The Best Weekend Getaways from NYC
It’s officially the start of the fall season – and while 2020 brings a much different fall than ever before, the change in season and itch to get away is palpable around town. For those looking for a quick (socially distanced!) getaway, we’ve rounded up our favorite hotels and inns within driving distance of NYC.
Whether ambling through a quaint town during peak fall foliage or luxuriating in a bubble bath with lovely accommodations, a quick getaway is a lovely way to settle into the new season before we all start hibernating for winter again. Below, we’ve rounded up Ariel’s favorite hotels that are driving distance from New York City. All that’s left to do is book, pack, and drive!
Courtesy of Valley Rock Inn
Valley Rock Inn & Mountain Club, Sloatsburg, NY
It doesn't get much chicer than the Valley Rock Inn & Mountain Club, located less than an hour north of Manhattan and painstakingly developed by Michael Bruno, the founder of 1stdibs. The picture-perfect property is located near Tuxedo Park, in the village of Sloatsburg, New York, nestled at the foothills of the Ramapo Mountains. Surrounded by 70,000 acres of nature-protected Harriman State Park and Sterling Forest, trails and lakes abound in every direction. Most notably, the design of the space—impeccably curated from a mix of Bruno's legendary vintage collection and executed by Lisa Bowles of Roark Interiors—beckons guests to settle in.
With a dozen historic houses and barns, four renovated guesthouses, an organic market, and two restaurants that source organic produce straight from the hotel's own farm fields in the Hudson Valley, the property is truly a farm-to-table fever dream. For the fitness obsessed, a 75-foot pool and 7,000-square-foot gym await, as well as instructor-led hiking and biking programs (and kayaking in the warmer months). After a long day of exercising in the cold winter air, come back to a warm oasis in front of a crackling fire and tuck into five star cuisine from the Mountain Club's award winning chefs. And with Dia:Beacon, Ringwood Manor (also known as the Cooper Hewitt home) and Storm King Art Center all close by, cultural stimulation is within reach.
Courtesy of Ocean House
Ocean House, Watch Hill, Rhode Island
Situated directly on the gorgeous beaches of Watch Hill, Rhode Island, Ocean House is a legendary New England resort dating back to 1868, with accolades that speak for itself. As the first and only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star hotel in the state, the property’s OH! Spa and Coast restaurant were also awarded Forbes Five Star Ratings, making it one of only 13 resorts in the world with triple Five Star Resort status. And the praise is well earned: the property is stunning, the massages are exquisite—the spa’s relaxation room is a rotunda overlooking the ocean (does it get better than that?)—and the food is divine. The hotel has also quickly risen to become one of the most coveted wedding destinations on the East Coast; its trademark cheery yellow facade and beachfront real estate lend itself to particularly stunning photos.
The room accommodations are sophisticated and cozy, with blue and white color schemes and luxe additions, like soaking tubs overlooking the water (and Taylor Swift’s house). And for those traveling with littles, the hotel’s kids club is ready and waiting.
Ocean House’s customer service and activity offerings are unparalleled: during a stay while celebrating our wedding anniversary, my husband and I asked the concierge if we could take a cooking class even though it wasn’t on the schedule of activities that evening. Within an hour, they had set up a private pasta making class with the hotel's chef in the Center for Wine & Culinary Arts: an unforgettable experience that ended with all of us sharing a bottle of chianti and great conversation.
You can spend an entire weekend at the hotel and never have to leave: from movie screenings to croquet tournaments and everything in between, there are myriad activities to keep everyone in your brood entertained. And if you simply want to sit in the lobby and sip on a hot toddy by the fire, fiddle with a puzzle in one of the gigantic arm chairs, and take in the mellow sounds of Bobby Darin tunes played lightly on the piano by a live jazz musician, well, you can do that too. (We know from personal experience.)
The best part about Ocean House, besides its sweeping panoramic views of the water and 650 feet of private white sand beach complete with butler service, is its proximity to the quaint and classic seaside village of Watch Hill, and the gracious nature of its staff. From the moment you check in, you feel part of a family; leaving will be the hardest part of your trip.
Courtesy of Blantyre
Blantyre, Lenox, Massachusetts
Another Forbes Five Star Relais & Chateaux resort, this Tudor style mansion and estate built circa 1902 was recently renovated from top to bottom, restoring it back to its Gilded Age splendor. One of only 12 remaining mansions of the era in the Berkshires, Blantyre is situated on 110 acres in the mountains of western Massachusetts, just two and a half hours away from New York City.
With farm-to-table restaurants (including the new Cafe Boulud at Blantyre), fireplaces in almost every room, a serene spa set in one of the property’s original greenhouses, and a Wine Spectator-approved cellar with over 9,000 bottles, you’d be hard pressed not to have an unforgettable weekend at this upstate escape.
Activities for the restless abound, from touring the gardens in the summer to snowshoeing, skiing, and ice skating in the winter. For those looking for something a bit more unique: consider maple sugaring, a trip aloft in a hot air balloon, or a ride in a horse-drawn sleigh (yes, really).
If you feel like venturing around the area, the Berkshires offer plenty of history and culture. Interior design enthusiasts must make the sacred pilgrimage to The Mount, Edith Wharton’s home, now preserved as a museum (Wharton penned the historic interior design book, The Decoration of Houses—now required reading at most design schools.) The Norman Rockwell Museum is close by in Stockbridge, as is the Berkshire Botanical Garden, one of the country’s first. Shakespeare & Company, the theater company founded by Tina Parker in 1978, is also a must-visit. If it’s modern art you’re after, MASS MoCA is one of the largest centers for contemporary visual and performing arts in the U.S.
Courtesy of Topping Rose House
Topping Rose House, Bridgehampton, New York
You don’t have to own a place out east to feel like you’re a local. Approximately 100 miles from New York City in the heart of the Hamptons, Topping Rose House is the area’s first full-service luxury hotel, featuring 22 elegantly appointed guest rooms in the House, Studio, and Cottages—as well as spa services, a fitness center, house vehicles from Lexus, and a complimentary shuttle to the beautiful beaches and local attractions (including to Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, a must-visit for a languid midday wine tasting).
Ideally situated near the halfway point of Montauk Highway, Topping Rose House is equidistant from the best shopping, cafés, museums, galleries, and restaurants that the East End has to offer. The on-site, 75-seat Jean-Georges restaurant is a standout; truly farm-to-table, it features produce grown on the property’s one-acre Topping Rose Farm and honors the best ingredients from other local farmers and fishermen. Local resident Ina Garten also happens to be a frequent diner. (I just so happened to meet her there when my husband and I went on our own romantic getaway at Topping Rose House a few weeks ago—I almost fainted.)
In the winter, fireplaces roar in the Main House. Try to snag a room on the third floor for ultimate peace and quiet. You’ll feel like you’re tucked away in your own home for a weekend of rest and relaxation. Head to Wolffer Kitchen in Amagansett for brunch (the banana French toast is not to be missed), before taking a relaxing drive out to the Montauk Lighthouse. Walk down the path to the rock beach or sit on one of the swings overlooking the bluff; there’s nothing more calming than the ocean, especially for a tightly wound New Yorker.
Courtesy of Glenmere Mansion
Glenmere Mansion, Hudson Valley, New York
Originally fashioned as a 35-room Tuscan villa for a financier in 1911, Glenmere Mansion underwent a painstaking restoration to return to its original beauty. Situated in New York’s Hudson Valley, the boutique hotel is approximately two hours from the city but feels like a world away once you drive up its long, stately entrance. Upon arriving, guests are greeted with cocktails, homemade cookies, and a handwritten welcome note; the fireplace in your room will also most likely be ablaze. Sumptuous terry robes hang in elegant white-marble bathrooms, and claw-footed tubs beckon. The interiors of the space are visually stunning: Original architectural details were preserved throughout, and the landscape offers panoramic views of the surrounding hills and tranquil Glenmere Lake. But what you really come here for is the spa: It’s one of only a handful of true Turkish Carrara marble bathhouses and hammams in the United States, so the experience is unparalleled.
The hammam routine involves mixed use of the herbal steam room, dry heat sauna, stimulating Swiss shower, cool mist room, aqua massage vitality pool, and a warm marble belly stone; not to mention a vigorous body scrub followed by a purifying cleanse and 60- or 90-minute massage. Couples treatments here are not to be missed; a lavish duet suite boasts side-by-side soaking tubs and treatment tables. Plus, each ritual in the spa includes pre- or post-treatment tapas and a selection of organic teas, juices, or water infusions in their stunning Relaxation Library, complete with a fireplace.
With two dining options onsite (one casual and one a bit fancier), plus breakfast included in the gorgeous dining room, there’s no need to leave to explore; but, if you’re curious, consider heading over to Brotherhood Winery, the oldest vineyard in America, for a wine tasting or tour. The Dia:Beacon art museum and Storm King Art Center are also only a quick ride away, as are the antiquing towns of Warwick and Sugar Loaf. Plus, Woodbury Common, one of the largest luxury retail outlets in the country, is a stone’s throw away. (It boasts a Tom Ford and a Shake Shack, if that piques your interest.)
Courtesy of Castle Hill Inn
Castle Hill Inn, Newport, Rhode Island
The first Rhode Island hotel to be invited to join the prestigious Relais & Chateaux hotel group, in 2008, Castle Hill Inn is a luxurious seaside escape steeped in rich New England history. A stunning waterfront town, Newport has played vacation home to everyone from Grace Kelly (her favorite private beach is actually on Castle Hill’s premises; she used to frequent it while filming High Society) to Taylor Swift, and with good reason: Its classic elegance mixed with beach-town charm draws you right in from the start.
Castle Hill’s unique layout includes an original 19th-century lighthouse refurbished into a guest room, as well as recently constructed bungalows hidden away on the beach for a more private feel. Stay in one of 33 upscale rooms or beach cottages while enjoying complimentary breakfast and afternoon tea as well as private beach access, and be sure to ask for a room with a gas fireplace and heated floors.
Don’t pass up a couples massage in the hotel’s signature spa, The Retreat, complete with local products from Rhode Island–based natural skincare company Farmaesthetics, and make sure to dine in one (or both) of the hotel’s restaurants: The food is impeccable. With board games and hot toddies offered next to the lobby’s wood-burning fireplace, you might never want to leave, but if you get the itch, ice skating at Bowen’s Wharf is a fun and wintry experience worth having. Top it off with some hot chocolate and lunch harborside at The Mooring, or have a romantic Italian dinner for two at local spot Mamma Luisa.
Courtesy of @33main
33 Main, Lenox, Massachusetts
A recent addition to the Berkshires, 33 Main is a labor of love from designer Annie Selke, founder of the eponymous textile line and a native to the Berkshires. Named after its address, 33 Main is located at 33 Main Street in the heart of historic downtown Lenox, just minutes from Annie’s home and a short 20-minute drive to her company’s headquarters in Pittsfield.With just eight rooms, the inn, housed in a historic, 4,320-square-foot, Federal-style building, is welcoming and intimate. The en-suite guestrooms—two of which are dog-friendly—feature Annie Selke headboards, bedding, rugs, lamps, furniture, and artwork that are all available for purchase through menu cards located in each room. The space feels new and fresh while still remaining inviting and supremely cozy.
Guests are greeted with freshly baked cookies in each room along with bottled water, and a full gourmet breakfast is included each morning of your stay. Handmade herbal apothecary products are available in each bathroom, and a cocktail hour with nibbles in the front parlor gives off a joyous feel in the afternoons.
If you feel like venturing around the area, the Berkshires offer plenty of history and culture. The Norman Rockwell Museum is close by in Stockbridge, as is the Berkshire Botanical Garden, one of the country’s first. Shakespeare & Company, the theater company founded by Tina Parker in 1978, is also a must-visit. If it’s modern art you’re after, The MASS MoCA is one of the largest centers for contemporary visual and performing arts in the U.S.
Courtesy of Grace Mayflower Inn
Grace Mayflower Inn & Spa, Washington, Connecticut
The Grace Mayflower Inn & Spa is one of the foremost destination spas on the East Coast. Located in the idyllic town of Washington, Grace Mayflower Inn & Spa is an exquisite country retreat, nestled on 58 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland. Just two hours driving distance from New York, the 30-room luxury hotel is a member of the renowned Relais & Châteaux association of the world’s finest hoteliers, chefs, and restaurateurs.
Surrounded by 3,000 acres of nature preserve and boasting a 20,000-square-foot spa, there is no shortage of relaxing activities here, be it yoga, hiking, or simply sitting in front of a fire with a good book and a warm cup of tea. Private lessons are also available for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and other wintry outdoor activities, as are specific couples retreat packages tailored to the season’s best offerings.
Guests can choose from 30 different accommodations in four charming buildings: Mayflower House, Speedwell Cottage, Standish Cottage, and Allerton Cottage. All accommodations are cozily appointed with feather-topped mattresses, antique oriental rugs, enormous (and romantic) marble bathrooms with brass and Limoges fittings, as well as gas fireplaces and plump oversize pillows and linens by Frette on antique four-poster beds. A distinguished collection of 18th- and 19th-century art can also be found throughout the hotel.
If the itch to explore strikes, downhill enthusiasts should try the 23 slopes of nearby Mohawk Mountain; lessons for both experts and beginners are available. Additionally, the nearby Woodbury Ski Area offers excellent tubing and cross-country skiing. Other available activities include hiking, car races, countryside car tours, and horseback riding, which the concierge will handily arrange for you. And if you’re looking for a more mellow activity, the hotel’s surrounding area, Litchfield Hills, is known as “America’s Antiquing Capital.” Connecticut’s oldest art house movie theater, the Bantam Cinema (circa 1927), is also nearby and features mostly independent films.
Courtesy of Rivertown Lodge
Rivertown Lodge, Hudson, New York
For those seeking a Brooklyn-esque escape, Rivertown Lodge, a 27-room hotel located in Hudson, is upstate’s answer to understated cool. It‘s located along the town’s main historic thoroughfare, Warren Street, which is home to an eclectic mix of antique shops, galleries, restaurants, and performance spaces.
Designed by Brooklyn-based design firm Workstead, the space has a vintage, utilitarian feel, highlighted by cozy elements like wood-burning fireplaces and a built-in lobby library. Originally constructed in the 1920s as a movie theater, the original facade of the building remains, along with many architectural details; the interiors have been transformed to embody the aesthetic culture of Hudson Valley with a chic, minimalist twist.
Guest rooms contain natural bath products by 2 Note Botanical Perfumery and Hudson Made, while beds are swathed in Frette linens and 100-percent-organic Keetsa mattresses. Much of the furniture is crafted by local artisans, such as the tables by Sawkille Co., while the art in the room is by local artists, including Melissa Auf de Maur.
A quiet, cultured town in upstate New York, Hudson is filled with antique stores, art galleries, and award-winning restaurants. Be sure to hit the famed Phoenicia Diner for some legendary pancakes. If a spa day is what you’re after, Mohonk Mountain House, a nearby resort housed in a Victorian castle, offers an extensive selection of treatments. Brunette, a gorgeous little natural-wine bar in Kingston, is the perfect spot for a light bite or after-dinner drinks.
Courtesy of Troutbeck
Troutbeck, Amenia, New York
Troutbeck, a boutique hotel situated on 250 lush acres, is a nature lover’s paradise. Just as beautiful swathed in snow as it is in the heat of summer, the upscale retreat is situated on the former estate of poet Myron Benton—a contemporary of John Burroughs, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau. The grounds laid dormant for decades, until it was recently renovated and reopened in 2018 by D.R. Horne & Company, of the Stone Barns Center, and Manhattan design firm Champalimaud Design.
With several new guest suites thoughtfully outfitted with Frette linens, fireplaces, and Malin + Goetz bath products, the hotel has quickly become a preferred escape for New York-based influencers like Instagram’s Eva Chen, and editors like Architectural Digest’s Jane Keltner de Valle. The interiors of the space honor the timeworn traditions of the estate, while modernizing the communal areas to put an emphasis on bringing guests together.
Nestled among 5,000 acres of woodland, the culinary program at Troutbeck is a big draw: led by Michelin starred Chef Gabe McMackin, the hotel’s seasonal menu is locally sourced in the Hudson Valley and offers up delectable concoctions seven days a week. If you’re not one to sit still by the fire, there is plenty to do both on site and in the area, with hiking, fishing, skiing, horseback riding and snowshoeing all options for the adventurous traveler. For the more culturally inclined, The Wassaic Project is minutes away. So too are Sharon, Kent, and Millerton—towns that are replete with book and antique shops, farmers markets and great restaurants. Madava Farms, a maple farm focusing on sustainable syrup, is a fun tour to take (and eat your way through)—don’t forget to order pancakes at the farm’s café, where maple is (surprise!) the inspiration for the menu.
Hudson, Mass Moca and Dia Beacon are also within fifteen minutes from the property, making it the perfect upstate retreat for both foodies and art lovers alike.
Courtesy of @baronscove
Baron’s Cove, Sag Harbor, New York
Sag Harbor, a beloved and intimate seaside community, is filled with as many artists and bohemians as it is history and culinary intrigue. The resort town has long been known as a fishing port turned cultural hotbed, but it’s also become a gorgeous destination for an upscale, relaxing weekend away from the city. Hop on a train or Jitney and in an hour and a half (no summer traffic!), you’ll find yourself a world away from the hustle and bustle.
Baron’s Cove, located at the center of it all, is a gorgeous saltbox cottage designed by Colleen Bashaw that underwent a full renovation in 2015. Each of the 67 rooms boast charming village and serene harbor views, and some even have their own private patios to take a languid coffee in the morning. Situated just a short walk from Main Street, the hotel has been a favorite with the glitterati since the 1950’s: Truman Capote, Jackson Pollack and Kurt Vonnegut were all once guests. With an array of amenities including a harbor-side heated saltwater pool, tennis court, fitness studio, spa services, and complimentary beach service with transportation upon request, it’s no wonder why.
If you’re after elevated yet homey cuisine, you’ve come to the right spot: tuck into a steaming chicken pot pie while overlooking the Harbor from the property’s second-floor dining room, or grab a cocktail and a light bite in the cozy ambiance of the Lobby Lounge, where delft-tile studded fireplaces roar in the depths of winter, beckoning you to order a second glass of Cabernet. And if you’re looking to venture off property, there’s no shortage of activity in Sag Harbor, one of the more perennial hamlets of the Hamptons.
Wölffer Kitchen, from the family that brought us the most beautiful (and Instagrammed) vineyard on the East End, is a must-visit for Saturday or Sunday brunch (try the Spiced Apple French Toast). The Beacon, one of the only restaurants directly on the water, is perfect at sunset. And LT Burger, a fun diner-esque experience, has been a favorite with locals for almost a decade. If you’re after a congenial feel where everyone knows each other by name, Dockside Bar & Grill is a good bet, with a heavy emphasis on seafood (and water views.) For a picnic, head to Cavaniola’s (Ina Garten’s favorite), pick up some sandwiches, and eat them by the marinas, watching the boats go by.
With some of the best interior design shops in the country quietly tucked off Main Street, you’d be remiss not to pop in and see what treasures you can bring back from your trip out east. Monc XIII, an industry favorite located on Madison Street, boasts an unbelievable array of mid-century pieces, as well as a unique and well edited assortment of home accessories. Bloom, also on Madison, is the epitome of “if you know, you know”; with no website, the store has one of the most comprehensive offerings of Astier de Villatte outside of Paris, as well as a gorgeous center garden and beautiful wares from France and Belgium. Ruby Beets—housed in what used to be a silent movie theatre—also boasts a formidable selection of vintage furniture mixed in with some more contemporary pieces, as does Sage Street Antiques. Harbor Books, one of the most charming independent bookstores, will make you vow to never shop on Amazon again.
*A version Ariel wrote of this article first ran in 2019 on Vogue.com.
