American History: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island

Highlights: Lady Liberty; historical site; great views
Duration: three to six hours
Exertion level: low
Accessible by: subway, ferry

You can expect large crowds and packed ferries on the way to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, but both are worth seeing at least once.

First things first! Get yourself to Battery Park, on the southern tip of Manhattan. The Circle Line Ferry ($27 for adults, $23 for seniors, and $16 for children) carries passengers from Battery Park to both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. (Note: It is very important to purchase your tickets from Castle Clinton before you wait in line for the ferry.) The first stop is the Statue. If you are up for scaling Lady Liberty from the inside, plan on buying your tickets at 8 a.m. when Castle Clinton opens. Statue of Liberty tickets tend to sell out quickly.

Then it's off to Ellis Island, the gateway for more than 12 million Americans (mostly arriving from Europe) between 1892 and 1954. To get the most out of the museum, watch the 45-minute movie, Island of Hope, Island of Tears, before you tackle the museum. Introduced by a cheerful guide who will answer individual questions, the video will put you in the mood to explore. The rest of the museum is self-guided. Audio tours are available.

Yes, it's touristy, and yes, the lines are long. But the experience is worth the wait. Our advice: Arrive early! For more information, check out the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island online.

Carnivalesque Fun: Coney Island

Highlights: the birthplace of the hot dog; wild rollercoaster rides; beach bumming
Duration: four to eight hours
Exertion level: low to medium, depending on your fear of roller coasters
Accessible by: subway

With a massive boardwalk, 35 rides and attractions, the New York Aquarium, and (arguably, we suppose) the best hot dogs in America, Coney Island is a bizarre overload to the senses. Really, where else can you see the youngest female sword swallower in the world right next to Bambi the mermaid?

Don't worry, weird comes cheap at Coney Island. A visit to the wacky Coney Island Museum is a mere 99 cents. And a stroll down the boardwalk is, well, free!

If you're feeling adventurous, take a spin on the Cyclone at Astroland after a few hot dogs at Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs, home to a hot-dog eating contest held every Fourth of July. Scratch that—eat your hot dogs after you ride the Cyclone. A safer bet for your stomach is the New York Aquarium.

One of the best things about Coney Island is that it's not centrally managed. This means that it's not one big theme park. All the rides have individual owners, and the entire site is a lot smaller than Disney World and other large amusement parks. Be sure to check out the Coney Island site before your visit, because some attractions are seasonal.

Vines & Mountains: Shawangunk Wine Trail

Highlights: 500 acres of vineyard; majestic mountains; cute villages
Duration: five to ten hours; overnight
Exertion level: low
Accessible by: private car

Some call it the "Napa of the East." We prefer to call the Shawangunk Wine Trail an unpretentious stroll through the Hudson Valley, replete with breathtaking views and some darn good wine. Forget the chauffeured wine tours and celebrity chefs of the California Wine Country. This East Coast wine trail features more mom-and-pop wineries and a less stuffy attitude.

The Shawangunk Wine Trail, just two hours from Manhattan, includes 11 wineries. For true blue Cheapos, Brotherhood Winery offers the best wine tasting deal, with ten samples priced at $5. Most Shawangunk wineries offer four to five samples for this price. Another favorite is Rivendell Winery, whose owners always stock their fridge with local cheese for picnics. (Fun fact: the Rivendell crew also runs the Vintage New York Wine Shop in SoHo, located not far from EuroCheapo world headquarters.)

The "Gunks" feature more than wineries. The surrounding mountains provide excellent rock climbing, and the area itself is home to quirky antique shops, county fairs, and cute towns.

To get to the Shawangunk Wine Trail, drive north from New York City on New York State Thruway and take exit 16, 17 or 18. From Route 17, take Exit 119. Another route is to approach the trail from Interstate 84. The southern end of the Trail can be accessed from Interstate 84 at Warwick and Washingtonville; the northern end of the Trail can be accessed from Interstate 84 at Pine Bush and New Paltz.

This may seem obvious, but make sure you appoint a designated driver! And don't drink and climb!

For listings of the wineries along the trail, visit the the Shawangunk Wine Trail site.