There is so much to see and do in New York City that some would wonder why you would ever want to go anywhere else. However, New York is a transport hub and so can also be a great jumping-off-point for exploring some excellent nearby destinations. If you  want to discover what is just outside of the Big Apple, here are some ideas for fun and easy day trips:

Long Island

Source: Destination360

Many New Yorkers like to escape to Long Island in the summer time, where there are long white sand beaches perfect for lounging in the sunshine. This island stretches eastward from New York city and covers an area of 115 miles from Brooklyn and Queens to Montauk. Many wealthy New Yorkers have their glamorous holiday homes here, particularly in the area known as “The Hamptons”. If you are visiting Long Island on a weekend you will find it very crowded, but on the weekdays you can enjoy a much quieter atmosphere. Long Island is popular in the summertime, but is also very beautiful in the autumn when the leaves begin to change colour.

In addition to the beaches and lovely scenery, there are also many museums such as the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium, the Hicksville Gregory Museum, and the Cradle of Aviation which displays the history of the airplane. To get to Long Island, take the train from Penn Station to Long Beach.

Connecticut

Source: Dimensions Guide

Take a drive from New York City and experience the quant charm of New England. Connecticut is a lovely place, with a rich history and many excellent museums and art galleries. You can also visit Yale University and the Maritime Aquarium. New Haven is a great city to visit, and it has a wide range of ethnic restaurants including Vietnamese, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, French, Mexican, Indian, Thai, Ethiopian, Malaysian, and much more. New Haven is also a very pedestrian friendly city, and has a fantastic nightlife scene.

Connecticut is also a great area for cycling and hiking, with many gorgeous state parks offering miles of hiking trails with beautiful views. While you are visiting Connecticut, be sure to stop to enjoy the fun at Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport and visit one of the famous apple orchards in the Southington area to take home a bag of apple fritters.

The Palisades

Source: Tug44

These stunning cliffs were formed millions of years ago, and are located in New Jersey and New York State along the western banks of the Hudson River. They are an excellent place for camping and hiking, with breathtaking lookout sites dotted along every trail. The cliffs begin near the Northern side of Jersey City and they stretch all the way to Nyack, New York State. To get to these cliffs from Manhattan, take the George Washington Bridge to Palisade Interstate Park.

These are just a few of the great day trips that await you within a short distance from New York City. This article was written whilst researching holiday destinations in the USA.

This luxury hotel is situated in the North Chelsea district of New York, and many of the city’s main attractions, such as the Empire State Building, Madison Square Gardens, the Rockefeller Center and Times Square are witin easy reach of it.

The prize consists of three nights’ accommodation for two people. It does not include flights, food or any other costs. The winner must take the trip before the 1st of November 2011 and blackout dates apply.

You can enter the competition online at the Condé Nast Traveller website. Just answer the question posed and submit it online along with your details. Entries must be received by Tuesday 30 November 2010.

The prize includes return flights from the U.K. to New York, 3 nights’ room only accommodation and airport transfers. The winner must take the holiday before the 28 April 2011.

To enter the competition, all you need to do is visit the Guardian Holiday Offers site and sign up to receive regular email updates from them. The closing date is 11.59 p.m. on 14 November 2010.

The prize includes: return economy flights from London to New York for four people ( two adults and two children aged 16 or under); 6 nights’ accommodation in a 3-star hotel; a family meal in an authentic Chinese restaurant; and $500 spending money.

The prize winner must be able to take the holiday before the 31 August 2010 (it can’t be taken over a Bank Holiday weekend).

You can enter the competition via the Morrisons website. Just answer the simple question, complete the online form and submit it. Entries must be received before 11.59p.m. on 14th February 2010.