Sandy Hook, NJ

Sandy Hook, NJ! One of THE best family beaches around. With a short (and extremely scenic) ferry ride from Manhattan, you are welcomed to a quiet little town with tons of history! Sandy Hook is the type of beach where you pack your cooler and just lay out for the entire day. With just one restaurant on the almost non-existent boardwalk you are pretty much forced to bring something along with you. Sandy Hook is NOT a party beach. The drinks at the local Pub are DISGUSTING! They have a gift shop and a burger and fry stand and that's just about it. The water is very clean as well as the beach. The ferry ride to Sandy Hook is about 45 mins long and they provide you with complimentary bagels, muffins etc. You may purchase alcoholic beverages on board as well. The ferry has both indoor and outdoor seating and is equipped with 2 stories to provide ample space. My suggestion is to sit inside on the way to the beach. There are luxury seating areas which consist of windows that overlook the ocean. On the way back, you should grab a seat outside and catch all the pictures you can.

Arrive: The ferry departs from East 35th street in Manhattan and Pier 11 at the South Street Sea Port. For better chances in available seating I would suggest taking the ferry from the first stop which is East 35th street. Round-trip tickets are $40 bucks and the schedule varies. Check out seastreak.com for full schedule and information.

Play: The ferry will make 2 stops in the Highlands. The first stop is more for cyclist wanting to take a ride around the nature trail. The other stop is where the beaches are. Once you leave the boat there is two lines. One line goes to New Jersey's ONLY nude beach in the Highlands, the other goes to the family beach. I've never been to the nude beach and I must admit, I have absolutely NO intentions on going but if you happen to have been, I would love to hear your story. Being that there are several passengers there are about 3-4 buses that are in constant rotation. One going to the nude beach, the other going to the family beaches. Along the way to the family beaches the bus will make a short stop at a local kiddie beach. The water is rather shallow and there is a small playground as well. From there, we wait in agonizing one lane traffic until we finally reach the beach. It's a short walk to the sand!

Depart: The bus operator will advise you on what time the buses will begin to leave. Granted they do not run as often as we would like them too but if you are not feeling the beach you are at, a bus will take you to another one. Once the day is over and the sun starts to go down the buses begin to depart back to the ferry! Don't let the line that is wrapped around the block fool you!! It moves fast! I promise!

Total Price: $40 round trip
Total Travel Time: 45 mins each way

City Island, Bronx NY

Ahhh, City Island, New York! My favorite and most common hang out (because it's less than 10 mins away from my house). Once you get pass the traffic and over the one-way bridge, you are greeted with a vast array of calm waters. The scenery as well as the town gives a feel of Little Girl on the Prairie. The small cottages and the boating docks can make one feel quite at home! The water at City Island is not open to public swimming, but barely 5 minutes away is Bronx's very own Orchard Beach! City Island is known for it's marvelous sea food cuisine. With tons of restaurants lined up along the street there is something for every occasion. My personal favorite restaurant is Sea Food City! It's midway between the town and by the look of the parking lot, you pretty much know how great the food is! On sunny, weekend days, there is a DJ out on the deck which plays a variety of music. Sea Food City is definitely the place to visit if you love fish. The wait is pretty long to get the food, but it's worth every second! While you wait you can hit up the bar for the most INTENSE drinks in all of NYC! For just $8 bucks a pop (depending on drink and size) you're already twisted after downing the first one. There is inside and outside seating as well as an indoor arcade for the kids. I prefer to sit on the outside and overlook the bay. My suggestion for drinks: Henny Colada. For the lightweights: They have fruity daiquiri drinks! Suggestion for the food: Fried lobster tail or fried shrimp!

After you have stuffed your face and drank yourself silly, there is STILL more to see in City Island besides the restaurants and boats. There is a vintage toy shop which really has some neat toys. Ya know, the things you remember from back in the day! City Island is also known for its vast fishing community, with tons of bait and tackle shops to fulfill your needs. Most people can't believe that this quiet down of City Island is part of the Bronx. It's a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Arrive: City Island is easily accessible my train and bus. Take the Lexington Ave. Local 6 Train to Pelham Bay Park. When you arrive at the last stop (Pelham Bay Park) simply walk down the stairs and take the BX29 to CITY ISLAND!

Play: If you have a set place you would like to check out, you can simply ride the bus to your destination. But since the island is only 1.5 miles long, most people get off as soon as you get over the bridge and take a short stroll through the town.

Depart: The buses run like most NYC Transit buses. Be sure to check the time table on mta.info because after a certain time, buses and trains run on an excruciating slow schedule!

Total Price: $4.50 round trip (does not include food)
Total Travel Time: From Manhattan: about 45 mins-1 hr

Six Flags Great Adventure & Wild Safari- Jackson, NJ

Here's something the entire family can enjoy! One of MY personal favorite places in the Tri-State area, Six Flags Great Adventure. Six Flags is probably one of the largest attractions in the New Jersey and is ALWAYS packed no matter what day you choose to go. There is something for everyone of all ages. Be sure to check the website to be aware of when special events such as concerts and Glow in the Dark parades take place (Every day except Tuesdays and Thursdays). The most talked about attraction at Six Flags is the Kingda Ka. It is THE tallest AND the fastest roller coaster on this Earth!!! You may have seen it featured on Travel Channel's special on wild rides. I can't comment too much on the experience because I've chickened out each time I've went. These roller coasters give you the ULTIMATE rush. These roller coasters do NOT fall into the category of a carnival ride. I'm here to tell you and your family EVERYTHING you need to know to make your trip to Six Flags Great Adventure worth every penny!

Depart: There are NJ Transit buses that leave Port Authority like clock work! Once one fills up, the next is right behind it! Unfortunately, there isn't a bus that gets you there when the park opens. I STRONGLY urge you to find a coke can, a Dunkin Donuts, even Google to find a coupon for the park! There are GREAT deals such as buy one get one free (only on weekdays), $15 off, and even half off general admission. You are able to buy your admission with your bus ticket at Port Authority for $61. But if you have a coupon you should wait to buy your ticket at the park. You generally save about $6 per person with coupons. The bus ride is an agonizing 2 hrs, but if you leave early you can catch up on some sleep.

Arrive: Once you arrive to the park the Bus driver will inform you on where the bus departs as well as the time it departs. You can also check the NJ Transit website for those details. It's about a 5-7 minute walk to the entrance. The lines are typically very short seeing as there are many booths open for your existence.

Play: Make sure to make the most of your trip. As it gets later in the day the lines will slowly start to decipate. Use your time wisely. The park is very large and if you are interested in covering the entire thing (which is pretty much impossible to do in one day) you have to stay focused. When you want to take a break from the rides, you can play arcade games as well as other games for prizes. The also have extreme rides which you have to pay for such as go-carts and bungie jumping.

Depart: The buses back to Port Authority will begin to leave around 5 pm. Don't quote me on that! Check with your bus operator to see the starting times and the last bus that leaves. Unfortunately, these buses are ALWAYS jammed packed so getting a seat with your loved one is all about luck.

**Tidbits of Advice**
1. Don't bring a purse! Many rides permit you from bringing ANY loose items. There are lockers close by to most major rides but they cost $2 a pop and there is a time limit in which they lock. When you first enter the park to your ride hand side you can utilize those lockers for all day use. Ladies, bring a light clutch. You will still have to put it in a locker, as well as your cell phone, but it won't be as over bearing as a large purse.

2. BUY THE FLASH PASS!!! This is where the most of your money goes. Flash passes are extremely expensive but they are worth every red cent! The Flash Pass is a device that is utilized as sort of a necklace. You go ahead and reserve the time for which you want to ride a specific ride. From there, you are able to do what you please and when your time approaches the flash pass buzzes. From there, you make your way to the ride for your reservation time, they scan the buzzer, and you wait no more than 5-10 minutes. I don't even recommend going to Six Flags unless you have a Flash Pass. The prices vary depending on how exclusive you would like to get. You can check out Sixflags.com for details.

3. If interested in discount food vouchers, check out Sixflags.com for specials. Food can get pretty expensive, but that's where all the fun is.

4. LEAVE YOUR JEWELRY AT HOME! I can speak from experience when I say jewelry is a BAD idea. I've lost earrings upon earrings in Six Flags. These roller coasters have NO mercy among your belongings and neither do Six Flag staff memebers.

5. Wear sunblock and some comfortable shoes! Six Flags is HUGE! You will be doing TONS of walking. None of which that walking will be done in the shade. Wear a hat, and wear sunblock to protect yourself from this schorching summer heat.


Total Price: With Coupon-$56+tax; Without Coupon-$61+tax **These prices do not include flash pass, food, lockers, etc. Please be mindful when planning your trip of these entities.

Total Travel Time: 4 hours + (depending on traffic)

Long Beach, Long Island

With the summer's end approaching I suggest you get out on the beach before it's too late. We all can agree that this summer sun has been unbearable at some points, so having a relaxing getaway to a family beach will definitely set the mood off right. There isn't boardwalk festivities, but there is a boardwalk for light jogging, running, etc. There are restaurants as well as a local grocery store which tends to get a little crowded from time to time. I've come up with the perfect agenda for the PERFECT day at the beach:

Depart: Penn Station, NY (On Off Peak hours during the week, it takes about an hour making all local stops. If you take the weekend express train which leaves at 10:42 am, it takes about 45 minutes).

Price: $19*. *Price includes train ticket and entry to beach. If you are interested in JUST the train ticket and to walk on the boardwalk, the train ticket is $10.75.

Arrive: Once you arrive at Long Beach, it is only a short walk to the shore. Along the way you pass an array of shops, restaurants and beach houses as you descend towards the shore. If you already purchased your ticket through the LIRR, simply stand in line at the booth to exchange your ticket for a beach card. Once retrieved, you are free to make your way into momentary solstice.

** You are able to rent chairs, bring your own food, etc. The water is calm, and surprisingly very clean for a NYC beach. Once the beach card has been stamped you may enter and exit the beach as much as you like for the entire day. Granted, the lifeguards go off duty so we urge you to be careful of your surroundings.**

Depart: There's not much of a night life in Long Beach, so once the sun goes down, the crowd goes with it, but there are numerous trains going back to Penn Station.

Total Cost: $19
Total Time in Travel: Approximately 102 mins

Welcome to Trips and Tricks to La La Land

Everyone wants a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the Big City. With airplane ticket prices soaring sky-high I've created this blog based on my personal experience and the experiences of others. With NYC being the tri-state area we are a short bus, or train ride away from major attractions. I will utilize this blog to make a play-by-play agenda on great weekend getaways! I will showcase great deals that I come across as well as heavy hitters that can put a dent in your wallet. Whether you live in NYC or just taking a vacation, I have ALL the remedies for friends, family and that special someone. I urge you to visit the site periodically, we wouldn't want you to miss out on special offers.

Don't forget to drop by my sister site: listentolala.blogspot.com

Double Kisses and Happpyyyyy Travels!