Want to Escape the City? Visit Long Island

Want to escape the hustle & bustle of the city? Visit Long Island.

Just across the bridges of New York City, Long Island’s Suffolk County offers visitors a memorable Island getaway.

Whether you choose a barefoot walk on the beach; an adventuresome climb atop a lighthouse; an afternoon sampling the latest vintages at one of more than 30 wineries; or a visit to a famous historic site, there’s a lot to discover onLong Island.

SuffolkCounty’s ocean beaches are among the best inAmerica. So first and foremost, pack your bathing suit. The world-renownedHamptonsalone occupied two of the top 10 spots in Dr. Beach’s annual listing ofAmerica’s best beaches.

InSuffolkCounty, there’s so much more to enjoy beyond our beaches. Visit the birthplace of Walt Whitman, or exploreLong Island’s Revolutionary War history on the Washington Spy Trail. DiscoverLong Island’s rich maritime history at a maritime museum, or visit a whaling museum. Take in the splendor of mansions and museums hearkening back toLong Island’s Gilded Age, including theVanderbiltMansion.

Explore our country’s rich aviation past at theAmericanAirpowerMuseum. Or view an extensive collection of horse-drawn carriages and other historical items at the Long Island Museum of American Art, History and Carriages

There’s plenty of fun for kids inSuffolkCounty, too. Our Long Island Game Farm, a fish hatchery and Atlantis Aquarium are just some of the attractions waiting to charm them. And our sprawling Splish Splash water park offers cooling excitement on a hot summer’s day.

Call 1-877-386-6654, ext. 272 or visit www.discoverlongisland.com/tg272 for more information or to order a free Travel Guide

Family reunions can be a lot of fun. You get to see family members you may not have seen for a couple of years. Perhaps, there are ‘new’ family members you haven’t met. The good news is there are plenty of family reunion locations throughout the U.S. The possibilities are endless!

It’s important to make arrangements early and find a place that works for everyone. This is a good way to prevent family feuds! If you wait too long to plan your family reunion, your favorite hotel or resort could be booked solid. Also, family members may not be able to attend due to previous travel plans.

How to Plan a Family Reunion, Cut Costs, and Have a Good Time

Book Your Family Reunion Locations Early! Photo credit: Stock exchange-Sign-Helen Bobis

Book early

Beach family reunion locations are popular. The most popular beach vacation destination is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. If you have your heart set on having your family reunion in SC then you better book your location early. Otherwise, the entire family will be left out in the cold.

Tie your family reunion to an important date

If grandma and grandpa are celebrating 65 years of marriage, celebrate their special day at the family reunion. Building your family reunion around a holiday could be tricky. Big holiday’s like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July are during the travel ‘high season.’ You may not be able to find accommodations or someone may not be able to attend.

Hold your family reunion in the off-season

It may be cost effective to hold your family reunion in the off-season. Family reunion locations such as Florida, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and other popular destinations can be expensive during the ‘high season’ which is usually during the summer. Some family members may not be able to afford to attend. Take this into consideration when planning your family reunion. Holding in the off-season could work for everyone.

Meet at a family member’s home

Holding your family reunion at a family member’s home is another way to cut costs. Perhaps, a family member with five or more acres of land will be willing to host the family reunion. Everyone can bring something, a hot meal, desert, or soft drinks. Of course, cash would probably be accepted too!

Decide on the size of your family reunion

Your family reunion doesn’t have to be large. A small and intimate family reunion could be more inviting. First-time family reunion planners may want to plan a smaller affair. You’ll get a sense of what it’s like to plan reunion.

Raise money for your family reunion 

Send out an email blast and ask family members to have garage sales, silent auctions, raffles, car washes, rummage sales, etc. to raise money for your family reunion.

Plan cost-effective family activities

Ask family members what they like to do. Ask family members what their kids like to do. You can’t please everyone. But you can plan activities ahead of time to keep people entertained. Ideas are:

• Renting a karaoke machine.
• Set up a sound system outside (if you’re holding at your home).
• Booking golf outing.
• Swimming
• Hiking
• Going to the park.
• Renting a ‘bouncy castle’ or other inflatable rentals.

Now you know how to plan a family reunion, cut costs, and have a good time! Keep the lines of communication open. Correspond via email or Facebook. Keep in mind that everyone may not have a computer or Facebook page. Contact family members when you have the date, time, and location settled. Keep family up-to-date with the latest information. Happy planning!

CRUISE CONTEST: Win a free cruise! 

Related Articles

• 7 Must-See Family Beaches in the USA (guestquest.com/blog)
• 5 Hot Tips to Help You Plan Your Family Vacation (guestquest.com/blog)

All Aboard! Visit Medina Railroad Museum in NY State

Medina Railroad Museum State - The Largest Railroad and Toy Train Museum in NY State

Located in the old New York Central freight depot in Medina, NY, the Medina Railroad Museum is the largest railroad and toy train museum in NY State. The depot was built in 1905-06 and is the largest wood-frame freight house ever built by the NY Central Railroad Company.

The museum features the world’s largest collection of railroad artifacts and memorabilia known to exist under one roof. See the longest HO-Scale model train layout and diorama all on one floor, an immense 204 ft. by 34 ft.

Enjoy our several family-friendly special events throughout the year. In May our Day Out with Thomas and in the Fall our Winery Trains, our Fall Foliage Trains and the magic of the Polar Express. Kids of all ages love the experience of this museum all year round.

Medina Railroad Museum
530 West Avenue, PO Box 136
Medina, NY 14103 USA
585-798-6106
www.railroadmuseum.net

Dutchess County, New York

Enjoy adventures in history, culture and arts, and the culinary arts! An abundance of historic landmarks, exceptional restaurants and natural scenic beauty makes Dutchess ideal for day trips or longer getaways. Stroll the Walkway Over the Hudson, 200 feet above the Hudson River. Dine at five Culinary Institute of America restaurants. Golf at 16 championship courses. Tour Gilded Age mansions and historic homesteads at riverfront estates of FDR, Vanderbilt and Samuel Morse, lavishly decorated for the holidays. Explore the arts at Dia:Beacon, Vassar’s Loeb Center and Bard’s Fisher Center. Bring together family and friends to visit a farm and cut your own Christmas tree. Browse in Rhinebeck, Millbrook and Beacon antique shops and art galleries. Rekindle the romance at a B&B. Drink it all in! Tour and taste at wineries and farm markets. Dutchess County Simple and Sophisticated. You Deserve Dutchess. 90 minutes from NYC. www.DutchessTourism.com

Byrncliff Resort and Conference Center

Byrncliff Resort & Conference Center is a year-round resort nestled in the rolling hills of Wyoming County in Western New York State. Byrncliff offers an 18-hole golf course, a full service restaurant, overnight lodging, cross-country ski/snowshoe trails, an outdoor pool with mini-golf course and entertainment.

Experience the beauty of the country and the warm hospitality of Byrncliff. Byrncliff Resort & Conference Center has 24 traditional rooms and one suite for your lodging convenience. Visit for the day or stay overnight. You won’t have to worry about a thing when you take advantage of an all-inclusive stay and play golf package or a stay and ski package. Visiting family, friends or just passing through? Then reserve a room at The Byrncliff Inn.

If you haven’t discovered Byrncliff yet, now is the time.

Byrncliff Resort and Conference Center

2357 Humphrey Road

Varysburg,  NY 14167

585-535-7300

Allegany County, New York

A visit to Allegany County, NY is like a walk through American history. The county is located in the Southern Tier of New York State, with its center approximately 90 miles due south of Rochester. There are about 45,000 citizens residing in the county’s twenty-nine townships, ten villages and numerous hamlets.

Once, long ago, this area was home to the Seneca Nation who occupied it for several hundred years. In 1627, the first white men, Franciscan missionaries, explored the county and discovered petroleum, the first in North America, at the Seneca oil spring near the present day village of Cuba.

Gradually, white men began to explore this area and began to settle here. In 1782 Moses Van Campen, a frontiersman and scout for American Revolutionary forces, was captured by the Seneca’s and forced to run the gantlet in Caneadea. He did and survived. In the years after the War, veterans of General Sullivan’s armies settled here and raised their families. In 1795, Nathaniel Dyke who had been a member of Washington’s staff, built a home in what is now Elm Valley near Almond. Phillip Church, nephew to Alexander Hamilton, owned thousands of acres of land and built a Mount Vernon style mansion at Belvidere. Later, settlers could be found up and down the Genesee River Valley. In 1806, Allegany County was created by an act of the State Legislature. At that time, the county’s population was just a few hundred people, but that would grow to 30,000 by 1860.

In the first half of the 19^th century, timbering and agriculture were the main businesses of the county. The Genesee Valley Canal was built through a number of the towns in order that it could transport the wood and agricultural products grown here to points north. Later railroads, such as the Erie in 1851, would also provide transportation.

Many of the county citizens were antislavery and supportive of the efforts of the Underground Railroad, which wound its way up the Genesee River the length of the county and beyond. Two documented stations are still standing in Almond and Belfast, with many supposed stations scattered in other towns.

The Colors of Autumn along NY’s Amish Trail.

 It’s time to see the blazing reds, oranges and yellows of the autumn trees as you discover a ‘view’tiful autumn along the Amish Trail.

Our back country roads are a kaleidoscope of color and activity along New York’s Amish trail. See Amish farmers out harvesting their fields with teams of work horses under sunny blue skies. Amish roadside stands and shops overflowing with the fruits of their summer labor:  fresh homemade jams and jellies, colorful handcrafted rugs and quilts, woven baskets, handmade furniture, fun wooden toys and yummy goats milk fudge.

All this and more is waiting for you to experience so plan your trip today and call for a guided tour! New this year is the Amish GeoTrail and the Amish Trail Limited Edition Christmas Ornament. You can start your Christmas Shopping with some unique, homemade and handmade gifts from NY’s Amish Trail.

New York’s Amish Trail

1-800-331-0543

WNYAmishTrail.com