It’s summer and if you’re like me, you’re excited to go somewhere. Breeze Airways has made it easy with more flights from Westchester County Airport, as has JetBlue with new additions from Westchester and direct flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico, starting in October from other New York airports.
Whether you’re planning to fly or drive – or just want to look at bookings for the fall or beyond – there’s a place for you, everything from a luxury inn where you can play with a foster dog to a city hotel with a Gordan Ramsey restaurant to a historic distillery B&B (so lots of fun tastings). What follows is a selection of places to put on your radar.
This quintessential New England coastal destination is a short drive away and has been recently renovated to provide a guest-centered experience. That means an abundance of on-site and off-site activities, such as group clambakes, fireside s’mores, wellness classes, movie nights and an extensive kids’ club. You’ll also find a restaurant packed with fresh seafood (hello lobster rolls!), flatbreads and grill classics that are perfect for a day in the sun. More details at 401-849-2600, newportharborisland.com.
Looking for a getaway around city activities, a celebrity chef and maybe some baseball? St. Louis is a baseball town where the energy and excitement of watching the St. Louis Cardinals (no matter how they do, every season) is always an experience. There’s even a Ballpark Village, complete with restaurants and shops (try Katie’s Pizza & Pasta with its famous fried artichoke salad). Even better: laze by the pool overlooking the famous Gateway Arch (which you can visit later!), then pamper yourself with a pampering spa treatment at the Four Seasons spa.
More: Summer Bucket List: What to do this season in the Lower Hudson Valley
Recently opened: Ramsay’s Kitchen By Gordon Ramsay, the first restaurant in this city from the multi-Michelin-starred chef. Inspired by his travels abroad, the Ramsay’s Kitchen concept takes guests on a global culinary journey, starting with the chef’s legendary Beef Wellington. Also not to be missed: the buttery Parker rolls, the big chunks of crab cake and the St. Louis-style ribs. All of the hotel rooms have been recently renovated for a more serene, sophisticated look, so if you’ve been here before, this time will certainly be different. More details: 314-881-5800, fourseasons.com/stlouis.
Do you love dogs, but don’t have one? No problem. In this luxury hotel where dogs are welcomed and played with, you can enjoy the company of a four-legged friend. The shelter hosts on-site shelter dogs from the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland and provides rescue dogs with a temporary home until they are adopted (176 dogs have been adopted after being fostered at the shelter since the program’s inception).
Fido is also welcome, with no pet fee required. The hotel is so dedicated to man’s best friend – and has been for 30 years – ‘Dogs Days at Inn by the Sea’ amenities include water bowls, beach towels, cozy LL Bean dog blankets and handmade treats at drop-off. There are also gourmet pet menus, dog walking and doggie daycare.
Of course, people are the property’s main priority and that includes 62 comfortably furnished rooms and suites, a full-service spa, a fireplace lounge, a swimming pool and regional menus. The location alone will make you go “aaah” as it is located on Crescent Beach, just seven miles from Portland. What makes it even better: Breeze Airways flies direct from Westchester County Airport to Portland. More details at 207-799-3134 or innbythesea.com or visit flybreeze.com.
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It’s not too early to start planning your fall vacation, especially since JetBlue will have direct flights to San Juan starting in October. Just steps from the beach, this oasis offers an ideal island retreat complete with a family pool with a lazy river, two bars, a wine cellar room and Trova Coastal Kitchen with a tune of health-conscious Puerto Rican flavors from the finalists of James Beard and celebrity chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth. Golfers in particular will appreciate the two championship golf courses designed by PGA four-time champion Gary Player and renowned architect Rees Jones, an equestrian center and a Pterocarpus forest. Located on the island’s east coast also means access to miles of pristine beaches, clear mountain rivers, and year-round outdoor recreation opportunities in the El Yunque Rainforest. More details: 787-247-7979 or wyndhampalmas.com.
A bourbon at your B&B? Newport News, VA-based Ironclad Distillery recently purchased what had been the Kenmore Inn. The three-story 18th century house, in the heart of downtown (walkable) Fredericksburg, has a lot of history to absorb (besides bourbon tasting), as the city hosted a number of crucial battle scenes during the Civil War.
Enjoy a cocktail on the home’s airy porch after a day of wandering through boutiques, antique shops and art galleries. But book quickly: there are only nine rooms; the largest bedrooms are part of the original house and feature original fireplaces, while the other bedrooms are from the 1930s extension. Each room features antiques and traditional décor. The central focal point of the space, however, is The Tasting Room & Bourbon Bottle Shop, where you’ll find bourbon tastings, cocktails and a menu of light snacks. More details at 540-371-7622 or ironcladinn.com.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest food adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: 5 Summer Travel Ideas: Fly or Drive Here from Lower Hudson Valley
