Life is too beautiful and way too short!  When I became a parent, I realized that freedom was no longer on my side.  I felt an urgency to start exploring as much as I could.  I knew that I live in a suburb of the best city in the world, and had barely seen a fraction of what it had to offer.

A lot of these places I have visited are within an hour drive from my home, many of them have no admission charge, and most make for beautiful photo ops.  They are good for people of all ages to visit. They are romantic, they are serene, they are breathtakingly scenic.  I have learned over the years that there is something for everyone within New York's five boroughs and its suburbs to enjoy.  And I feel as though it is my obligation to share some of these well known, but also not so well known gems with people who possess this same passion for exploration!   

Finding these places was not always easy.  Lots of the websites did not include pictures or testimonials.  When you are exploring with children, you need to know before you go! Planning your day in advance is super important!  So for those of you who find yourselves bored on a weekend with your family, or those who love gardens and sight seeing, please visit this website whenever you are looking for an idea!  The blog entries are very thorough and I would love any feedback.  If I have not included something I should, please contact me with your suggestions.  I would love to add new places to the site and explore places I have never been!

My curiosity for exploring all things local is the same curiosity I possess for traveling far.  For those who are interested in visiting places beyond New York, I have added blog posts on vacations and road trips abroad.  

I look forward to adding entries every month and letting you know what I plan to do each coming season!  Please come back frequently as I will be updating as such!