Pops Top Ten Getaway Places From NYC for CouplesMar 23 '06 (Updated Apr 12 '06) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line You must get away at times. These are our favorites. My wife and I will be married for thirty-five years this June. We have had a full household with five children and now we have an additional three grand daughters with a fourth due any day. She was born March 22, 2006. One thing my wife and I found important in our lives is to get away from home on our own even if only for a weekend. We try to stretch things an extra day or two when we can. One way to do that is by taking short trips. Here are ten places we have been to that I can recommend as places a couple can enjoy each other in a romantic way while still doing a bit of adventuring to appreciate the gifts of each other and of this world. In Alphabetical order Block Island From NYC depending on the time of year you can get a ferry from Connecticut, Rhode Island or from the eastern points of Long Island. This is a small island with a Guest Houses, Cottages, Inns and B&Bs. Thankfully you will not find chain motels or hotels. Some of the accommodations are simple and others are meticulously furnished and designed to reflect romantic Victorian styles. We've stayed at the Hotel Manisses that serves as a 17 room B&B. I can highly recommend this particular place. We stayed in the Antoinette room right off the front porch. The antique furnishings were exquisite. It was perfect! To get around the three mile x seven mile island you can rent mopeds or ride bicycles. Some people bring their own bikes over on the ferry. There are some hills that go up to 250' bluffs but it's relatively easy to navigate. It's a place where you can pack a lunch and take a ride to the lighthouse, sightsee or look for old Indian burial grounds or scout out a quiet beach. Perhaps you may just want sit around in a rocking chair on an old porch doing nothing but watching people move on by. Arriving and staying on this island is like stepping back in time. The hurried pace of NY comes to a near halt. There are plenty of fine restaurants and a bit of summer night life too. Brandywine Area My wife and I have visited this charming area of rolling hills and farms that set in the south-eastern part Pennsylvania and bits of northern Maryland and Delaware. Many wineries dot the area and B&Bs and rooms in old farmhouses are available. Many small restaurants are open year round. This area includes some fine museums like Winterthur Museum & Garden and Brandywine River Museum that has a collection of Howard Pyle and three generations of the Wyeth family American artists. The Delaware Art Museum is also relatively close and has a fine permanent collection and some wonderful special shows that we were fortunate to see. Historic Kennett Square is a fine small town that features itself as the "Mushroom Capital of the World". Be sure to check out the Mushroom Museum in town. For historians the Brandywine Battlefield is worth a ride to and through. Nearby are Dupont's Longwood Gardens that I consider the finest in the USA. The grounds are fabulous and the fountain shows are glorious. There's much more to see and explore in this romantic area. Cape May Driving a few hours south to the southern tip of New Jersey brings us past miles of the Jersey coast including Atlantic City to a town that is touted as the best Victorian shore town in America. It's a lovely beach-town with sunning, good food, a small arcade, historic homes and wonderful B&Bs and old sprawling hotels. Shopping is popular in this town but you can get away from it all by renting bicycles or a surry.(it has four wheels and a canvas top) This is a way to leisurely inspect the quiet neighborhoods filled with restored Gingerbread homes or perhaps take a ride to the Lighthouse. The restaurants are expensive and can be crowded at peek times. Try to establish an off peek pattern or go in the early spring or late fall. Though a popular town, it's a fine trip for romantics. We have stayed at a few places but the Angel of the Sea B&B, though pricey is a place that is out of the congested areas and we found to be perfect for us. It's right across the street from white sand beaches. Well, actually the whole town is on the beach. Cape May is the perfect mix of beaches, arcades and mini-golf, sightseeing, shopping, dining and romantic walks along streets with some of the most gorgeous homes you have ever seen. Hudson Valley This is a favorite area of mine that has vistas of the Hudson River as viewed from many historic homes that are part of the National Park System. The Vanderbilt Home, the FDR Home and Library, and Eleanor Roosevelt's home of Val-Kil can all be visited as can a number of mansions that are of the Gilded Era that line the Hudson River. In Hyde Park is the Culinary Institute of America that has a number of restaurants where you can taste the skills of up and coming chefs of the world. Be sure to make reservations for this fine dining experience. It's a good one. Also nearby is the "oldest Inn in the US" The Beekman Inn. You can stay there or dine. A place I would strongly recommend staying at and dining in is the Belvedere Mansion. The owners are wonderful and the grounds incredible. You can stay in the mansion or perhaps the carriage house or some of the secluded suites in the woods. This is also apple picking and wine tasting country as well as a place where you can find antiques galore...at a price. For a bit more "action" the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome has shows most weekends and the Dutchess County Fair is comes to town every summer. My wife and I have visited this area in the winter when the crowds are down yet the restaurants and mansions are open. Viewing the Hudson River from some of the marvelous grounds of the dozen or so mansions with a touch of snow on the ground and a cozy room to go back to can do wonders for the soul. Litchfield County My wife and I have been on drives through the Litchfield area of Connecticut during the autumn season. This is the north-west part of the state. It's a perfect New England place to be for the fall foliage. We have had romantic weekends in the area while staying at the Boulder's Inn, one of many inns and B&Bs that dot the area. We opted for the private cottages rather than the inn itself. Dining at the inn was quite romantic too. The outlying area is full of antique stores and offer specialty shopping in quaint villages like Historic Litchfield Village. A few small galleries show some wonderful rolling hill vistas on canvas. This area is much different than the coastal areas of Connecticut and it's perhaps the quietest of the other nine suggested stays in this review. It offers very peaceful and quaint surroundings. The nearby state parks offer wonderful trails for hiking. This area is a quiet blend of sightseeing, recreation, shopping, dining, and cultural activities. It's perfect for a one on one experience. Mohonk Mountain House This is the only place that I have on its own and not part of an area. This place is like a resort and once in, there is no reason to leave, unless you are looking for an upbeat tempo. The look of this place is compared to the castles of Europe and if you ever get to the top of the mountain that overlooks this hotel on a lake you will see it's beauty and grandeur. The way up that mountain, that's part of the property, can be done by scrambling up the steeper parts, taking a leisurely but healthy walk to the top or by taking a carriage ride to the top. It's a must. This is a sort of no frills place to be. There are no TVs in the rooms and no A/C either. The fact is the cool mountain breezes keep the body feeling just fine. The bath facilities are modern. This place doesn't have a bar either! But hold on you cocktail and wine drinkers. You can order alcoholic drinks with dinner and we always bring a bottle or two to our rooms. The rooms are all different and all are decorated in Victorian style. Nightly entertainment can be simple like a three piece band for quiet dancing or perhaps watching someones slided of their trip to Europe. I kid you not. This is a very low key place that does have beautiful gardens, miles of trails, golf opportunities, row boating and fresh water fishing. We caught our dinner while there. The Mohonk Mountain House does offer theme weekends. A huge balcony with thirty or more rocking chairs gives a fabulous view of the lake below. All the rooms have some kind of glorious vistas to feast your eyes on. The dinners in the huge dining hall are OK but it's part of the full experience. Tea in the afternoon is done regularly. Their lunch of an outdoor barbecue above the swimming area called the Granery is definitely a place to try. The cooks out there know how to prepare outdoor delights just right. The Mohonk Mountain House is a step into the past, with prices of tomorrow. Montauk A favorite place my wife and I like to go to and we sometimes share with another couple is our trips to Montauk Point. Yes, we pass right by the Hamptons to get there. That's because we like the more laid back style of Montauk. It has all the beaches and more of the Hamptons but not as many high priced specialty stores and galleries. It does however have fine dining opportunities and vistas that are unmatched on all Long Island. Taking a ride to the Montauk Point Lighthouse is a must along with a walk in the points park where you stand a hundred feet above the ocean or you can walk down to the rocky beaches below. Right next to this park is Camp hero State Park that you must drive through. It's sort of the Area 51 of Long Island. Read my review for more information. My wife and I have done some world class bass and bluefish fishing of the shores of Montauk. There are many charter and fleet boats available too. We can sort of step back in time when we go to Ditch Plainsthat has young surfers and throw-backs from the sixties with surf boards all standing in a row. A number of other state parks are in Montauk, I believe six in all. Montauk is also the home of the USA' longest running cattle ranch, the Deep Hollow Ranch. Horseback riding is available there and elsewhere. Many beaches can be just walked to from town or just out the door of a motel room set on the beach. There is a bit of nightlife on summer evenings too. It's simple shopping in town and fine dining all around. This is a favorite place for my wife and I to get away from it all for two or three days. Newport RI My wife and I do like Newport for its beaches, Gilded Era Homes, shopping, and fantastic waterfront dining. This is the town where you must take a tour of some of the most, if not the most, opulent homes in the USA. These were built by the Astors, Belmonts and Vanderbilts among others. There are a number of them to see and the guided tours are interesting. You really do have to see how some of these people lived! We have checked out a home or two earlier in the day and then made our way to the beaches or the famous Cliff Walk that goes along the rocky coast offering fine ocean views with a packed lunch in hand. In the evening my wife likes to shop along the wharf area and then we finish up with a fine dockside dinner. Many B&B and older hotels are mixed in with some chains. We stayed at a place with a water view. Our B&B had a back yard pool with a painted black bottom that reflected the light like a mirror. I'm not quite sure as to why they have it but some of the most memorable sunsets we have ever seen have been from Newport RI. Pennsylvania's Poconos A drive through New Jersey into the Pocono area of Pennsylvania is another fine getaway. The Delaware Water Gap area has a fine park area with beaches, rafting and camping opportunities. Many resorts in the Poconos cater to couples and there are plenty of skiing opportunities too. Being I haven't skied since having a replacement knee, we don't get there quite as often now but there is still plenty to see and enjoy. A hike to Bushkill Falls is invigorating. Be sure to make reservations for a tour of The Asa Packer Mansion. This is an incredibly beautiful and majestic home to see. I checked and it's closed at the moment for winter repairs but will open in April again. The Poconos is also a place with many small town restaurants and B&Bs too. OK, I'll fess up, my wife and I have been to some of those hotels with heart shaped tubs full of bubbles. Hey I sure looked cute in that tub. Anywhere OK, This is not in alphabetical order and you may question what I mean here. There were times, especially when our children were younger that my wife and I wanted to steal away a night or so, just the two of us. It was because of the children that we wanted to stay closer to home "just in case". Parents of young children can be like that. It was at these times when we would look up a hotel within a half hour or so distance from home and see if they offered special "Romantic Weekends" or at least special rates. Most hotels in the NY metropolitan area offer cheaper rates on weekends. Right after getting home from work, getting the kids settled with a sitter in our home or perhaps at a relatives home, we would go on our weekend for two. We didn't need to drive far or pack too much. In fact two of the places we went most often are just fifteen to thirty miles away. We would check in and relax. We always looked for places that had a swimming pool, indoor in the winter and outdoor in the summer. We enjoy that. Both people need to go with the same expectations. Plan as you go along as to what you may do during part of the day or evening. Sometimes we would go to a matinee movie. Other times a ride to a beach for a few hours would be perfect. At night look for small live theater nearby or a comedy club. Some hotels have their own clubs and pubs in them. One thing we never did was plan well ahead. We worked together to enjoy ourselves in one way or another. No dominant partner in planning here, just find something you both agree on. My wife knows I don't like shopping so that was never to be done and if there happened to be any special sports events that weekend, I just didn't watch it. In any case, even if you are somewhat close to home, stay away from any of the usual routine, enjoy each other and act like you are air-miles and multi-hours away from home. Be sure to ask the concierge for suggestion for places to go and to dine. Be sure to bring a bottle of champagne or a bottle of wine if you drink. My wife would bring a small bottle of Myers Rum and we would have it with a can of coke from the hotel soda machine. If you've got the bucks spring for room service, if not bring in some snacks and relax. These short getaway weekends go a long way in making our marriage even more solid. Pops Top Ten Family Destinations From New York In Cape May The Angel of the Sea B&B Jersey Shore Hudson Valley Home or Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site Hudson Valley Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site Vanderbilt Mansion, on the Hudson Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate The Belvedere Mansion, a place to stay The Tarrytown Hilton Hotel Montauk Montauk Point State Park and Lighthouse History, Fishing, Scenery, and quiet hikes. The Harborside Motel In Montauk The Lobster Roll, better known simply as "LUNCH" Gosman's Dock Restaurant Long Island Hotels To Get Away From It All Hyatt Regency Wind Watch Long Island NY. New Management! Sheraton Long Island Hotel Many of the above suggestions are listed in the book 1,000 Places To See Before You Die You will find these and other suggestions in this valuable book Wonderful Weekends from New York City  |
| Read all comments (10)|Write your own comment |
