8 quick resort getaways from New York City

The same reasons that make us love New York City, contribute to why we sometimes just need to get away. The hustle and bustle of the City That Never Sleeps can leave visitors exhausted. But fear not, there are exciting escapes in every direction. Whether it’s to witness the fall foliage, white winter glow, spring blossoms or summer lakes, these resort getaways will provide the perfect break. Check out beach getaways, castles overlooking the Hudson River and lakefront resorts.

New Yorkers have flocked to Gurney’s for decades for its seawater spa and oceanfront location in Montauk, Long Island. Rent a daybed on the beach, and for dinner, make a reservation at Gurney’s Scarpetta Beach restaurant, a swanky nighttime hot spot.

In Tarrytown, New York, a Norman-style stone castle is perched among the hills overlooking the Hudson River. Built a century ago as a home for a wealthy businessman, the estate is now Castle Hotel & Spa. Book a tower suite with a turret alcove and wood-burning fireplace. Take in some sun at the pool, set within the leafy green hillside just below the hotel. Then, book a massage at the resort’s Thaan Sanctuary Spa, or just enjoy a quiet nook or a game of bocce on the hotel’s lush grounds.

This stunning, sprawling lakefront resort has been a popular retreat, set among the forests and mountains of New York’s Hudson Valley, since 1869. Outdoor activities include kayaking, paddle boarding, horse riding, archery, tennis, campfires and fishing, as well as hiking on more than 85 miles of trails. Book a suite with a fireplace and a private balcony to take in the views, or one of the cosy cottages for privacy. The resort’s Chef’s Table restaurant serves fresh, seasonal farm-to-table cuisine and offers an 11-course tasting menu.

New York’s Hudson Valley might be the last place you think to find a pink hilltop mansion with a Mediterranean ambience, traditional Italian gardens and a spa with a luxe hammam (popular with celebrity guests), but this plush retreat is full of happy surprises. Sip a Bellini and nosh on a lobster roll in the sun-filled courtyard, lounge in a daybed by the pool and enjoy haute cuisine in the Supper Room. Or just sink into a window seat in one of the corner rooms and enjoy the views of the vast grounds, designed by the country’s first female landscape architect, Beatrix Farrand.

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Motoring over the wooden bridge that leads to Buttermilk Falls Inn in Milton, New York, you might find yourself stopping to let ducks and geese cross the road as they make their way to cool off in the ponds and the creeks that meander through the Inn’s woods. You’ll also discover llamas, swans, peacocks and beehives in this bucolic setting, among barns, hiking trails and towering pine trees. The historic inn’s mossy wood-shingled roofs, antique furnishings and wood floors are a lovely counterpoint to its contemporary spa’s clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows. Buttermilk Falls’ Henry’s restaurant creates tasty dishes with fresh produce from its own 40-acre Millstone Farm.

Large swaths of Connecticut might appear rugged and homogenous, but there’s a softer, more creative side to the state. Winvian Farm resort in Litchfield Hills, on the grounds of a historic 1775 estate, is home to 18 themed resort cottages, dreamed up by 15 different architects. They include a forest treehouse suspended 35 feet above the ground; cottages with music, library and artist themes, and one that includes a restored Coast Guard helicopter as part of the decor and furnishings, complete with a whirlpool and wood-burning fireplace. The Restaurant at Winvian Farm’s executive chef Chris Eddy whips up delectable gourmet fare with fresh ingredients, much of it grown in the farm’s three greenhouses, orchards, apiary and organic gardens.

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Cape May, New Jersey, a two-and-a-half hour drive from New York City, is known for its colourful Victorian architecture and its beautiful beaches. Cape Resorts offers a range of hotels, inns and resorts in Cape May, including Congress Hall, a massive canary-yellow family beachfront resort that just celebrated its 200th anniversary. Book a massage on the beach in your own personal tent, relax by the pool, or feed your mind with a history tour of the hotel. On a smaller, more intimate scale, the Virginia Cottages (above) are brightly decorated Victorian houses just off the beach, where guests also have access to Congress Hall’s pool and gym. Visitors to Cape May can enjoy activities from whale-watching, deep-sea fishing and parasailing to shopping the town’s eclectic selection of boutiques and galleries and checking out the area’s museums and historic sites.

This waterfront resort and spa on the marina in Sag Harbor, New York, is decked out with an upbeat nautical decor and provides an excellent base for tucking into fresh oysters on the half shell, renting bicycles and exploring the nearby beaches, nature preserve and Sag Harbor’s charming Main Street. On cool evenings, sip a cocktail by the fireplace on the outdoor terrace and take in the sunset, or commandeer a comfy armchair in the clubby bar.

– TEXT BY EVA LEONARD
PHOTOS: SUPPLIED, THE LODGE FACEBOOK, THE VIRGINIA HOTEL CAPE MAY FACEBOOK, BARON’S COVE FACEBOOK
This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings.