Words by Gabrielle Cabrera
A quick escape from the hustle and bustle of our daily routine is what we really need especially after endless Zoom meetings, online classes or just meeting our deadlines on time. A 5-day road trip might be beneficial for you to balance it all together. Let me give you some city hopping ideas which will ease your stress and take your breath away!
After picking up your chosen vehicle, head on over to Geno’s Steaks to grab a Philly Cheesesteak! Treat yourself in a meaty goodness sandwich while you travel to your first destination. Geno’s Steaks is only 18-minute drive from the pick-up point via I-95 S.
Day 1 New York
Just a 2-hour drive from Geno’s Steaks, head on over to Central Park New York where you can fill your lungs with fresh air. The whole park is surrounded by beautiful trees and shrubs. Walk around the park and you’ll find awesome snack finds as well as acoustic street performers. The park is so enchanting that it will soothe your stress
CENTRAL
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM
OF ART
i
mmerse yourself in history by checking the Metropolitan Museum of Art or popularly known as The Met. The museum houses over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. This is also one of the finest art museums in the world as a matter of fact Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings are part of their collection. Truly a sight to behold and you will definitely learn a thing or two after visiting The Met.
The Met is only a 3-minute drive from Central Park via 79th St.
Times
Before taking a rest after a busy NYC day, make sure to pass by Times Square to see the gorgeous cityscape. Grab this opportunity for taking nice pictures since there are few people because of the pandemic.
Times Square is only an 8-minute drive from The Met.
Tips And New York
CENTRAL PARK No entrance fees and open to visitors 365 days a year. The Park opens at 6:00 am and closes at 1:00 am.
Metropolitan museum of art
You need to make a reservation at https://engage.metmuseum.org/reservation/
General Admission for adults is $25 but free for children under 12 years
TIMES SQUARE Stand atop the red TKTS stairs—just below 47th Street, between Broadway and Seventh Avenue—to get a shot pointing downtown. Another take: Those stairs are a great place to hang out and people-watch or to try a panorama shot of all the Times Square lights.
PARKINGCentral Park parking for large vehicles starts at $23 but drive around West Central Park as you may score free parking. Also, pay close attention to the street signs.
Where to park and sleep Head over to Morningside Park Campground in Hurleyville to stay overnight. They have full hookups, electric, water and bathroom. It is only a 7-minute drive from Central Park West. Daily rates range from $20-$30.
Good morning, Upper East Sider! Make sure to grab your breakfast as we are heading to Washington St in Brooklyn to take IG-worthy pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge before we go to our next destination. The overlooking bridge and cobblestone street make it so classy. This is almost a 2-hour drive from the campground and will be the last stop for our NYC trip.
Hammonasset Beach State Park is our next destination. It is only an hour and 47-minute drive from Washington St Brooklyn via I-95 S. After a long drive, you can take a rest at the beach whole day as they also have a campground. Fire pits are ready for a cold night and they also have free grills to use for a perfect BBQ party! There is also a boardwalk that accompanies a large stretch of the beach. Aside from swimming, you can also hike on the winding walking trails, and go fishing at Meigs Point Nature Center. Also, dogs are allowed in the picnic area, but not on the beach.
A good way to start exploring the city is by trying their local restaurants. Start your day right with a mouth-watering breakfast at Elm Street Diner. It is located in the heart of their downtown area – Stamford.
Wandering around its downtown area feels like you’re in New York all over again due to its lively feel and multicultural make-up.
GILLETE CASTLE STATE PARK
I
f getting inside a castle is included in your bucket list then you can tick it off after visiting Gillette Castle State Park! A medieval fortress stone castle was built from 1914 to 1919 by twenty-five men and owned by the actor and playwright – William Gillette. Up to this day, you will still be enchanted by its beauty most especially if you check out the whole castle.
This marvelous work of art castle is located in East Haddam, an hour and a half drive from Stamford via I-95 S.
A
fter going around the city, it’s time to relax and have fun at Lake Compounce Theme Park and Water Park! Yes, hitting two birds with one stone, right? Now only that, they also have a campground in which you can stay overnight with close access to new and clean bathrooms and showers. Enjoy a fun-filled day at the park and savor each moment as we are headed tomorrow to our last destination.
Lake Compounce is 54-minute drive from Gillette Castle State Park via CT-9 S.
Tips And Connectiocu
Hammonasset beach state park
$30 to $45 per night plus $9 reservation processing fee.
You may reserve your preferred dates via www.portal.ct.gov
For further inquiries, you may call them at 203-245-2785
Elm street diner
You may check out their menu at www.elmstreetdiner.com/menu
Gillette castle state park
General Admission is $6, Children (6-12) is $2 and free for 5 years and below. You can check out www.ctvisit.com
Lake compounce
Camping Rates:
Weekday (Monday – Thursday)
$47 per night (max of 8 people)
Weekend (Friday – Sunday)
$62 per night (max of 8 people)
You are entitled to a discounted gate price if you will be camping at Lake Compounce.
Check-out early morning from Lake Compounce and start travelling to our last destination – Rhode Island! Head on over to Federal Hill to enjoy breakfast at picturesque Little Italy. Bask in the sun in their outdoor dining area while enjoying the view and sipping an espresso! They have tons of restaurants to choose from with a wide variety of menus. Federal Hill is only an hour and a 47-minute drive from Lake Compounce via I-84.
Sit back and relax on a 1.5-hour cruise at Newport. The narrated lighthouse cruise will set on the long stretch of Narragansett Bay and sail into the famous Newport Harbor. Magnificent lighthouses, harbor mansions, and Clingstone along with the scenic coastlines will definitely capture your heart!
Newport is only 47-minute drive from Federal Hill via I-95 S, RI-4 S and RI-138 E.
Chill at
Newport
Spoil yourself with your favorite wine at Newport Vineyards! They have a wide selection of wines and they also offer fresh craft beef and farm to table dining experience. Feels like you are transported to Napa! Private tours and tastings are also available. Newport Vineyards is only a 10-minute drive from Newport cruise via Kay Boulevard.
After a long day exploring Rhode Island it’s time to take a rest and enjoy the views at Second Beach Campground. You can stay here overnight and they also offer toilets, hot showers and ice locker on site. Management is also on site which will be very helpful in case you need anything.
Second Beach Campground is only a 7-minute drive from Newport Vineyards via Berkeley Ave and Paradise Ave.
DAY 5:
WHITE HORSE TAVERN
Last day of our adventure and enjoy the waters at the beach. Afterwards, make sure to head over to The White Horse Tavern for a good meal. This restaurant is the 10th oldest restaurant in the world. Don’t go home without trying out their food and have a glimpse of their history. The restaurant is only an 11-minute drive from the campground via RI-138A E and also a 4.5-hour drive back to the van pick-up point.
Tips And Rhode
Federal hill restaurants
To check the list of restaurants, visit https://www.goprovidence.com/
Lighthouse cruise at Newport
Rates starts at $21 and it depends on which ferry you will choose to board
Newport vineyards
Make sure to reserve a table before heading to the vineyard. You may also check their menu at www.newportvineyards.com or by calling 401-848-5161
Second beach campground
To get their latest rates, you may reach out to them at 401-846-6273
The White Horse Tavern
You can make a reservation via www.whitehorsenewport.com or 401-849-3600
“Therapy is great for the mind, but travelling will do so much more for the soul.”
I certainly hope that you enjoyed the 5-day adventure trip from Philadelphia to New York to Connecticut to Rhode Island! Always remember that it is always okay to press the reset button once in a while and rest. Take a deep breath, inhale the beauty of new places and exhale the stress away. Looking forward to our next adventure!