Weekend Trips

With spring almost officially upon us (and a big school break on the horizon, too), NYC parents are on the hunt for fun family day trips. One place my daughter and I like to visit at this time of year is White Post Farms, an awesome animal farm and petting zoo located in Melville, Long Island. Although we drove the last time we went, the farm is accessible via the Long Island Rail Road to Huntington Station and a quick taxi ride, so it's a great destination even if you don't have a car.

Unlike your typical nature farm where families pick fruit or watch cows being milked, White Post Farms is for little animals lovers. My daughter was so excited about our last visit, she even agreed to pay her own way (with coins from her piggy bank, of course). If your kid's into exotic animals, pony rides, train rides, treasure hunts and animatronic shows, you'll want to plan a visit. Bonus: Visit between now and Easter and you'll get face time with the Easter Bunny.

The annual Philadelphia International Flower Show has been on my bucket list for a long time and this year I decided to cross it off. Last weekend, my family and I drove down to Philly to check out the blooming buds.

Held at the massive Pennsylvania Convention Center every March, the Philadelphia International Flower Show is the world’s largest indoor flower show. This year's edition celebrates Hawaii with amazing displays of the state's tropical flowers and plants. As you can see in our slide show, the exotic blooms and greenery are interspersed with sparkling white sand, crystal pools of water and volcanic rocks, truly stunning sights. Other attractions include culinary demonstrations, a Man Cave, a Family Lounge, awesome eats and shopping, tons of gardening and agriculture workshops, and a huge Hawaiian marketplace featuring flowers and plants, delicious delicacies and indigenous crafts.

The Philadelphia International Flower Show continues through Sunday, March 11 and makes for a wonderful family day trip. Yes, NYC has the orchids at the New York Botanical Garden and Macy's upcoming annual Flower Show, but they can't compare to this incredible display. You'll feel like you took a trip to Hawaii!

As much as we love NYC there are some things you just can’t do here. One those things is maple sugaring, the process of transforming sticky, tasteless tree sap into sweet syrup. Maple trees only grow in the Northeast region of North America, so it's the one place that produces real maple syrup.

Maple sugaring season starts around the end of February and runs through March, when climbing temperatures allow the sap to begin running in the trees or "sugar bushes" as they're sometimes called. Seeing how the sap is collected, cooked and stored (and tasting the yummy final product) is a great way for kids to learn about the farm-to-table movement that's spreading across American dining tables. New York City is close to many farms and nature centers where families can watch maple sugaring demos, indulge in pancake breakfasts, and enjoy maple syrup festivals and other seasonal fun. So as the winter we've barely had winds down, enjoy one of these sweet winter day trips.

Don’t let the lack of a car keep you from hitting the slopes this winter. Nearly all of the big (and small, for you first-timers) local ski resorts offer bus and train package deals from New York City. Don't worry that we haven't seen a flake of snow since that freak October storm: The ski resorts are making their own and are open for business.

These packages are convenient and wallet-friendly, and they often include discounted lift tickets and equipment rental so you don't have to lug your own skis. Even if you own a car these deals are worth considering: After a hard day on the slopes, it's wonderful to kick back and relax while someone else battles traffic back to NYC. Here are six ski resorts in New York and New Jersey that offer ski packages that will have your family on the mountains in no time.

For kids, a week off from school is bliss. For parents, well, it can be a little stressful. My son is bound to go a little stir crazy in our over-heated apartment. It is too cold for the playground and every inside attraction is going to be packed. Plus, I really need a break from our monthly trek to the American Museum of Natural History.

But you don't need a car to get out of the city. Here are some great day trips from New York City that should entertain the whole gang that you can do without a car! No need to battle the traffic getting back into town when you can kick back and take a seat on public transit. It makes getting there part of the adventure and kids just love it.