Help me come up with a weekend getaway.

[msmerymac]

I want to surprise my H with a night or weekend away in October, for our 5th wedding anniversary. 

Driving is HIGHLY preferable, since I want to limit meals, travel and lodging to no more than $500. 

We live in suburban Philadelphia. We go to NYC every few months and we went to DC in June. 

These are my ideas, but I'd like to see what you guys come up with:

1) Leave early Saturday morning and spend Saturday night in Lancaster. Possibly in the city so we can walk to the market and 2 breweries we like (but have visited before). Possibly outside the city. Pro: close, cheap. Con: We've been there before. 

2) Similar to 1, but we'd spend the night in the Poconos. Ideally NOT at the place caden had her honeymoon. Pro: close, cheap. Con: maybe not a lot to do.

3) Leave Friday morning and drive to my in-laws' house in MA. Then take off on Saturday morning for Portland, ME. Do a tour at Allagash. Pro: It's Portland! We've been wanting to go for years. Con: Driving will take up a lot of the weekend, we might do a cruise with my dad next year that will stop in Portland.

We are also TTC, so anything involving beer drinking is kind of up in the air, I guess. 

I already researched and then put the kibosh on Asheville and/or Gatlinburg for being too far. 

[eponinepontmercy]

What about the Kennett Square/ Brandywine Valley area? I don't know about breweries, but there are a bunch of vineyards. You could visit Longwood Gardens and any number of DuPont estates. The Brandywine River Museum is small, but really nice. There are a ton of restaurants, too.

[msmerymac]

Aug 14, 2015 14:42:08 GMT -5 eponinepontmercy said:

What about the Kennett Square/ Brandywine Valley area? I don't know about breweries, but there are a bunch of vineyards. You could visit Longwood Gardens and any number of DuPont estates. The Brandywine River Museum is small, but really nice. There are a ton of restaurants, too.

Any restaurants you recommend? We were at Chadd's Ford Winery a few months ago and were interested in visiting the Brandywine museum, but the hours were short that day or something. 

[UMaineTeach]

I've done 1 and 3.

1) I recommend Lancaster Arts Hotel
www.lancasterartshotel.com/ the hotel restaurant was great too.

3) I realllly want to stay in the 'new Eastland' now called Westin Portland Harborview, it's still walking distance to the Old Port, but not if you are super drunk. Alligash is nice, and there are now 2-3 other breweries in that same "plaza" (plus tons that aren't) www.westinportlandharborview.com/

[tacosforlife]

Baltimore would be fun.

Is Shenandoah National Park too far? Lots of great hiking and views and tons of B and Bs outside the park.

Or you could find a nice lodge in the southern PA/northern MD area. Catoctin Mountain NP is really pretty and is free.

[eponinepontmercy]

The Whip Tavern is a little farther out in Chester County, but is great.

Harvest is one of my favorites.  I've never had a bad meal there.

I've never been to Junto, but I haven't read a single negative thing.

Kennett Square has a lot of really good Mexican food - little hole in the wall taco places.  They are surrounded by mushroom farms, so there are a lot of mushroomy restaurants, too.

Sunday Pajama Brunch at Buckley's is awesome.

[charminglife]

Fredrick, Maryland might be fun - there's some great food and cute B&Bs.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

I'm partial to MA, but instead of Maine how about NH instead?

[mrsukyankee]

What about the Fingerlakes region in NY? Great vineyard and places to eat. My dad and stepmom (from NEPA) go there often and love it.

[Velar Fricative]

The Poconos is great but I honestly don't know about traveling in October. Plenty to do in the summer and winter but not sure about the fall. But if there is stuff to do, there are many non-origami-honeymoon-esque places that would be fine.

[debatethis]

How far are you willing to drive? I would pick Chautauqua. It's so pretty.

[doxies]

I think Portland is going to be expensive depending on when you go in October - you will still be in peak leaf-peeping time and the traffic might be rough as well. Breaking up the drive makes it more tolerable, but will you have the days to do that both ways?

I like the Finger Lakes suggestion.

eta:  How about the Hershey spa?

Or this:  www.hersheyharrisburgbeer.com/

[bbdoll]

Lancaster.  We stayed here on our honeymoon and it was gorgeous!!


www.westwyndfarminn.com/

[msmerymac]

Aug 14, 2015 15:13:21 GMT -5 Skyesthelimit1212 said:

I'm partial to MA, but instead of Maine how about NH instead?

We were in NH for my husband's college reunion 2 months ago. He knows NH a lot better than I do!

[msmerymac]

Aug 14, 2015 15:17:33 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

What about the Fingerlakes region in NY? Great vineyard and places to eat. My dad and stepmom (from NEPA) go there often and love it.

I went to college in the finger lakes and my parents live further north on Lake Ontario. But still, we've never stayed at a place near one of the lakes. Might be a good idea and the time of year would be gorgeous.

Ohh, maybe the Hudson River valley?

[msmerymac]

Yeah, I'm also thinking Baltimore or Annapolis. Although patio dining is a bit hit or miss at that time of year.

[FloFTW]

Nemacolin Resort. Fallingwater. Kentuck Knob. White water rafting if it's still in season. Pittsburgh. That area is gorgeous in the fall. We did that trip in October for our anniversary and also threw in Kennywood on Friday night.

[mbcdefg]

We hit a bunch of breweries on our Vermont trip a few years ago.

We just got back from Maine (Portland and Bar Harbor). We did the Allagash tour and also visited/drank Atlantic Brewing, Maine Beer Co., Bissell Brothers, Foundation, Oxbow, The Meadery (?), and Liquid Riot. Maine is really nice but it's a lot of driving.

MH is sitting next to me and said, "How about Boston?" You have lots of breweries and beer bars - Sam Adams, Trillium, Night Shift, Mystic, Jack's Abbey, Lord Hobo, Cambridge Brewing, etc.

Montreal has Dieu du Ciel and other nice places.

[penguingrrl]

What about Cape May? Not too far, but far enough to feel like you're away. And from what I've heard it's great in the fall.

[LoveTrains]

Aug 14, 2015 19:27:19 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

We hit a bunch of breweries on our Vermont trip a few years ago.

We just got back from Maine (Portland and Bar Harbor). We did the Allagash tour and also visited/drank Atlantic Brewing, Maine Beer Co., Bissell Brothers, Foundation, Oxbow, The Meadery (?), and Liquid Riot. Maine is really nice but it's a lot of driving.

MH is sitting next to me and said, "How about Boston?" You have lots of breweries and beer bars - Sam Adams, Trillium, Night Shift, Mystic, Jack's Abbey, Lord Hobo, Cambridge Brewing, etc.

Montreal has Dieu du Ciel and other nice places.

I don't think she can do two nights in Boston plus travel and activities for under $500 during peak foliage season. 

I always recommend New England to everyone, but again, that first weekend in October can be expensive and hard to book because of foliage. 

This might sound crazy, but we had a nice long weekend in Scranton, PA last year in early October. We went because my H ran a marathon, but we went to the train museum and did a bunch of train stuff. Although that might only interest me....

What about the Catskills or the Hudson River Valley? Saratoga? 

I really wouldn't drive to Maine from Philly. Too long for a long weekend. Frankly I don't drive to Philly unless I am going to be there for at least 5 days becuase I loathe the traffic on the way. 

[shopgirl07]

What about Newport RI? Although I don't think $500 will cut it.

[LoveTrains]

Aug 14, 2015 19:39:16 GMT -5 shopgirl07 said:

What about Newport RI? Although I don't think $500 will cut it.

Too far. Also, see my previous post about peak foliage in New England and $500 definitely wouldn't cover two nights plus activities. Although you could visit Newport Storm brewery (although its not very good) and the Newport vineyard (only drink the whites). 

[Vespasia]

Aug 14, 2015 18:32:41 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Yeah, I'm also thinking Baltimore or Annapolis. Although patio dining is a bit hit or miss at that time of year.

If you decide on Baltimore I will give you eleven billion recommendations.

[bourbonfan]

How about a cheesy all-inclusive place up in the Poconos like Cove Haven? The kind of place that has champagne hot tubs, heart shaped tubs, and mirrors on the ceiling? I know it sounds super lame, but that's the fun part!

[WOT?*]

What about keeping it more local? A friend of mine loves the Omni Resorts at Bedford Springs. Having stayed at other Omni facilities, they do tend to be super relaxing and luxe.

[mbcdefg]

You could stay somewhere in NJ and hit the local breweries ... Kane, Carton, Magnify, and Cricket Hill are accessible from North/Central Jersey. Maybe base yourselves in Jersey City (fun Downtown scene with lots of good restaurants and bars, and easy access to NYC). Or visit Asbury Park or Red Bank for restaurants and shops.

My birthday is in early October and sometimes we go to Seaside Heights to do silly boardwalk stuff. We've also done a Hudson River cruise for my birthday and you get a nice historical tour plus leaf peeping.

Sometimes there's a good show or game in Newark (NJPAC or Prudential Center) and there's no shortage of great Portuguese restaurants. Count Basie Theater and Wellmont Theater sometimes get big-name acts as well so check their calendars.

Or stay further south and go to Cape May Brewing, Spellbound, River Horse, Forgotten Boardwalk, etc. A bunch of South Jersey breweries have opened this year. Go to Atlantic City or Cape May. You may get a good hotel rate since it's off-season for Shore hotels. AC is affordable during the mid-week but weekend prices skyrocket.

Have you already done the whole Lambertville/New Hope thing?

[mich1]

Aug 14, 2015 15:17:33 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

What about the Fingerlakes region in NY? Great vineyard and places to eat. My dad and stepmom (from NEPA) go there often and love it.

I was going to suggest this too.

[msmerymac]

Aug 14, 2015 18:55:42 GMT -5 FloFTW said:

Nemacolin Resort. Fallingwater. Kentuck Knob. White water rafting if it's still in season. Pittsburgh. That area is gorgeous in the fall. We did that trip in October for our anniversary and also threw in Kennywood on Friday night.

We do really want to go to falling water! I will double check the drive, though.

[msmerymac]

Aug 14, 2015 19:27:19 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

We hit a bunch of breweries on our Vermont trip a few years ago.

We just got back from Maine (Portland and Bar Harbor). We did the Allagash tour and also visited/drank Atlantic Brewing, Maine Beer Co., Bissell Brothers, Foundation, Oxbow, The Meadery (?), and Liquid Riot. Maine is really nice but it's a lot of driving.

MH is sitting next to me and said, "How about Boston?" You have lots of breweries and beer bars - Sam Adams, Trillium, Night Shift, Mystic, Jack's Abbey, Lord Hobo, Cambridge Brewing, etc.

Montreal has Dieu du Ciel and other nice places.

The only issue with Boston is that my husband grew up in the suburbs. There ARE a lot of good breweries we need to try, but we can do that while visiting his parents.

[msmerymac]

Aug 14, 2015 21:40:50 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

You could stay somewhere in NJ and hit the local breweries ... Kane, Carton, Magnify, and Cricket Hill are accessible from North/Central Jersey. Maybe base yourselves in Jersey City (fun Downtown scene with lots of good restaurants and bars, and easy access to NYC). Or visit Asbury Park or Red Bank for restaurants and shops.

My birthday is in early October and sometimes we go to Seaside Heights to do silly boardwalk stuff. We've also done a Hudson River cruise for my birthday and you get a nice historical tour plus leaf peeping.

Sometimes there's a good show or game in Newark (NJPAC or Prudential Center) and there's no shortage of great Portuguese restaurants. Count Basie Theater and Wellmont Theater sometimes get big-name acts as well so check their calendars.

Or stay further south and go to Cape May Brewing, Spellbound, River Horse, Forgotten Boardwalk, etc. A bunch of South Jersey breweries have opened this year. Go to Atlantic City or Cape May. You may get a good hotel rate since it's off-season for Shore hotels. AC is affordable during the mid-week but weekend prices skyrocket.

Have you already done the whole Lambertville/New Hope thing?

We have not done Lambertville/New Hope. There's a new hope restaurant I really want to try. Also, I keep forgetting that we want to go to cape may or even AC. It's hard to book cape may in the summer, but I feel like October won't be as busy.

We have been to Forgotten Boardwalk, though! That's just in Cherry Hill.