Daytrips from New York

Q: We are going to be in New York for about 10 days before departing on a cruise and would like to spend some time out of the city, be it a day or a few hours. Can you suggest any train journeys from Grand Central that would be interesting and worthwhile? - Enid Knight

A: Manhattan's Grand Central is the terminus of the Metro-North Railroad (MNR), which offers you some great opportunities for day trips. You can take the New Haven Line to Greenwich, Connecticut. The journey only takes 40 minutes and there is plenty to do and see in this wealthy community. It has some good beaches and great views over Long Island Sound. With some luck, you may be able to attend one of the festivals and fairs held regularly. There is a brochure titled Metro-North One-Day Getaways, which is available from tourism offices in New York or you can consult the www.mta.info/mnr/html/getaways.htm website. For more traditional sightseeing, you could take the train to cities like Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston. These cities all have their own attractions, which are viewed during walking tours or organised excursions. If you are happy to travel from Penn station, you can head for scenic Rhinecliff, where you can enjoy small-town life in horse-farm country. The journey is only 90 minutes, but you may well opt to stay over at one of the pretty hotels - the Beekman Arms (www.beekmandelamaterinn.com) or the riverside Rhinecliff Inn (www.therhinecliff.com). For longer journeys, there’s the Empire Service from Penn. It will take you all the way up the Hudson River, and is the most scenic train journey on the East Coast, full of rivers, mini-fjords, waterfalls, forests and historic villages. For a really great trip, take this service to the Niagara Falls. Much of the route follows the New York State Barge Canal and Hudson River. The trip takes nine hours and costs 78 US dollar each way. Visit www.amtrak.com for more details. (28/8/11)