Overnight jaunts worth taking.
Ocean Resort CasinoOpens June 28
500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.
Atlantic City keeps reinventing itself, and now there's a brand-new perch from which to explore. The old Revel hotel, a high-profile effort to create buzz in Atlantic City, declared bankruptcy and went into history. Now the site has a new spot, Ocean Resort Casino, which already netted gossip-page headlines because Mark Wahlberg invested in HQ, the hotel's nightclub. Expect more attention at the new resort — opening later this month. At Ocean Resort Casino, they're advertising suite accommodations, deep soaking tubs and stunning views.
Hyde Park history'Family Fun Festival'
Free
June 30, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
Hyde Park, N.Y.
There's as fresh reason to visit the richly historic and relaxing hamlet of Hyde Park, N.Y, where the Democratic Roosevelt is remembered. Later this month, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum and the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site will join for their third annual “Family Fun Festival.” It's on the library's lawn and the grounds of the home. Activities will include a bird walk, circus acts, a live radio broadcast and radio activities. The festival's free — and so is your visit that day to the library and the home.
Bank on itRed Bank, New Jersey
Charming without being claustrophobic, Red Bank, N.J. offers a visiting New Yorker a compelling mix of culture and relaxation. The downtown is a vibrant mix of shops and restaurants, and there's an array of events throughout the year, from jazz and movies in the park to a sidewalk sale and an oyster festival. You might use the Federal-style Molly Pitcher Inn on the waterfront as your headquarters for a night or two. Nearby, the Count Basie Center for the Arts draws diverse acts even in the summertime, as when Leslie Odom Jr. appears later this month.
A Different DowntownWilmington, Delaware
Amtrak isn't just for getting from Penn Station north to Boston or south to D.C. Try getting off at one of those other stops — and you might be surprised what you'll find. In Wilmington, Delaware, for instance, there's old-school elegance at the Hotel du Pont, a walkable and historic downtown, food galore, and a renovated waterfront. Coming June 30 at the Delaware Art Museum, visitors can gain new understanding with a new exhibit, “Danny Lyon: Memories of the Southern Civil Rights Movement.” Sometimes city dwellers need a vacation not at the beach, but in a different downtown — and this small city has a pace and personality all its own.