Get Out of Dodge: Day Trips to Help You Escape

Epic holiday vacation not in the cards this year? That's OK. Here's some close-to-home suggestions that will make you feel like you're in a land far, far away.

What: Thunder Ridge Ski Area

Where: 137 Birch Hill Rd, Patterson, NY

Thunder Ridge may not have the most scenic runs or gnarstiest jumps you've ever faced, but it is conveniently located for New Yorkers looking to hit the slopes for just one day. Check the website for available dates.

What: Sahara Sam's Oasis Indoor Water Park

Where: 535 N. Rte 73, West Berlin, NJ

Dust off the ol' bathing suit and head to West Berlin, Jersey, home of Sahara Sam's Oasis Indoor Water Park. The 58,000-square-foot complex is sheltered by a retractable roof, meaning it's always balmy and warm, even when the weather outside is decidedly the opposite.

What: Mohonk Mountain House

Where: 1000 Mountain Rest Rd, New Paltz, NY

Mohonk Mountain House is nothing to shake a stick at—though with 6,400 acres of forest surrounding it, you certainly could. With 266 guest rooms, and indoor pool and spa, outdoor ice-skating rink, not to mention a staggering array of recreation options that range from boating to horseback riding to fishing to hiking to rock climbing, you'll be able to shake your city-induced cabin fever in no time.

What: Dia:Beacon

Where: 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY

Housed in a former Nabisco Factory, this 240,000-square-foot art gallery boasts and impressive collection of large-scale installations, paintings and sculptures that even the little ones will delight in gawking at. The museum also sits on the scenic banks of the Hudson River, so visitors can take in the scenery both indoors and out.  

What: Princeton, New Jersey

Where: Princeton, New Jersey

Seth Kugel, author of the excellent New York Times Frugal Traveler column, had himself a perfectly lovely (and thrifty) day traversing the bucolic avenues and intellectual hotspots of Princeton, New Jersey. While the historic town is best known for the fancy college of the same name, Princeton isn't all-highbrow: It's also home to the House of Cupcakes, recently declared the victor on "Cupcake Wars."