New York Escape
Natural Wonders Minutes from Manhattan
Just beyond Manhattan’s sea of yellow taxicabs is a region steeped in history and natural beauty. See for yourself on a four-day escape that hits recreation areas in New Jersey and Queens, a beloved national seashore and historic homes on Long Island. And it's all within 70 miles of the Big Apple.
Day One
MORNING Pack a picnic lunch and head to the beach! Sandy Hook, New Jersey, a part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, is 30 minutes from Manhattan on a SeaStreak ferry.
The 103-foot-tall Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse in the country. Take a shuttle bus to soak up the expansive views of New York City.
AFTERNOON Enjoy your lunch on the North Beach Observation Deck, then shuttle over to Fort Hancock, once a military base and now a National Historic Landmark.
EVENING Before taking the ferry back to Manhattan, amble along one of Sandy Hook's six beaches as the sun dips low in the sky. 
Day Two
MORNING Head to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. This part of the Gateway National Recreation Area lies on the south shore of Brooklyn and Queens, about a 23-mile drive from Manhattan.
AFTERNOON Weather permitting, rent a kayak paddle out into the bay in search of birds and breezes. Or stroll the 1 3/4-mile West Pond Trail to see turtles and an array of birds.
EVENING Sample the area's seafood specialties at George Martin's Coastal Grill in nearby Long Beach, which has drawn summer vacationers since the early 1900s.
Day Three
MORNING About 55 miles west of Long Beach lies Mastic Beach and the William Floyd Estate, where the Floyds lived for 250 years. Tour the 25-room mansion for a glimpse of original décor, books, art, and even a Civil War uniform.
AFTERNOON Pick up supplies for a picnic before heading to the Fire Island Wilderness Visitor Center, which offers brochures and maps of the Fire Island National Seashore. Follow the trails through the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, the only federally designated wilderness area in the state.
Keep your eye out for critters. Hikers often come upon deer, snowy owls, and red foxes in the dunes and salt marshes.
EVENING Drive about 30 minutes northeast to Eastport, a duck-farming hamlet turned antiques district. Peruse the shops before heading to your hotel.
Day Four
MORNING Drive an hour west to Oyster Bay. Theodore Roosevelt resided in what is now Sagamore Hill National Historic Site from 1885 until his death in 1919. Tours of his 23-room Victorian offer a glimpse into Roosevelt's inner sanctum.
AFTERNOON Grab a bite at Periwinkles, the gourmet café at nearby Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park. The 409-acre estate invites long walks among its lush lawns and formal gardens, then take a peek at Coe Hall, the historic Tudor Revival-style mansion.
EVENING Explore the historic buildings in nearby Oyster Bay. Then settle into the warm atmosphere of Canterbury's Oyster Bar & Grill for fresh seafood. It’s the perfect topper to the weekend before the hour drive back to Manhattan.
