Day Tripper: Southwest Queens

Between keeping within your budget and scheduling time off from work, planning a vacation can be stressful.

If you find you have too little time to travel and not enough money in your bank account, there’s no need to fret.

Each Thursday, Douglaston Patch will profile one of the five boroughs’ unique neighborhoods, where you can sample some local culture and culinary delights.

This week’s pick is Southwest Queens. Be forewarned, this Day Tripper requires a car:

9 a.m.

Start your day at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Broad Channel.

The refuge’s trails open daily at dawn and close at dusk and its visitor center operates from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The site offers a number of birding and nature tours that are led by park rangers as well as sailing, nature walks, lectures, kayaking, exhibits and cruises.

Each week, the refuge hosts classes and programs. On Dec. 11, naturalist Don Riepe will lead a hike around the refuge’s West Pond and gardens to search for birds and other wildlife.

For more information, visit Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge’s website.

11:30 a.m.

Grab a bite of lunch at Cross Bay Diner, located at 160-31 Crossbay Blvd. in Howard Beach.

The eatery offers a brunch and an early bird special and its menu includes corned beef hash, Belgian waffles, omelettes, bagels, salads, sandwiches, chicken dishes, roast beef, sliced turkey, Virginia ham, spinach pie, steaks, souvlaki, wraps, burgers and Panini.

Click here to view the full menu.

1 p.m.

Spend the afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack, a thoroughbred horse racing facility and racino, which includes video gambling devices, in Ozone Park.

The track includes three graded stakes, where posting time begins around 12:20 p.m. daily. Aqueduct’s main course is one-and-1/8 miles, while its inner dirt course is one mile.

The facility, which originally opened in 1894, holds 40,000 guests and includes trackside dining.

For a complete schedule or to buy tickets, visit Aqueduct’s website.

6 p.m.

Drop by Ozone Park’s popular Don Peppe for dinner.

The Italian eatery, located at 135-58, frequently appears on lists of the borough’s best restaurants and is known for its clams. But its menu also includes beef braciola, veal cutlet, salads, stuffed artichoke, chicken Francaise, shrimp Luciano and pastas.

For more information, call 718-845-7587.