Crave a respite from the cramped and crowded urban pressure cooker we call home? You don’t need to travel far to bask in winter’s thaw. Wide-open spaces and a more leisurely pace exist just beyond our door. Bring the kids and you’ll get a fresh perspective as you appreciate nature’s re-awakening. Here’s our guide to day trips and weekend getaways that announce spring’s arrival in a most family-friendly way.
Day Trips
What: Untermyer Gardens
Where: 945 North Broadway, Yonkers
When: Open Monday-Saturday year round, seven days per week from April-October.
Why: The Untermyer Gardens are one of the best examples of a classic Persian garden anywhere in the country. Persian gardens are characterized by a walled enclosure with a large monumental gateway and low bubbling fountains. The garden’s proportions replicate those of Italy’s glorious Villa D’Este on Lake Como, but a trip to Yonkers doesn’t require jetting across the Atlantic. This easy-to-reach spot is a gem for a picnic and a stroll, with a dramatic Hudson River view thrown in for good measure. Guided tours are given weekends starting in April, free for kids 12 and under, $10 suggested donation for adults.
How to get there: Metro-North Hudson line to the Greystone Station. Walk out of the station to the right and use the stairs to Warburton Avenue. Proceed across Warburton Avenue to Odell Avenue where you will head east and begin walking up the hill. Continue walking up Odell to North Broadway. Turn right on North Broadway and walk past the hospital, to the main entrance on your right.
What: Culinary Kids Food Festival
Where: The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx
When: April 14-20
Why: As part of the Garden’s Edible Academy initiative, this weeklong festival celebrates the relationship between plants, farms and your favorite foods. Explore the process of cheese making, grind your own flour as you explore the science of bread baking and dabble in the trendy world of fermentation as you make your own pickles. Time your visit for the daily cooking demonstration at 1pm, when local chefs will cook kid-approved recipes and share tasty samples.
How to get there: Take the Metro-North Harlem local line to Botanical Garden Station. Walk across Kazimiroff Boulevard to the Garden’s Mosholu Gate entrance. By subway, take the B, D, or 4 train to Bedford Park Blvd Station. From the station exit, take the Bx 26 bus east to the Garden’s Mosholu Gate entrance. Or walk eight blocks down the hill on Bedford Park Blvd to the end (approximately 20 minutes). Turn left onto Kazimiroff Blvd and walk one block to the Mosholu Gate entrance.
What: Rockefeller State Park Preserve
When: Blooming of the Tree Peonies, 7-10 days starting in late April or early May
Where: 125 Phelps Way, Pleasantville, NY
Why: This peaceful haven is located only 30 miles from the hustle of New York City. Its most noticeable feature is its extensive system of carriage roads, ideal for a family hike. The roads compliment the landscape as they meander through wetlands, woodlands and meadows, past streams, rivers, ponds and pretty Swan Lake. Though a visit here is a visual treat anytime, late April-early May is when the 425 lovingly maintained tree peonies bloom. These giant blossoms are as big as your toddler, in a rainbow of vibrant lipstick shades with an aroma as varied and deep as a spice rack.
How to get there: Metro-North Hudson line to Tarrytown. From there you can take a short taxi ride from train station to the preserve entrance on Rt. 117 in Pleasantville.
What: Stone Barns Sheep Shearing Festival
When: Saturday, May 3rd,
Where: 630 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills, NY
Why: Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture aims to educate young people about the sources of their food and to steward the land in a responsible way. Stone Barns offers excellent family programing all year, but the annual Sheep Shearing Festival is special. Watch the farmers sheer the flock of Finn-Dorset sheep. When the shearing is done, lend a participatory hand and help herd those frisky animals from the barnyard to the pasture. Try your hand planting potatoes and weaving community looms before the day winds down. Live music adds a celebratory flair. Even finicky kids won’t go hungry with food options from Luke’s Lobster, Red Barn Bakery, Morris Grilled Cheese and Skinny Pines Carpe Donuts. Tickets go on sale March 24. The event always sells out, so purchase early. Tickets cost $15 for kids, $25 for adults.
How to get there: Metro-North Hudson line to Tarrytown, followed by a quick taxi ride to the farm.
Weekend Getaways
What: National Cherry Blossom Festival Family Days
Where: National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, D.C.
When: March 22-23
Why: The National Cherry Blossom Festival adds beauty and fragrance to our nation’s capital from March 20-April 13. It is not easy to predict the exact date when the flowers will be at their colorful peak, but Family Days is a terrific time to bring the kids. This two-day extravaganza features interactive art projects, music, performances, exploration of Japanese arts and design and much more, all free. Capital Bikeshare is an easy way to traverse the city, with over 300 stations and 2,500 bicycles.
Where to stay: The Embassy Row Hotel is offering a National Cherry Blossom Festival weekend rate starting at $206 per night. It includes deluxe accommodation, all-day metro passes and breakfast.
How to get there: Amtrak from Penn Station, with a 50% discount for passengers ages 2-15. Megabus is an economic alternative.
What: Daffodil Festival Weekend
Where: Nantucket
When: April 25-27
Why: With its quaint cobblestoned streets, immaculately preserved 19th century buildings and flat bike paths that loop around the island, Nantucket presents a classic New England seaside getaway. Getting there is part of the fun, as you ride the windswept ferry from the mainland. The Daffodil Festival announces spring’s triumphant arrival with masses of perky yellow and orange blooms, three million to be exact. A flower show, children’s parade, Daffy Hat Pageant, antique car show and tailgate picnic are just some of the scheduled amusements.
Where to stay: 76 Main is a design-driven hotel that welcomes children in its newly renovated Guest House rooms. It is located in the heart of town, a few minutes from the harbor.
How to get there: Peter Pan Bus from Port Authority to Hyannis. HY-Line Cruises high-speed ferry will get you from Hyannis to Nantucket in about an hour.
What: Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Where: 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware
When: Family tours are given March-October, weekends at 12:30. Costumes of Downton Abbey exhibit runs until January 2015
Why: Winterthur’s 1,000 acres encompass rolling hills, streams, meadows and forests, providing a dreamy foundation for youthful explorations. The family tour escorts you through the extensive gardens that embody a lyrical vision of nature’s beauty. Don’t miss the Touch It Room, a kid-oriented indoor space where everything is touchable. Ask for a free Enchanted Woods Backpack, filled with handy tools to enhance your child’s experience. If you’re the parent of a precocious fashionista, the Costumes of Downton Abbey exhibit features forty period costumes from the television series.
Where to stay: The Hotel du Pont’s elegant vibe would suit the aristocrats featured on Downtown Abbey, but savvy New York kids will love it too. The hotel’s Winterthur’s Downton Abbey Exhibit Package includes a lovely room, traditional breakfast for two, tickets to the exhibit and more, starting at $259 nightly.
How to get there: Ride Amtrak to Wilmington, Delaware. The station is a 7-mile taxi ride from Winterthur. DART bus #10 goes to Winterthur’s front gate, a 10-minute walk down the driveway to the visitor’s center.