Adventure getaways

Do this and stay here:

Leave your adulthood in the city over Memorial Day weekend and remember what realsummer felt like, before leaving early on Friday for two months out of the year became the most you could hope for. Urban Escapes Summer Camp (212-609-2547,urbanescapesnyc.com) is located on 500 acres of Kittatinny Mountain wilderness, and its all-inclusive package offers a bevy of activities, such as a 100-foot zip line, hiking, basketball, yoga, capture the flag, bonfire parties and swimming in a private mountainside lake. Those who prefer to go it solo can explore, read, take in the views or just find peace in the shade of a tall tree. "Basically, it's [about] reliving your childhood," says Urban Escapes founder Maia Josebachvili. Come dinnertime, gorge on burgers, hot dogs and other classic camp grub (including vegetarian options), plus beer and wine you don't have to sneak out of your duffel bag. (Being an adult isn't so bad, eh?) Bring a sleeping bag or some sheets and a blanket; you'll be huddling in a cabin with eight to ten new friends when the lights go out, though you can put in a request if you want to share a cabin with someone specific. Regular fee (Friday afternoon--Monday morning) is $299 plus $10 for transportation from the train station. TONYdiscount: Enter "TIMEOUT" online to score the whole package for $240.

Do this

Vermont's mountains stretch only about 4,000 feet up, so for the best view in the state, leap out of a plane: Vermont Skydiving Adventures (4369 Rte 17, West Addison; 802-759-3483, vtskydiving.com) offers tandem dives for $230. If you'd rather stay grounded, take in the verdant views courtesy of the Bike Center (74 Main St at Mill St, Middlebury; 802-388-6666, bikecentermid.com), where weekend rentals run $35 for a hybrid bike and $70 for a road cycle. When the time comes to pump the brakes, relax with a free tour and beer samples at the Otter Creek Brewery (793 Exchange St near Elm St, Middlebury; 802-388-0727, ottercreekbrewing.com; Sat 5pm). When you get the munchies, make a pit stop at American Flatbread (137 Maple St near Main St, Middlebury; 802-388-3300, americanflatbread.com). The company's frozen pizzas are available in supermarkets nationwide, but meaty pies (like the New Vermont Sausage, featuring pork sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, mozzarella and Parmesan for $18.50) can be ordered only in the Vermont company's three restaurants.

Stay here

The Old Hotel B&B (233 East River Rd, Lincoln; 802-453-2567, oldhotel.net; rooms start at $65 per night) offers old New England charm and hospitality (its husband-and-wife owners are also a local pastor and teacher, respectively), complete with a charming backyard garden and sunny front porch; feline fans will be pleased to find that the hotel's friendly cats keep guests company. "It's magic," says Addison County local and New York Times best-selling author Chris Bohjalian, whose novels (often set in Vermont; Secrets of Eden is his latest) have drawn plenty of attention to the state. "When my wife and I had our 25th wedding anniversary, we loved the Old Hotel so much we put our guests there."