Do you ever need to just get away with the family for a day or so to unwind? Long Island is a great place to live, but it's also pretty fast-paced. You could always go out to the east end of the Island, but it's not the same relaxing feeling of being "away" for a few days. These short trips are a perfect way to get re-energized. The key to receiving the benefit of the getaway is that the trip must be short enough so that most of the time is spent enjoying the things that you want to do and not in the car traveling.
So where can Long Islanders go for their getaways without having to sit in the car for hours upon end? How about the Catskills? This relaxing area is located only a few hours north of Long Island (2-3 hours depending on where on Long Island you are traveling from). A few weeks back, I wrote about my experience at my wife's family reunion which took place in the Catskills. The article was called Time Flies - Make Every Day Count. This family reunion was at a place called Lake Superior State Park located in Bethel, NY. It's a kind of hidden gem, as it's not too crowded, but it offers some nice things to do (swimming, boating, picnicking) at a very reasonable price. The cost for a non-resident is $3 per day. If you plan on spending time in the area, you can opt for a season pass for $20. We had such a great time at the reunion that we decided to head back up there for a quick family trip before the start of school.
If you've never gotten the chance to swim in a lake, I would highly recommend trying it. The cool water is so refreshing on a hot day. Growing up, my siblings and I went to sleep-away camp in the Catskills and lake swimming was a big part of the fun. So, in addition to this being a great place to go, it was also an area that brings back a lot of great memories. With school starting in the next week or so, this was a chance to have one last family trip, and it was well worth it.
You'll see some interesting things on the way to the park that you don't usually see on Long Island. There are the "hippy" areas that are near Bethel. There are horses and farms with silos along the road, and plenty of cows to be seen, which is how the title of this article came about.
Nothing is better than having a good laugh while driving to your destination, and children are often the inspiration for laughter. As my soon-to-be kindergartener saw the cows, he jokingly asked "Do you think that only brown cows make chocolate milk?" We all chuckled and enjoyed the moment.
Afterwards, we played a game similar to 20 questions to pass the time. The only difference is that we don't count questions. You are allowed to play until you get it or give up. It makes the time fly by in the car, and keeps restless children engaged, which is something that I can't recommend highly enough. This questions game is a great way to block the one question that every parent dreads..."Are We There Yet?"
Despite the dreaded question being asked on more than one occasion, which makes this trip seem longer than it actually is, this is really a fairly short, easy trip. Just for the record, the first time that the question is usually posed to us is about 2 exits away from home on the LIE. The park is conveniently located off of a road that connects to Route 17B (which is located off of Exit 104 off of Route 17 in Monticello). It's a very easy place to get to (for directions from your home click here). There are other things to do in the immediate area as well.
On your way to Bethel, you will pass the Monticello Raceway, which is now known as the Monticello Racino because they have slot machines in addition to harness racing. The slogan for this hybrid destination is "A Little Vegas In Your Backyard." It's not quite Vegas, but if you're just looking to spend some time playing the one-armed bandits and watching some harness racing, this is a place that's worth going to.
This area is always being built up, and entertainment has become more readily available in the Catskills. Located at the exact site where Woodstock took place in 1969 is the new Bethel Woods Center For The Arts. This state-of-the-art venue situated upon 1700 acres of land features music from the genres of Classical, Pop, Jazz, Country and Rock. The enormous stage at this venue covers 7500 square feet. There are 4800 seats located under a covered pavilion and an additional 12,000 people can view the concert from the less expensive lawn seats (bring your own chairs and blankets). Parking is free, and there is a selection of food and beverages available for purchase. This incredible venue is drawing in some very well-known artists. Please click here to check out the artists that have already played at the venue.
If you just want to get away from Long Island for a few days, the Catskill Mountains are an excellent destination choice. For more details about the Catskills, including lodging choices, please click here.
Adam Waldman is a Long Island Real Estate and Relocation specialist. Many Long Islanders have chosen to relocate to other parts of the country, but often times they don't have anyone to turn to for assistance. Realizing that this was an underserved market, Adam Waldman has created a team of professionals in the relocation "hot spots" that Long Islanders are relocating to. These professionals are experts in the field of relocation and can serve many purposes beyond a simple home search. Please visit www.TheLIReloGuy.com for your relocation needs and www.AdamWaldman.com for your local needs. Adam Waldman, RE/MAX Best, 631-357-2036, adam@AdamWaldman.com
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