Cool, local anniversary getaway ideas... | The Boneyard

Cool, local anniversary getaway ideas...

Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
3,390
Reaction Score
10,082
My wife and I will be celebrating five years of marital survival in July and would like to do our first getaway sans child. We've done lots of stuff away from the New England area but not much within it. So I'm looking for any suggestions for somewhat local places (2-3 hours tops from Hartford) that will not break the bank as well. Because, you know, three-year-old. Looking for cool vibe, restaurants, bars, etc. but not Newport/Cape. Thanks for any suggestions!
 

August_West

Universal remote, put it down on docking station.
Joined
Aug 29, 2011
Messages
51,023
Reaction Score
87,222
My wife and I will be celebrating five years of marital survival in July and would like to do our first getaway sans child. We've done lots of stuff away from the New England area but not much within it. So I'm looking for any suggestions for somewhat local places (2-3 hours tops from Hartford) that will not break the bank as well. Because, you know, three-year-old. Looking for cool vibe, restaurants, bars, etc. but not Newport/Cape. Thanks for any suggestions!

Little further ( 3.5 from Hartford) but

Burlington!
 
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
3,390
Reaction Score
10,082
Little further ( 3.5 from Hartford) but

Burlington!

Great idea; I'd love to do Portland as well, but I think my wife will need to be closer to my daughter should she stub her toe or something... First trip away and all.
 

BlueandOG

We are not amused.
Joined
May 5, 2015
Messages
1,475
Reaction Score
7,425
My wife and I will be celebrating five years of marital survival in July and would like to do our first getaway sans child. We've done lots of stuff away from the New England area but not much within it. So I'm looking for any suggestions for somewhat local places (2-3 hours tops from Hartford) that will not break the bank as well. Because, you know, three-year-old. Looking for cool vibe, restaurants, bars, etc. but not Newport/Cape. Thanks for any suggestions!
Congrats! As a long married man with multiple kids, dogs, and minivans, I can tell you with confidence that each day is better than the next.

Choice 1, Portland. If too far, consider Mystic.
 

uconnphil2016

Head Rat
Joined
Jun 19, 2015
Messages
5,509
Reaction Score
18,502
Northampton is fun. Burlington is cool. NYC if thats your thing. Lenox, MA. You could spend a few days hiking the AT at the CT/MA border...some beautiful spots there like Mt Race.
 

polycom

I heard a beep, who just joined?
Joined
Nov 14, 2014
Messages
7,668
Reaction Score
14,372
Try to get a room at the Madison Beach Hotel.
 
Joined
Aug 28, 2011
Messages
2,368
Reaction Score
9,517
Thirding southern Maine. The wife and I have done anniversary trips up there. York, Kennebunkport, Portland, etc. There's a nice mix of things to do and complete serenity.
 
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
22,196
Reaction Score
4,333
Portland, Maine. Checks off every box you have.

Spent 4 nights in Portland last summer. Found it unbelievably overpriced for what it is.

I don't know if your "cool vibe" means urban core, but if it doesn't find a nice inn on Lake Waramaug, relax and go for dinner to a newer restaurant in Kent or Bantom. You'll be little more than an hour away but feel like you're in another world. If it's your first time alone without your child, you ought to spend most of your time with Barry White playing in the background.
 
Last edited:

storrsroars

Exiled in Pittsburgh
Joined
Mar 23, 2012
Messages
19,700
Reaction Score
38,377
Love Portland/KPort for a weekend, not any longer, and really only as a base for exploring and coming back for dinner. IMO a weekend in Essex/Haddam - take her to a musical at Goodspeed and dinner somewhere in Ivoryton or even at the Griswold is more "romantic" if that's an aim here.

One thing wife and I did years ago was weekend at the Equinox + Orbis fly fishing school and all that southern VT stuff. Loved it.

Also consider New Hope, PA area.

If it were August, I'd say Saratoga w/o a doubt. And I wouldn't rule out NYC, except humid.
 
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
3,390
Reaction Score
10,082
I've done Portland when I was in my 20s and loved it. I think my wife would too, but I'm worried it will be a little too far for her and have her worried the whole time.

We love NYC and have done it many, many times. I'd prefer to do something different for this one.

The Water's Edge is nice... But, we had her bridal shower and our rehearsal dinner there so that one's out.

The Mohonk Mountain House looks pretty sweet...
 
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
8,233
Reaction Score
17,484
If 2-3 hours is really your maximum, and if you're beach/coastal people, take a ferry to the Vineyard and stay in Oak Bluffs. Restaurant scene there has improved greatly and it won't break the bank like Edgartown. Dockside Inn is a great spot.

I would say Montauk but sadly that's reached bank-breaking status now, and you'll be dealing with drunken hipsters everywhere you look.

If you don't need a beach, look at Saratoga.
 
Joined
Aug 28, 2011
Messages
2,368
Reaction Score
9,517
As a few others have said, I would look at Essex if you want to stay close and keep your wife's anxiety to a minimum.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
2,034
Reaction Score
4,430
Sagamore - Lake George (hate the town but the lake is nice as is the hotel)

Mirror Lake Inn - Lake Placid

Saratoga - Track, restaurants, bars, etc
 

huskeynut

Leader of the Band
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
6,883
Reaction Score
27,158
Mystic and Mystic Seaport. Great seafood restaurants. Some very nice accommodations that have romantic packages.
 

the Q

Yowie Wowie. We’re gonna have so much fun here
Joined
Mar 28, 2017
Messages
7,029
Reaction Score
11,269
My wife and I will be celebrating five years of marital survival in July and would like to do our first getaway sans child. We've done lots of stuff away from the New England area but not much within it. So I'm looking for any suggestions for somewhat local places (2-3 hours tops from Hartford) that will not break the bank as well. Because, you know, three-year-old. Looking for cool vibe, restaurants, bars, etc. but not Newport/Cape. Thanks for any suggestions!

I was going to help out. But then I saw no Newport and realized you don't have a soul.

(I am biased toward Narragansett though as well).
 

Online statistics

Members online
398
Guests online
3,009
Total visitors
3,407

Forum statistics

Threads
155,758
Messages
4,030,550
Members
9,864
Latest member
leepaul


Top Bottom