Last-minute summer escapes: Weekend, day trips near Long Island

Summer may be coming to an end, but there is still time to plan a quick trip away. Whether it's a short flight, a road trip not too far from Long Island or a day trip, here are destinations offering fun for the whole family, including digging for hidden treasure, exploring an outdoor sculpture park and taking a canal cruise.

Day trip: Upstate New Windsor

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: About 90 minutes away 

If the weather is good, pack a picnic, wear walking shoes or sneakers and take a 90-minute drive upstate to the Storm King Art Center, a 500-acre outdoor museum. You can go in the rain, too, since it’s open rain or shine.

Located in the Hudson Valley, Storm King Art Center ($25, $15 ages 5-17) is walkable, but you can also rent bicycles for $15 per hour or jump on a tram. Walking is definitely the best way to see the sights — more than 100 sculptures.

The museum has a daily free walking tour to get you started in this open-air sculpture park. You can jump right in using a digital guide that has a map as well as audio and video commentary by artists and museum staff. The exhibitions are dotted across the grounds, which are a mix of rolling meadows, hills, paved and gravel paths and lawns.

If you forget your picnic basket, you can head over to the Outdoor Cafe, which features a seasonal selection of grab-and-go sandwiches, salads and drinks from Beacon’s Kitchen Sink restaurant.

When you’ve seen enough, check out the free New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site, where George Washington and the Continental Army spent the last winter and spring of the Revolutionary War. Between now and Halloween, you can find costumed staff demonstrating musket drills, blacksmithing, military medicine and other 18th century skills.

Overnight trip: Upstate Herkimer

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: About 4 hours away

If you’re sick of the beach, head upstate to Herkimer, for a little rustic R&R.

The city is most famous for its mining offerings, which are part treasure hunt, part natural rage room. The Herkimer Diamond Mines, an above-ground surface mine, lets you become a prospector for the day.

There are two options for mining at Herkimer Diamond Mines: hammering and sluicing (using water and a pan to sift out gems). If you’re planning on hammering, bring safety goggles, gloves and closed-toe shoes. You can also bring chisels, screens, shovels and buckets.

After you pay your entry fee (starting at $19 for 13 and up, $16 ages 5-12), you’ll be given an all-day prospecting ticket, gem collection bags and use of a rock hammer. If you want to be sure you’re going to find a gem you can purchase sluice bags, which are guaranteed to contain some type of fossil, gemstone or diamond quartz.

You keep everything you find. There’s an option to create jewelry with your gems for an additional cost in the Artisan Center. At the end of the day, grab a tent or a cabin at Herkimer Diamond KOA Resort. There is also an RV camp. An overnight stay in a deluxe cabin with a patio starts at $225 per night. Pets are welcome in some cabins, too. Cheaper options include camping cabins with no bathrooms ($135) and glamping pods. You’ll find firepits, a snack bar, crayfishing, a pool and tubing down the West Canada Creek.

Dining in the area is mostly down-to-earth, too. Crazy Otto's Empire Diner is billed as classic American. It serves breakfast all day, including eggs, omelets, burgers and sandwiches. Another homestyle option, Salvatore's Pizzeria & Restaurant, has fun offerings like chicken wing pizza and calzones. If you’re craving fish or ice cream, head to Fat Cats Herkimer, where you’ll find fish sandwiches alongside smothered pork and mashed potatoes, chicken and biscuits, and steak burgers. It’s open every day except Sunday and Tuesday. Ice cream flavors and sundaes are epic. You’ll find vanilla and chocolate soft serve alongside seasonal "hard" ice cream flavors such as gold bar (sea salt caramel ice cream with peanut butter swirls, peanuts and fudge coated pretzels) and sundaes. One recent option: A piña colada sundae made with vanilla ice cream topped with pineapple, coconut, whipped cream and a cherry.

Before heading home the next day, grab breakfast at the Waterfront Grille and take an Erie Canal Cruise ($20 ages 4-12; $29 ages 13 and up). The restaurant and dock are right off Exit 30 of the Thruway.

You board Lil’ Diamond II, a 50-food sightseeing tour boat with bench seating and a snack bar. The cruise is about 90 minutes and covers how the canal was built and why it was and still is important to New York State. The coolest part of the trip is being lowered and raised more than 20 feet in one of the canal’s locks, a water-filled elevator that lifts a boat between different water levels.

Long weekend: Alexandria, Virginia

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: About 4½ hours away

Kids will have something to write about in history class after spending a few days in Alexandria, Virginia. Getting there is a quick 90-minute flight to Dulles Airport (IAD). Delta flies direct from Kennedy while United flies direct from LaGuardia. Round-trip tickets can be found for about $200, and you can take the Metro train to your destination once you arrive in D.C. You can also drive directly to the city itself. It’s about 4½ hours from Melville if you leave after rush hour. Amtrak is your third option. Take the train from Penn Station and you’ll be there in just over four hours.

Alexandria is on the western side of the Potomac River and is rife with history, starting with George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate ($30 ages 12 and up; $16 ages 6 -11). This isn’t a boring museum. Check out interactive performances such as the Revolutionary War Encampment, where you can wash clothing, see blacksmiths make tools and utensils, and take the "Hamilton" musical tour. It’s easy to spend an entire day here.

History buffs will also appreciate Old Town, the historic downtown district founded in 1749. You can start at the waterfront, where you’ll find street music, magicians and pop-up markets, especially in the summer. Walk north on King Street to find more than 200 restaurants, museums and boutiques. King Street is closed to traffic in some sections so strolling the area is enjoyable and safe for little ones.

You can stay right on King Street at Hilton Alexandria Old Town, across the street from the Metro station. Jump on the free King Street trolley right outside the hotel to take in the sights without having to walk too far. If you prefer to stay closer to the Potomac waterfront, check into The Alexandrian Old Town Alexandria, a pet-friendly upscale option. Residence Inn by Marriott Alexandria Old Town is a more affordable option (rates start at $146) that’s also in the historic district.

If your kids are asking for more modern options, you can take a water taxi back to D.C. and hit the National Children’s Museum ($18.95 for everyone over 1). Open every day except Tuesday, the museum is part playground and part learning experience. The "Curious George" exhibit, running until Sept. 6, will delight parents and kids. There are also workshops you can take to learn skills such as tinkering.