Getaway (...or is it...Get Away?)
June 14, 2012 7:45 AM Subscribe
Please help me locate a site for a northeast trip that’s been about 10 years in the dreaming-of. I want a solitary weekend of reading, writing, reflecting, and a place to do it in. I want this place to be lovely. But not too expensive. Probably not in a city. Mani-pedi services need not apply.
I have a happy, busy family life and take a few short family vacations each year, but they are kid-centric and are generally more work for me than if I’d stayed at home. For years I’ve dreamed of having a couple of days on my own to immerse myself in a book, nap when I want to, and take some time to appreciate being outdoors without having to keep track of other people. I’ve just realized that this type of personal vacation is entirely possible and, if I stay local, doesn’t need to cost much more than the cost of a couple of nights’ stay at an inn. However, I have little experience with vacation travel (especially in my own corner of the country, the northeast), and so I have no idea what sort of place would suit my ideal parameters.
Is there any place that you would recommend (either in Massachusetts or within 2 hours thereof) that would work for a nice, relaxing, solitary weekend away? It doesn’t need to be in the middle of nowhere, just quiet. It could even be in an urban area with easy access to natural areas to walk around in and read. In general, I like the climate and general feel of Western Massachusetts and the Hudson River Valley in NY. I prefer leafy trees and open land rather than the piney-rocky heavily wooded lake kind of scenery.
If you have the time to read it, my complete list of additional requirements is below.
- I would like to be able to have solitary/controlled access to the outdoors – for me, this means a walk in a woods or lake area (it needs to be safe, however, I don’t want to head deep into an unknown place by myself), my own balcony overlooking a lake or mountain view. Several Adirondack chairs on a shared front porch with a great view is not solitary enough for this kind of trip. Essentially, I want to be able to read to the sound of nature sounds, not people noise.
- I don’t want to interact much with people. This means I would prefer a place where a bunch of people aren’t running around playing tennis on the lawn, and I don’t want to feel obligated to interact with other guests in a B&B setting.
- The accommodations ideally would be inn-style: not necessary spacious, but not resembling a hotel or motel. However, a small refrigerator or coffee/tea station could be helpful (but not required).
If you’re read this at all, thank you! Any and all suggestions greatly appreciated. Ideally this could become more than a one-time thing, so any responses will be helpful for this year and coming years as well.
I have a happy, busy family life and take a few short family vacations each year, but they are kid-centric and are generally more work for me than if I’d stayed at home. For years I’ve dreamed of having a couple of days on my own to immerse myself in a book, nap when I want to, and take some time to appreciate being outdoors without having to keep track of other people. I’ve just realized that this type of personal vacation is entirely possible and, if I stay local, doesn’t need to cost much more than the cost of a couple of nights’ stay at an inn. However, I have little experience with vacation travel (especially in my own corner of the country, the northeast), and so I have no idea what sort of place would suit my ideal parameters.
Is there any place that you would recommend (either in Massachusetts or within 2 hours thereof) that would work for a nice, relaxing, solitary weekend away? It doesn’t need to be in the middle of nowhere, just quiet. It could even be in an urban area with easy access to natural areas to walk around in and read. In general, I like the climate and general feel of Western Massachusetts and the Hudson River Valley in NY. I prefer leafy trees and open land rather than the piney-rocky heavily wooded lake kind of scenery.
If you have the time to read it, my complete list of additional requirements is below.
- I would like to be able to have solitary/controlled access to the outdoors – for me, this means a walk in a woods or lake area (it needs to be safe, however, I don’t want to head deep into an unknown place by myself), my own balcony overlooking a lake or mountain view. Several Adirondack chairs on a shared front porch with a great view is not solitary enough for this kind of trip. Essentially, I want to be able to read to the sound of nature sounds, not people noise.
- I don’t want to interact much with people. This means I would prefer a place where a bunch of people aren’t running around playing tennis on the lawn, and I don’t want to feel obligated to interact with other guests in a B&B setting.
- The accommodations ideally would be inn-style: not necessary spacious, but not resembling a hotel or motel. However, a small refrigerator or coffee/tea station could be helpful (but not required).
If you’re read this at all, thank you! Any and all suggestions greatly appreciated. Ideally this could become more than a one-time thing, so any responses will be helpful for this year and coming years as well.
I stayed at this cottage in Woodstock, NY for a weekend, and it sounds like it'd be ideal. It's a one-room cottage with a sleeping loft, basically, and it has a well-kitted kitchen -- minfridge, coffee maker, full stove and oven, and some basics like sugar and coffee and tea and olive oil.
It's about a 10-minute walk outside the center of Woodstock, but the owners -- who live in their own cottage next door -- offered to drive me from the bus station. They let me know how to reach them while I was there, but otherwise totally left me alone.
You're within walking distance from some nature trails in Woodstock proper, and also to a couple of decent little restaurants - or you could stay at the cottage all day, and maybe see one person pass by on the road outside, or hear maybe a car an hour. The day I was leaving, when I came out to meet the car (they were driving me to the bus station again) I came face-to-face with a deer who'd wandered up onto the porch.
They have a fairly decent DVD collection and a few books of their own, and left a little folder of information about the area and a few takeout menus there for me as well. I'm definitely going back again.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:55 AM on June 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
It's about a 10-minute walk outside the center of Woodstock, but the owners -- who live in their own cottage next door -- offered to drive me from the bus station. They let me know how to reach them while I was there, but otherwise totally left me alone.
You're within walking distance from some nature trails in Woodstock proper, and also to a couple of decent little restaurants - or you could stay at the cottage all day, and maybe see one person pass by on the road outside, or hear maybe a car an hour. The day I was leaving, when I came out to meet the car (they were driving me to the bus station again) I came face-to-face with a deer who'd wandered up onto the porch.
They have a fairly decent DVD collection and a few books of their own, and left a little folder of information about the area and a few takeout menus there for me as well. I'm definitely going back again.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:55 AM on June 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'm not sure what you mean by "inn-style." The level of solitude and proximity to natural settings you describe suggests a cabin or cottage rather than a multi-room inn. On preview, exactly the sort of thing that EmpressCallipygos suggested.
posted by jon1270 at 7:58 AM on June 14, 2012
posted by jon1270 at 7:58 AM on June 14, 2012
My husband and I really liked this B&B near Northampton, MA. We stayed there in April and there were no other guests on that weekend so we didn't interact with anyone other than the owners at breakfast, and they're very mellow. My husband likes trail hiking and enjoyed walking on the trails nearby (this property is out in the woods in the middle of nowhere, but it takes maybe 15 minutes to drive into Northampton for good restaurants and shops). The room we stayed in was nice--plain and simple--and it was NOT expensive as B&Bs go. And having the animals around was fun.
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:17 AM on June 14, 2012
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:17 AM on June 14, 2012
I used to live here. Marblehead. Seriously, back in the 1980's, I lived in the extension that is now a B&B. It's less than a 100 meters to the harbour and about 200 meters to Castle Rock on Massachusetts Bay.
I have no idea whether there are accommodations for one, nor whether it's within two hours of your location, but it is nice. Especially so in the summer. There are a few places to walk to, nice rocks, places to sit and read, warmth. Solitude. Water. And I'm sure a lot still to see and enjoy in the village itself.
posted by michswiss at 8:20 AM on June 14, 2012
I have no idea whether there are accommodations for one, nor whether it's within two hours of your location, but it is nice. Especially so in the summer. There are a few places to walk to, nice rocks, places to sit and read, warmth. Solitude. Water. And I'm sure a lot still to see and enjoy in the village itself.
posted by michswiss at 8:20 AM on June 14, 2012
Fingerlakes. You can go to nature walks through waterfalls, go to a winery, or just sit outside by the lake. We stayed in a rustic cabin up there that had its own waterfall, trail and lake access.
posted by rich at 8:24 AM on June 14, 2012
posted by rich at 8:24 AM on June 14, 2012
The New Paltz (NY) area has some lovely inns, especially around the Shawangunk cliffs. I've stayed at the Minnewaska Lodge before; it was quieter than a B&B, and the breakfast room is large and self-serve. Plus, it's an easy drive for a day trip to Woodstock.
posted by catlet at 10:39 AM on June 14, 2012
posted by catlet at 10:39 AM on June 14, 2012
How about marthas vineyard or nantcket? Both are beautiful and very quiet off season
posted by zia at 6:46 AM on June 16, 2012
posted by zia at 6:46 AM on June 16, 2012
Response by poster: Yes! Such excellent and helpful responses. I love the off-season ideas as well as the personal recommendations. Thank you all!!
posted by dreamphone at 6:09 PM on June 17, 2012
posted by dreamphone at 6:09 PM on June 17, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Runes at 7:53 AM on June 14, 2012 [2 favorites]