Daddy Day (Overnight) Camp vol. 5, Backcountry Big Apple, Harriman State Park, Stony Point, NY

Harriman State Park
Stony Point, NY

As a kid spending summers in NJ with my dad, there was no better quick escape to the wilds than Bear Mountain in Harriman State Park.  Only an hour from dad's house, we would head up here for climbing, hiking, overnights and even some cross-country.

My friend Adam and I grew up heading out of cities into the wilds.  While I led Manhattan kids into the woods at Hidden Valley, he had served the camp circuit at Beckett in the Berkshires.  Both of us have been eager to take the kids on their first overnighter.  Now we have partners in crime.

Adam suggested a moderate hike near Bald rocks in the southern half of the park.  We reached the peak in an hour, then had a leisurely mile long stroll to a lean to where we ate lunch.  We set-up camp not far from there.  It was an amazing mid-week crowd, where we didn't see another person till late in the day.  We could have been in the real back country and we were only fifty miles from the city.

We spent the rest of the afternoon setting up our bear bag, exploring and making "gnome homes."  I even pulled out the ole whisper light stove to make a huge batch of mac and cheese for dinner.  After a roaring (sanctioned by the park service, don't worry) fire back at the lean to, we sent the kids off for an early bed so we could enjoy a little adult sunset.

Us city-slickers had a little trouble with all the racket that night (crickets are louder than fire engines I guess).  But we made it up and out in no time.  Just enough to enjoy the hike out and head into Tuxedo Park for a big diner breakfast!  What a great escape from the city, and home in time today for naps (for me that is!)

Jersey Shore Mommyventure, Sandy Hook Beaches, Gateway National Seashore, NJ

Sandy Hook Beaches

Gateway National Seashore

Sandy Hook, NJ

The Jersey shore. For us kids of the 80s it conjures up tides full of hypodermic needles, trashy shore rats and the venerable East Street Band. I will brush past the infamous tv show generation and move on to my own kids who have never been here. Since mommy had a hectic week at the office, I thought we would start with a "secluded" intro, most easily accessed from NYC via a ridiculously scenic but equally overpriced Seastreak ferry from Wall St. 

While incredible for our budding oceanographers, it was a little disconcerting to mommy and me to discover boundless sea treasures washing up on shore (Ahh Jersey, still having that deoxygenated river problem from pollution thirty years later?  Might I suggest tougher clean water laws like the ones we passed in Mass.)  The boys collected rays, flounder, crabs, horseshoe and more common clam shells. 

They spent most of this mommy beach day in the wonderful surf though.  The temp was perfect, the skies blue and the waves just the right height to reach her belly and the boys' chests.  Sydney is growing into a fearless boogie boarder as Liji gets more and more comfortable with big waves.  

The food trucks were pretty nice too. It's not always easy to get as good a BBQ at the beach as we did at Hog Heaven.  The Shave ice at Kona was a wonderful way to end a perfect beach day. No boardwalk, no amusement rides, just amazing views of Manhattan, Coney Island and beyond.  A pleasant first toe into the water of the Jersey Shore. 

Daddy Day Camp '14, vol. 1, Great DADventures Six Flags, Jackson, NJ

Daddy Day Camp '14, Day #1
Six Flags Great Adventure

Rye 537

Jackson, NJ

Today we launched Daddy Day Camp.  We decided that the most fun way to prep for Stay-at-home dad-dom would be to enjoy a summer of fantastic with the boys.  So I left my job early and the next month is dedicated to squeezing every ounce out of August.

My kids love animals.  The also love amusement park rides.  Despite our many trips to Busch Gardens to see my uncle Arnie hard at work, we don't have that luxury in the northeast.  Except for Great Adventures.  We got to the "Safari Off-Road Adventure" early before the crowds (ok, we did get in a ride on the "Runaway Mine Train" first.  As twenty of us piled into a "safari" car and tumbled across the "continents" we hung out with gnus, 'roos, dozens of species of antelopes and a number of tigers.

Things started to heat up after lunch so we circled back around to the Saw Mill Log Flume.  While not terrifying, it was a solid soak (fake sad, faces, no worries).  Then we headed to El Toro.  While the attendant at the entrance insisted Liji could make it on, the attendant at the ride forty-minutes of waiting later confirmed my fears that this was not true and we sadly headed off in search of fun.

Getting challenged to a Stampede Bumper Car duel will bring a smile back to any face.  But, even happier was cutting the line at the Dark Knight indoor coaster with our "exit" pass from the attendant at El Toro.  But the biggest smile on the face sadly came from a stuffed Bugs Bunny and giant-headed wolf that we won at the squirt gun races.  Ahhh, know that's amusement!

No Lions, No Tigers, No Bears, but Oh My: The Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn, NY

Prospect Park Zoo

450 Flatbush Ave

New York, NY 11225

It is no understatement to say that we moved back to the Slope for the Park.  We spend every nice weekend day there, and often a sunny weekday afternoon too.  The boys have gone to CBE day camp there, played SFX little league on the fields and both of us worked there for Brooklyn Heights Montessori summer back in the day.  But the highlight by far is the Prospect Park Zoo.

A member of the Wildlife Conservation Society, it is smaller than it's more famous partners the Bronx and Central Park Zoos.  It has fewer Sea Lion shows than it's other partner the New York Aquarium, but it is the perfect way to spend a beautiful afternoon with your two fav boys.  

We rode over with my new Father's day bike.  We hit the Farm animals first off, because who doesn't want to fee a Jacob four-horned sheep?  I then lost Sydney to the Peahen (wife of the more colorful peacock), her little chicks and the amazing employee who filled my sons head with so many facts Liji and I couldn't retain them all.  

But when push comes to shove, the Lewis Levin boys are primate fans.  I love the Marmosets, Sydney wanted to take home the Golden Lion Tamarins, but Liji was smitten with the Hamadryas Baboons and their big pink tushies!  But, just as we were leaving the red pandas behind we hit one of three daily Sea Lion shows.  Now this is nothing compared to our backstage passes to the seals with Aunt Kathy at the New England Aquarium, but it was a great way to wrap up a perfect day.  So bike on over or take the B61, but whatever you do, don't miss the best show in Brooklyn!

A Seaworthy Break from the Cold; Sea World, Orlando, FL

Sea World

7007 SeaWorld Drive

Orlando, Florida

It's been the winter we measured snowfall in Shaq's and you could tell by the sea of Sox caps as we deplaned in Orlando onto the runway; (where else can you still walk on the tarmac AND stay at a hotel IN the airport?)  Like every other law abiding Sox fan that couldn't afford spring training, we shacked up with the family for a week in sunny Orlando.  While we love us some good Disney, we warmed up at our family fav; Sea World.

Sydney and I hit the Journey to Atlantis flume with cuz Mikella early and paid dearly in drenched clothes.   Then the whole family, (I mean my uncle, in-laws, Kam's aunt, uncle and their two kids along with ours) headed for the show circuit.  We missed out on Pets Ahoy (no real loss here) and made it on time for Blue Horizons.  The music, the costumes, the trapeze artists, the dive bombing parrots and oh yeah, the dolphins.  It was like Cirque de Soleil on ice, except they forgot to freeze the pool.  Did I mention there were dolphins?

Last time we were here was pre-Shamu disaster.  Let's just say the show is a little different these days, and nobody is riding on top of a killer whale.  It was a little bit of a let down, 'cause watching trainers do flips off the nose of a humongous whale was pretty cool.  So we got our kicks on the rides at Shamu's Happy Harbor instead.  Plus, we never miss a chance at a good carousel and this one featured fish of the deep.  While we didn't hang with too many mammals this time (we missed the manatees, sea otters and seals) and the beer garden has gone the way of Anheuser Busch ownership, we still had a blast!  

This is the End? Who Knew it was so Beachy; World's End, Hingham, MA

World's End

142 Martins Lane

Hingham, MA

One of our first Dadventures in Beantown was long before there was a blog, back when Liji was just shaking off his first mommyventure.  Stroller and all, we trudged up the hill with two year old Sydney and settled in on a beautiful view of Boston.  Then the clouds rolled in and all I can remember is sprinting with a six month old, his stroller and someone carrying Sydney.  Today, was not that day.

The Trustees for Reservations spots are so incredible, it is almost impossible to imagine that they were ever in private hands.  Did the Cranes really have Crane Beach all to themselves?  Did local businessman John Werner really own this enchanted hillside on the bay in Hingham for just the fam?  Evidently Frederick Law Omstead of Central Park fame helped out a little on the design.  We love the Trustee lands, we just keep coming back for more.

This was a fitting cap to a summer of dadventures with my closest pal Adam and his daughter.  She led my boys down to the beach and spent an uninterrupted hour plus hunting hermit crabs with them while we caught up.  Covered in muck and happy as clams to get out of the heat, we headed for the tony downtown. We hit up Yelp for a local find and ran across the Square Cafe.  While our mud may not have suited the owner, the pasta sure suited us.  Thanks Hingham for a lovely day on the shore that felt a far cry from the end of the world, or the last place on earth.

Can Ice Cream Really Trump a Million Adventures?: Kimball Farm, Westford, MA

Kimball Farm

400 Littleton Road

Westford, MA

Yes, the ice cream at Kimball Farm is really worth the trip to Westford.  If you already love this 'hood for Nashoba Valley, then you just decided to tie the knot.  Mary Frawley aka "my work mom" who raised a couple of boys of her own is always a sure bet for recs.  She has been pushin' Kimball for years and we finally made it out today with our own of towners.  It was everything their exciting webpage promoted and more.

We started off with mini-golf.  We're not talking any Play Bosquet stuff we hit with them in the Berkshires.  We're talking hills, valleys, waterfalls and yes even two holes in a make-believe mine shaft.  Then we caught some bumper boats before lunch.  Sydney wasn't sure if he could handle it, but quickly decided afterward that flying solo was so the right choice.

Lunch was really no slouch either.  We had the fried clams and shrimp plates.  Perhaps no Woodmans of Ipswich rival, but it sure hit the spot after our "workout."  That's when the real fireworks began.  We hopped in the  Animal Adventures tent and caught a kinkajou and petted a python.  A quick beach volleyball Dadbreak and we were off to the cages.  Even Kam got in the swing, taking a few cracks at slow pitch softballs for the first time in her life.  She was aptly rewarded with the piece de resistance;  the kiddie cup.  Yeah, they're fooling you.  This mound of sugary, creamy wonder is not fit for kiddies, but it sure capped a fantastic dadventure.

Peace and Quiet in the Wilds; Wildwood Community, Granville, MA

The Wildwood Community

254 Beetle Road

Tolland, MA

Ahhh... the sweet sounds of birds chirping in the morning.  Ok, maybe it was six AM, but that tells you just how quiet things are in the Wildwood planned vacation community.  Originally intended to be the "Chamonix of the Berkshires," Wildwood is a lovely vacation spot for owners and renters built around spectacular Cranberry Pond, with no motor boats and only limited cellur service (detox for us Crackberry addicts).  My dad picked it out for our summer vacation week as more peaceful alternative to the Cape.

We spent most of the week fishing, canoeing (although we couldnt bring our own canoe, dang Zebra mussle scare), and of course swimming.  Sydney spent most of the week swimming to and from one of the four beaches to the perfectly carpeted floating docks.  Until he realized there were fancy floating mats under the house.  Then he really got crazy mixing noodles, surfing and diving.  Daddy spent a lot of time going for long swims and built sand castles, mommy read all of Jane Austin's "Emma" and Elijah mastered the beach toys many purposes (check him out on YouTube).

After a long Road Trip south and Kami's recent trip to Manhattan to receive her Award at BlogHer, this was the perfect anecdote.  We only left the house to go to Tanglewood and for a couple of hikes in Granville and Tolland State Forests despite all the wonderful nearby adventures in the Berkshires.  So if you need to get away from it all, and you just want a couple hours in the car to do it, check out Wildwood.

A Lovely Tromp Through the Woods: Tolland State Forest, Tolland, MA

Tolland State Forest

Tolland, MA

Perhaps when you think of the Berkshires, you think of Tanglewood or Jacob's Pillow.  But, just maybe you came with the kids to get away from it all.  Just maybe, you wanted to be alone with the fam, not surrounded by thousands of artistic junkies.  Then Tolland is the place for you.

While the motor boats on Otis Reservoir were a bit disconcerting while tromping in nature, this was a beautiful body of water.  We opted for the "Healthy Heart" Gillmore Trail.  Not simply because we just can't get enough of that wacky mother and daughter team.  More, because I really was hoping that if we didn't go too far, Liji could make the entire trek on his own two feet (re: the end of the daddy backpack please!).

Well, we started to climb and ole Liji's legs gave out, but he opted for grandpa's shoulders (phew).  Grandpa regaled us with that time that he and I summited like 70 peaks in three days, including Mt. Washington when I was just a few months older than Sydney is now.  (It was like 20 below one night at Lake of the Clouds people, and the dog almost froze!)  Ironically we had just been there, so I reminded Sydney what a crazy idea this was for a five year old.  Anyway, we had a lovely tromp, caught up on some more salamanders, checked out the woodpecker holes and made it safely back in time for lunch.  The perfect hike.

Salamanders Ho! Granville State Forest, Granville, MA

Granville State Forest

Granville, MA

We are Department of Conservation and Resources (DCR) junkies.  I hate to admit it, but they put together a good party.  At our home base on Lake Cochituate they remove trees from your dock if a winter storm wanders by.  They maintain pristine beaches and beautiful lakes with flair.  They provide clear and accessible maps online and at each site.  I have visited a lot of state parks in my day, and I must say DCR rocks!

We set-up camp in the Berkshires this summer in Granville with dad and his longtime companion Allison.  This town is a small, former farming community near the Connecticut border, and our stay in Wildwood has been dreamy.  Swimming all day, fishing early and often and paddling our hearts out.  We went for a little change of pace this morning by starting with a hike, and the boys couldn’t have been more thrilled.

Every twist and turn of these well-maintained trails was littered with red spotted salamanders (they are both scientists, so we learned that this was like the tadpole stage of newts).  Last night, we were lucky to skip another night in the tent because it was two inches deep in water when we awoke.  But what a bonanza for the wildlife!  These salamanders crossed us at every turn.  Little peeper frogs hopped across the trail in droves.  There were so many types of fungus, my dad (or Mr. Wizard as they used to call him) couldn’t even keep up with all of Sydney’s questions.  So when you are done riding horses at Undermountain Farms, or splashing at Play Bosquet come on out to Granville for a taste of the wild.