If you haven’t planned a getaway for Labor Day weekend, it’s not too late. The holiday may be associated with slow-moving road traffic in the minds of many travelers, but a car isn’t the only option to get out of town for a few days. From theaters and museums to kayaking and hiking, here are some of our favorite spots within a two-hour radius, by plane or train, from six major U.S. cities.
From New York: Toronto
The easiest way in and out of Toronto from New York is via Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, the city’s secondary airport, which is situated on an island downtown. A Porter Airlines flight from Newark Liberty International Airport is just over an hour. Then, spend the long weekend exploring the city’s museums and lakefront greenery. (Porter also flies to Toronto City Airport from Boston, Chicago and Washington.)
Visit Chinatown for some of Toronto’s most exciting food options, including Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese. Wander through the Toronto Music Garden, which was designed with input from the cellist Yo-Yo Ma to “interpret in nature” the impact of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Suites for Unaccompanied Cello.
The subway, tram and bus network makes it easy to get around downtown. And a short trip northeast of the city’s core is worthwhile to visit the Aga Khan Museum, which stands out for its architecture and Islamic art in a city with no shortage of renowned museums.
From Chicago: Kalamazoo, Mich.
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