rent a boat, ride a bike or climb the observation decks for stunning views of the Hudson Valley. 

There’s also a small zoo and special fishing/picnic areas. In August, the park hosts a Pow wow, which is the largest festival of Indian tribes. By the way, it’s interesting to visit this park at any time of the year: from late October to mid-March there’s an open-air skating rink there. You can also celebrate your birthday here.

You have to pay $ 10 for parking your rental car, while the entrance to the pool costs $2.

Address: Route 9W North, Bear Mountain, NY 10911

Howes Cave

If you want to go to the mountains for the whole weekend, head to the Howes Cave. This is the oldest cave in upstate New York and you can get to them by car rental from several locations. 

Traveling from Manhattan will take about 3 hours, but if you start from Albany, the NY state capital, you will reach your destination in 40 minutes. This is a great option to make your family trip much easier. In addition, a large selection of 10, 12, and 15 passenger van rental Albany NY will allow you to choose a really comfortable car. 

After going down to the cave by elevator, you can take a boat ride along the underground river. Then you’ll be able to try to find semi-precious stones yourself, washing the mud through a mesh, as gold diggers did in the 19th century.

 You can also make your own jewelry or keychain from the mined stones. The cave is located at a depth of 48 meters, has a length of about 3 kilometers, and the inside temperature of +12˚C.

Address: 255 Discovery Dr, Howes Cave, NY 12092

Bailiwick Animal Park and Riding Stables

This is a small family farm in the mountains that the owners have turned into a shelter for sick and old animals, as well as animals rescued from shelters and circuses. It will take about 2 hours to get there from New York in a rental car. Such unique individuals as a three-legged goat, a blind brown bear, a tiger in need of a home and a couple of camels live there. 

Also, there’re monkeys, parrots, exotic reptiles, as well as chickens, pigs and bunnies, quite familiar to everyone. You can feed llamas, camels, giraffes, deer, old bear, and at the same time ride horses and ponies. In total, more than forty species of animals live on the ranch. Regardless of the hot weather, it’s highly recommended to wear old sneakers that you are not afraid to get dirty. 

This place will appeal to children of all ages. A pony ride costs $8, and a horse ride – $12. A half-hour horse ride around the neighborhood will cost $50, an hour – $65. Entrance to the zoo is also paid: $17 for adults and $13 for children from 4 to 12 years old. Cups of food to feed the animals are not included into the price.

Address: 118 Castle Rd, Catskill, NY 12414

Hudson Valley

If you don’t want to travel far from New York, then you can go on a weekend trip through the Hudson Valley. The local nature is great, but there are also some beautiful historic castles: 

• John D. Rockefeller Estate

This is the Rockefeller family estate, where all the numerous descendants of John Rockefeller still gather. True, they don’t live in the main building, but in guest houses – in 1979, the main house of the estate was opened to the public. 

You’ll need about 40 minutes to reach the estate by car rental from NYC. It’s curious that car parking is organized at a distance from the estate. You will get there by special buses. The John D. Rockefeller Estate is a great place to explore unique works of art from the past and stroll through luxurious apartments.

Address: 639 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills, NY 10591

• Philipsburg Manor  

Philipsburg Manor is a historic open-air farm-museum. Kitchens, bedrooms, warehouses, a vegetable garden, a well, pastures and even a water mill and a dam: everything resembles the life of the colonists lived there over 300 years ago. 

Museum staff is also tour guides. They are dressed in costumes of that time, as it should be in the case of historical reconstructions. The estate often hosts various festivals and events.

Address: 381 N Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591