LEGOLAND Resort & Hotel

If you haven't heard, the LEGOLAND New York Resort and Hotel is open and less than two hours away!

At 150 acres, LEGOLAND New York is the brand's largest park, featuring seven LEGO-themed lands to explore. Attractions include theme park rides for little and bigger kids, the chance to create with Master builders and attend ninja training camp, tinker in the robotic LEGO center, and visit Miniland, a massive LEGOscape featuring the landmarks of 10 cities nationwide. At Disney they trade pins, here it's minifigures—bring some along, or buy them at the park! 

You can go for the day ($69.99/kids; $79.99/adults) or rest your head at the on-site LEGOLAND Hotel for the ultimate brick vacation. You'll find LEGO-themed suites with a separate room for the kids here (pirate, kingdom, Ninjago, LEGO Friends, etc.), nightly entertainment for children, interactive LEGO features, a pool and more. Beginning August 6, two-day hotel packages with park entrance are available with rates starting at $98/person. 

You must reserve your tickets in advance. Click here to buy tickets. 

Distance from NYC: 90 minutes 

LEGOLAND New York
1 LEGOLAND Blvd. 
Goshen, NY 
845-410-0290
Online: legoland.com

The Kartrite Resort and Indoor Waterpark

The Kartrite Resort and Indoor Waterpark has reopened after a long, self-imposed pandemic pause. Located in The Catskills' Monticello, Kartrite Resort and Indoor Waterpark is now the state's largest, measuring 80,000-square-feet. In addition to 11 water attractions, from mild (lazy river) to thrill-inducing, it's topped by a transparent roof, includes a living plant wall, and is kept a pleasant 84 degrees year-round.

The resort runs activities for kids and families throughout the week, with options including scavenger hunts, game nights and trivia, movies under the stars and much more. For food, you'll find eight dining options, from grab-and-go to sit down, with many serving food made with ingredients from local suppliers. For grown-ups, Resorts World Casino is next door, and there's a spa on-site (which also offers kid's treatments). The hotel offers many options for large parties (suites, etc.) with rates starting at $175/night. 

Also nearby is Holiday Mountain (10 minutes away) which has skiing and tubing in the winter and go-karts and mini-golf in the summer, and Bethel Woods, home to Woodstock Music Fest in 1969 and concert series and events today. FYI: the LEGOLAND New York Resort is about a 30-minute drive. 

Distance from NYC: Two hours 

The Kartrite Resort and Indoor Waterpark
555 Resort World Dr.
Monticello, NY
845-397-2500
Online: thekartrite.com

Sesame Place

A theme park made for the tiniest of vacationers, Sesame Place offers fun rides, a waterpark, and, of course, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and more walking around and ready for hugs and pictures. And now is the time to go, thanks to steep discounts the park is offering for a limited time, which include hotel packages with park admission.

Excitement here includes a Neighborhood Street Party Parade, the option to dine with Elmo & Friends (for an extra fee) and numerous shows. Plus: fireworks every Saturday and Sunday through September 5. Good to know: Sesame Place is the first theme park to be designated a Certified Autism Center, where staff receives autism-awareness training and guests can access sensory-friendly services and resources in the park. 

Sesame place has partnerships with several hotels in the area, and you can book a package that includes tickets to the park, lodging, etc. Rates start at about $200/night. 

For our full review of Sesame Place, click here.

Sesame Place
100 Sesame Rd.
Langhorne, PA
1-215-702-3566
Online: sesameplace.com/langhorne

Bear Mountain State Park

It's never a bad time of year to visit Bear Mountain, but it's a lovely place to spend a weekend in the summer. One of its most popular features is its free Trailside Zoo, which houses local wild animals in the process of rehabilitation, including — you guessed it — some bears along a winding path punctuated by informative plaques. Hiking is a popular activity here, with many visitors choosing to climb to Perkins Memorial Tower for a hilltop view, but the peak is also accessible by car. 

Take a dip in the community pool for $2 (don't forget a lock), and then float a boat out on peaceful Hessian Lake—where you can also fish if you have a license. (Bring your own gear.) Picnicking lakeside is common here (there are even a few grills) and don't leave without taking a spin on the carousel. 

For lodging, the slightly rustic Overlook Lodge is a good choice for small families (about $130 to $250 per night), and the Stone Cottages are single-story houses good for larger groups. The Bear Mountain Inn is the deluxe choice, with rates of $170 and up per night.) 

Bear Mountain State Park
Route 9W N.
845-786-2701
Online: parks.ny.gov

Lake Compounce Family Theme Park

For some good old Americana away from the mega parks, check out Lake Compounce, the country's oldest amusement park. Celebrating 175 years, this park is home to a full water park (including the new "Venus Vortex", thrill rides, kiddie rides, and Boulder Dash, considered by many to be the best wooden rollercoaster in the world. You can also take in the show Daniel Tiger's Grr-ific Day! and meet Daniel and Katerina afterwards! Tickets start at $29.99/person, and kids three and under are free. 

Lodging options include camping on-site in a cabin, "Cub Hut", Deluxe Tipi, tent and RV, starting at $30 a night, with campfire, wifi and transportation to the park included. 

Distance from NYC: Two hours and 15 minutes

Lake Compounce Family Theme Park
185 Enterprise Dr.
Bristol, CT 
860-583-3300
Online: lakecompounce.com

 

Wildwood, NJ

Escape to the Jersey Shore for some solid summer vibes on the boardwalk. Morey's Piers in Wildwood New Jersey has been welcoming vacationing families for more than 50 years, and will keep the kids busy with more than 100 rides and attractions and two beachfront water parks. Plus: you'll find a lovely, free beach here, which is not so easy in NJ. 

Dog families, listen up: Two annual special events are coming up to close out the water park season: the Doggie Dash, a pair of dog-and-human runs with a beach party afterward, and Doggie Splash, when canines have free rein to paddle along the river adventure, splash in the fountain pool or fetch tennis balls in the activity pool of Raging Waters “Water Bark." You don't even have to have a dog to attend!  (A portion of the Doggie Splash proceeds will benefit local dog and cat rescue Beacon Animal Rescue.) For more info on Doggie Dash & Splash, click here. 

To make things easy, The Blue Palms Resort, located close by, is offering dog-friendly deals on lodging, complete with complimentary amusement pier wristbands for $155/night.  

See our full review of Morey's Piers here!

Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Water Parks
3501 Boardwalk
Wildwood, Nj
609-522-3900
Online: moreyspiers.com