Driving distance from NJ

[NJlauren]

Every year my daughter (will be 4 this year) and I do a day to celebrate my mom (she passed away and I like to celebrate her with DD who never met her on my moms biryhday). Last year we did desert for breakfast, movies, Target, bike ride, pizza for lunch etc. it’s a fun filled packed day!

This year I’m expecting baby number 2 and was thinking of turning the day into a one or two night Mom and daughter get away! Give DD some one on one time a few months after the baby comes.

I tentatively booked 2 nights at Disney, it will cost about $1200 (all in, flights, 1 day park tickets, Halloween party), and while not outrageous I think we could do something fun closer to home for much less.

Ideally during the week, overlapping with October 18th in a pefect world. If I do a week day Hershey and Sesame place are out.

Anyone have any good place driving distance from NJ 2/3 hours max that could be a fun mommy daughter quick get away? In Northern NJ about 30 minutes from NYC.

 

[DopeyDame]

How old is your daughter?
Maybe Philadelphia - please touch museum, franklin institute, fun night in a hotel.

Or Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos (or the new one Kalahari or something like that...)

If you're willing to expand to 4 hours, DC could be awesome.

 

[NJlauren]

How old is your daughter?
Maybe Philadelphia - please touch museum, franklin institute, fun night in a hotel.

Or Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos (or the new one Kalahari or something like that...)

If you're willing to expand to 4 hours, DC could be awesome.

She is 4, will add to the original post. We have done Great Wolf recently and it’s not off the table.

Was thinking of doing DC for a long weekend in December to do the ICE event at the Gaylord hotel... not sure I want to double up?

 

[ronandannette]

Every year my daughter (will be 4 this year) and I do a day to celebrate my mom. Last year we did desert for breakfast, movies, Target, bike ride, pizza for lunch etc. it’s a fun filled packed day!

This year I’m expecting baby number 2 and was thinking of turning the day into a one or two night Mom and daughter get away! Give DD some one on one time a few months after the baby comes.

I tentatively booked 2 nights at Disney, it will cost about $1200 (all in, flights, 1 day park tickets, Halloween party), and while not outrageous I think we could do something fun closer to home for much less.

Ideally during the week, overlapping with October 18th in a pefect world. If I do a week day Hershey and Sesame place are out.

Anyone have any good place driving distance from NJ 2/3 hours max that could be a fun mommy daughter quick get away?

I’m unclear - is this trip for you, your mom and your daughter or just you and your daughter? If it’s the former, what does your mom think? If it’s the later, at 4 your DD will just love any one-on-one thing you plan. It doesn’t take anything monumental to delight them at that age. Honestly, I wouldn’t go to the expense or effort of flying to Florida in this circumstance. Have fun though, whatever you decide.

 

[dclpluto]

A lot depends on where you live in New Jersey. As one poster said Washington DC is a 4 hour drive from New Jersey. From my house to the White House i just map it. It’s 2 hours and 33 minute drive. So where are you from op? So we can give you better ideas of stuff to do that’s a 2-3 hour max drive from your house.

 

[Pink Partridge]

Anyone have any good place driving distance from NJ 2/3 hours max that could be a fun mommy daughter quick get away?

What about Baltimore? In addition to the aquarium, they have Port Discovery (which is a great place!). You can get a great Inner Harbor room with Priceline in the $120 range for a 4 star. Park the car when you get there and never start it again until you leave.

 

[NJlauren]

I’m unclear - is this trip for you, your mom and your daughter or just you and your daughter? If it’s the former, what does your mom think? If it’s the later, at 4 your DD will just love any one-on-one thing you plan. It doesn’t take anything monumental to delight them at that age. Honestly, I wouldn’t go to the expense or effort of flying to Florida in this circumstance. Have fun though, whatever you decide.

My mom passed away before DD was born and we do this day on her birthday to celebrate her. So I try to do stuff my mom loved, target, desert for breakfast, and things DD loves movies, Disney etc. my mom was also a huge Disney fan!

Will try to make this more clear in the original post.

A lot depends on where you live in New Jersey. As one poster said Washington DC is a 4 hour drive from New Jersey. From my house to the White House i just map it. It’s 2 hours and 33 minute drive. So where are you from op? So we can give you better ideas of stuff to do that’s a 2-3 hour max drive from your house.

I’m in northern NJ, I almost wrote from NYC to avoid this confusion.

 

[Poohforyou]

How about Mystic Connecticut. The aquarium is a lot of fun and so is the restored village. We took our daughter there when she was 3 or 4 and she had a great time.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Adding to the great suggestions you've already received how about Mystic Seaport which also has an interactive aquarium nearby?
Not sure of the driving time but it's a few hours from Manhattan.
Been taking DGD since she was about your DD's current age and she is now 12.5. Took her Dad and uncle when they were growing up too.

Another fun possibility is Boston.

 

[Imzadi]

Rocking Horse Ranch. 2 hr drive MAX, up Rt 17 north to the NYS thruway, Exit 18.

http://www.rockinghorseranch.com/horse-adventures-2/
It's up in the Catskills. The mountains are beautiful in Oct. It has horseback riding and a year-round indoor waterpark. Very family oriented. Book your hotel early as everywhere up there gets booked up for the leaves changing on the trees. There is also a HUGE pumpkin patch just outside of New Paltz to pick your own pumpkins. Just drive through town on Main St. Fork left and you will see the pumpkin patch on your left just a couple miles past town.

There are also apple orchards up there to pick your own apples.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Not sure why you don’t want to, but IMO, your DD is the perfect age for Sesame Place. As an alternate to Hershey, you could go to Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, which is more low-key and suited for younger kids. Also in that area is Strasburg railroad. You can ride the old trains and they have the “Day Out With Thomas” events a few times a year, if she would be interested in that. Another fun place is the Crayola Experience in Easton, PA.

 

[NJlauren]

Not sure why you don’t want to, but IMO, your DD is the perfect age for Sesame Place. As an alternate to Hershey, you could go to Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, which is more low-key and suited for younger kids. Also in that area is Strasburg railroad. You can ride the old trains and they have the “Day Out With Thomas” events a few times a year, if she would be interested in that. Another fun place is the Crayola Experience in Easton, PA.

Oh we love those places but in October they are only open on the weekends (I check Hershey and Sesame places hours for October already)

 

[AppleDumpling]

Oh we love those places but in October they are only open on the weekends (I check Hershey and Sesame places hours for October already)

Ok, yeah I wasn’t thinking about that. A weekday in October does make it harder. I like the idea of apple (or pumpkin) picking in upstate NY. Or how about just doing something in Manhattan and maybe staying overnight? You could go to American Girl Place, for the tea party or salon, or one of the museums. Or the Eloise tea at the Plaza, which I’ve never been (heard about here), but sounds wonderful for little girls. Or if you think she has the attention span to sit for it, see one of the Disney shows on Broadway (though personally, I’d wait a few years until she’s older).

 

[NJlauren]

Ok, yeah I wasn’t thinking about that. A weekday in October does make it harder. I like the idea of apple (or pumpkin) picking in upstate NY. Or how about just doing something in Manhattan and maybe staying overnight? You could go to American Girl Place, for the tea party or salon, or one of the museums. Or the Eloise tea at the Plaza, which I’ve never been (heard about here), but sounds wonderful for little girls. Or if you think she has the attention span to sit for it, see one of the Disney shows on Broadway (though personally, I’d wait a few years until she’s older).

I actually just saw an article about the teas for kids and was looking at that with a nightin the city!

We are waiting till at least 5 for frozen or lion king. She talks (asking questions) straight through a 30 minutes show at WDW, she is not broadway ready!

 

[NJlauren]

I love the pumpkin picking ideas and mystic!

But we usually do pumpkin picking as a family and will prob do it this year too.

Mystic is on the table as well.

NYC is an option too but the tentative price is close to WDW for 2 nights, not shocking!

 

[clutter]

At her age, if you can swing it - go to Disney. Is this the last time that it will be just the two of you? It will be so special for her. And for you. With just the two of you, YOU will be able to relax.

I miss the trips with my dd when she was little, especially that age. As together as we were everyday (and as a solo parent/solo child family we were always together), Disney gave us the ability to be together and be relaxed. We let whatever caught our fancy guide us. Wow, it was so much fun. This year, we will try it as a grown up!

 

[NJlauren]

At her age, if you can swing it - go to Disney. Is this the last time that it will be just the two of you? It will be so special for her. And for you. With just the two of you, YOU will be able to relax.

I miss the trips with my dd when she was little, especially that age. As together as we were everyday (and as a solo parent/solo child family we were always together), Disney gave us the ability to be together and be relaxed. We let whatever caught our fancy guide us. Wow, it was so much fun. This year, we will try it as a grown up!

I am not going to lie it may be a hard sell to DH, he is going to be pretty upset at the thought of us going with out him. However I would love to do it, but am considering other ideas incase it’s a no go.

I looked into some of the other options suggested here, rocking hourse ranch will be 399 a night, the city about 300 a night before we do anything 1200 for 2 nights and days at Disney is looking better and better against those options. But not as good against philly, or mystic. All how you pitch it I guess.

 

[AnnaS]

Rocking Horse Ranch, Lancaster?

 

[NYCgrrl]

Rocking Horse Ranch. 2 hr drive MAX, up Rt 17 north to the NYS thruway, Exit 18.

http://www.rockinghorseranch.com/horse-adventures-2/
It's up in the Catskills. The mountains are beautiful in Oct. It has horseback riding and a year-round indoor waterpark. Very family oriented. Book your hotel early as everywhere up there gets booked up for the leaves changing on the trees. There is also a HUGE pumpkin patch just outside of New Paltz to pick your own pumpkins. Just drive through town on Main St. Fork left and you will see the pumpkin patch on your left just a couple miles past town.

There are also apple orchards up there to pick your own apples.

Believe it or not I just finished cleaning one of my mother's tchotchkes she acquired from there. Back then it was more for adults than families. She also has souvenir glasses from the Playboy Hotel in Jersey. Brings back memories of places I've never been to but know made my mom happy to be at.

 

[NJlauren]

Rocking Horse Ranch, Lancaster?

Def looking into rocking horse ranch, but it’s pricey for 2 days with half the family.