NEW ENGLAND GETAWAYS -- amNY.com

A weekend on the Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard is only three and a half miles off the southern coast of Cape Cod, but it's worlds away from the mainland. Despite increasing development and traffic, there are a lot of quiet getaway spots on the 87.5-square-mile island, with many secluded beaches. There also is plenty to do in the three principal commercial centers, Edgartown, the oldest European settlement, Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs.

A weekend in Newport

There was a time when spending the season in Newport meant serious money: Among the summer people were the Astors and the Vanderbilts and assorted society names up from Manhattan. In the 1880s and '90s this was a place of fabulous wealth; the "cottages" along Bellevue Avenue remain, a catalogue of hyperexcited Robber Baron tastes. To get an overall look at the mansions -- and to admire the views out over the water -- take the Cliff Walk.

A weekend in Essex, Connecticut

It takes about five minutes to fall in love with the Connecticut River town of Essex. But you wouldn't be the first to be so smitten. A few years back, it was named the best small town in America, and while we -as New Yorkers - wouldn't presume to judge a small town, its charms are obvious to even the most jaded eye.

A Weekend in the Berkshires

In the summer, Massachusetts' Berkshires mountains host the Tanglewood Festival, one of the premier music festivals in the northeast. But the area is a wonderful place for the weekend long after the musicians have packed up and gone.

A weekend in Great Barrington

In the heart of the Berkshire Hills, Windflower Inn is a relaxed, pretty country inn. The white clapboard house is about as New England as it gets, with a deep green lawn and nice plantings. Rooms are comfortable, with antiques and reproduction furniture, many of them with four-poster beds or working fireplaces.

April 23, 2007

A getaway in Mystic

A quick trip to New England is a tonic for those of us looking for a break and, with its mix of museums and shops, Mystic, Connecticut, is a fine place for a getaway.

A Weekend in Salisbury, Connecticut

In the southern reaches of the Berkshires, in northwestern Connecticut, small, pretty towns like Lakeville, Salisbury, Sharon and Kent provide plenty of opportunity for hiking, snacking, and browsing.

A weekend in Rhode Island

If you're looking for a little luxury, Newport has it, and the Castle Hill Inn and Resort, on Ocean Drive, is no slouch in the elegance department, either. The resort has a private beach, secluded walking trail, spectacular coastline views, and a terrific choice of rooms -- many of which come with private terraces, fireplaces, and ocean views.

August 4, 2006

A weekend in Litchfield County

Connecticut's Litchfield Hills makes for a nice weekend destination. You can explore the pretty towns of Kent, Litchfield, and Lakeville, stopping at the antiques stores and art galleries along Route 7. Or you can opt for rafting or canoeing along the Housatonic River.

A Weekend in Cornwall, Connecticut

The small town of Cornwall, Connecticut has plenty to recommend it as a place for a quick weekend getaway.

A weekend in Old Saybrook, Connecticut

This is one of the oldest towns in Connecticut, and it's one of the prettiest.

March 5, 2007

A weekend in Stockbridge

It would be hard to think of a better place to spend an early spring weekend than the Berkshires. Plenty of parks and gardens, good restaurants, shopping, and museums make for a relaxing stay.

A weekend in Manchester, Connecticut

Just outside of Hartford, the Mansion Inn, in Manchester, Connecticut, was once the home of the Cheney family, one of the state's great textile merchants. During the 1890s, the house hosted the great and the good of Hartford, but today, it's open to weekenders looking for a comfortable spot to relax.

January 19, 2007

A weekend in Connecticut

Ridgefield, Conn, is just 60 miles from the city, but it's a fine place to relax over a weekend. The town is a classic New England village -- founded in the early 1700s. It's earliest claim to fame was that it stood at the heart of the Battle of Ridgefield, the only Revolutionary War battle fought in Connecticut. But over the generations it has morphed into a peaceful, relaxed place, where you can stroll along Main Street, checking the antiques shops and art galleries.

December 8, 2006

Mystic for the holidays

The historic town of Mystic was settled in 1684, and boomed during the 19th century as a shipbuilding center. The museums at Mystic Seaport celebrate that heritage with historic ships like the square riggers Charles W. Morgan and the 1908 steamboat Sabino.

December 3, 2006