Easy Escapes from the Big Apple
Whether you’re from New York or looking to travel into the city and then escape into the country from there, we have some fabulous getaways from the city to share with you…
Hiking in New England (photo credit: Troutbeck)
New York is easily accessible from most places in the US via a direct flight, so whether you call New York City home or whether you want to fly into the city and then drive out to explore some of New England, it’s worth knowing about some fantastic getaways that are all within a 3-hour drive from the city. Of course, some of these places will have even closer airports than New York, so if you don’t fancy driving out from the city, there may be other options. We are all craving wide open spaces and some time away from it all, and these quintessentially New England destinations may be just what you’ve been looking for.
Troutbeck
Location: Amenia, NY
Drive time from the city: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Over the years, stately Troutbeck has gone from a retreat favored by creative leaders of the past to New York’s finest country hotel, and it definitely has what you need if you’re looking for space—space to socially distance, space to enjoy the fresh air, and space to breathe—as the hotel is situated on 250 acres. Guest rooms are located across three buildings, and the hotel was already set up for the standards of social distancing that we now live by, but in a setting that may allow you to forget about them for a moment altogether. All of the public areas of the hotel have also been recently upgraded with HVAC systems to include HEPA and UV filtration, which has a 96+% kill rate for bacteria, not something to underestimate in these times!
Their Executive Chef, Gabe McMackin, is a five-time Michelin-starred powerhouse who brings over 25 years of experience to the hotel’s locally sourced menu, so not only will you be fed extremely well, but you will also enjoy a menu that celebrates the region you’ll be exploring.
Troutbeck’s objective is to provide you with the respite, inspiration, comfort, and nourishment you need while you’re visiting, all of which are more important now than ever.
Poe Perks at Troutbeck:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily full breakfast a la carte for two guests per bedroom
$100 USD Food & Beverage credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Wheatleigh
Location: Lenox, MA
Drive time from the city: 3 hours (or 2 hours from Boston)
Built in 1893, Wheatleigh is a Gilded Age “summer cottage” (though the word cottage is misleading!) designed to replicate a Florentine palazzo. As such, it brings a little bit of European flair and grandeur to the Berkshires, featuring intricately carved architecture that has hosted many a party in its day. Fully renovated in the new millennium to be a luxury small hotel, it is waiting to welcome you to its 19 rooms filled with a wonderful blend of antique and contemporary furnishings and situated on 22 acres. Fun fact: it was actually designed by Central Park’s architect!
Chef Jeffrey Thompson oversees one of the most renowned dining rooms in the eastern United States, earning Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond ratings.
During the time of COVID, Wheatleigh has greatly limited their available rooms, turning the hotel into a private sanctuary of sorts to ensure social distancing for their guests, meaning you’ll be able to rest soundly knowing that all the necessary precautions are being taken so that you can enjoy this grand hotel to the fullest while you are in-stay.
Poe Perks at Wheatleigh:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Full breakfast daily
$125 USD Food & Beverage credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Blantyre
Location: Lenox, MA
Drive time from the city: 3 hours (or 2 hours from Boston)
Also located in Lenox is the charming country-house hotel Blantyre. As you wind your way up the wooded driveway, you’ll pass sweeping lawns and historic trees before your eyes fall upon Blantyre’s picturesque ivy-covered main house. The house itself was built in 1902 and is a Tudor-style mansion, sure to delight any lovers of English stately homes (though the house was actually fashioned after a Scottish ancestral home). This house will truly make you feel as though you have been transported to an era long gone, a gentler era, as you take in the hotel’s newly renovated rooms that are full of history, character, and comfort.
The hotel is home to eleven guest rooms and thirteen suites, each of which has been individually furnished and has its own character. The cuisine reflects the farm-to-table philosophy, and it is complemented by an excellent wine cellar featuring more than 9,000 bottles. If you prefer something a little more bubbly, you’ll want to head to Blantyre’s Dom Pérignon Champagne Salon, where you can enjoy champagne cocktails and exclusive vintages accompanied by light, fresh New England fare.
The hotel is set on 110 acres of lush lawns and woodlands, so there is plenty of space to enjoy winding walks or hikes. In the winter, ice-skate or snowshoe to get in the spirit of the season.
Whether you have the pleasure of visiting during the summer, spring, fall, or winter, there is always something to enjoy at Blantyre, from fresh spring mornings to wonderful summer hikes to stunning fall foliage to winter days that will look like you’ve stepped into a postcard.
Poe Perks at Blantyre:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily Chef's Choice Continental Breakfast for two guests per bedroom, delivered to the room
$100 USD Resort/Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
The Mayflower Inn & Spa
Location: Washington, CT
Drive time from the city: 2.5 hours
Located in one of New England’s most idyllic towns, the Mayflower Inn & Spa reminds us of the classic inn featured in Gilmore Girls, but with a fantastic luxury facelift. With 30 individually designed guestrooms, each function as its own lavish retreat, you’ll enjoy Frette linens, Tabriz rugs, feathertop mattresses, four-poster canopy beds, and all the modern conveniences you could want from a 5-star hotel.
If you’re a more active traveler, you will want to explore the inn's 58 acres of century-old rhododendron and specimen trees, perfect for long, relaxing walks. More relaxed travelers may be content to settle in at the destination spa (known as one of the finest in New England), where mind-, body-, and spirit-targeted therapies await to melt away the stresses of urban life. The sumptuous restaurant, the Mayflower Grille, offers a very pleasing selection of New England dishes using fresh, regionally sourced ingredients.
The Mayflower Inn & Spa is a truly quintessential experience, and it’s exactly what you think of when you picture a quaint getaway in this part of the world. Combine that with the fantastic spa, and we’re in!
Poe Perks at The Mayflower Inn & Spa:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Continental breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom
$100 USD Resort/hotel credit, to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
If you would like to get away to any of these New England gems (or anywhere else in the world), simply contact us, and we will set you on your way.