HawaiiVirgin

Looking for a fun but not-too-expensive place to go with my girls. We've been friends since 1st grade and want to go and celebrate our half-century mark together (we all turned 50 this year). We're spread around southwestern CT, so we'd like to keep this within a 4-hour drive in any direction. Would appreciate any ideas you might have. Thinking about a weekend in November.

nytraveler

Well if it's November do you want outdoors? A big city? Small town?

Some idea of budget (exclusive inn with spa? antiquing? history? discount shopping?)

A little more info would be a big help.

DebitNM

This would be my #1 choice:

http://www.thespaatnorwichinn.com/

wyatt92

What about going to Nantucket for Christmas Stroll weekend?

http://www.nantucketchamber.org/visitor/Stroll.html

sobster

The Boulders-New Preston, CT
Otesaga-Coopertown, NY
The Orchard-Williamstown, MA
Wequassett-Chatham, MA
The Mayflower-Washington,CT

dfrostnh

November is a tough month weather wise. We switched to Sept getaways. However, we did Nov in NYC to see the Rockette's Christmas special. Last year did NYC again, enjoyed Tenement Museum and Foods of NYC tour (did the Chelsea Market one).

Boston has two great culinary tours: North End and Chinatown. Kennedy Museum was perfect for us but you are a little young to remember those years.

wfdeforge

Portsmouth New Hampshire or Stowe, Vermont are both great places for shopping, fun and girl time! And although both are the outer limits of your drive time--it can provide some fun stops along the way. Yankee Candle if going to Stowe or outlets in Maine for Portsmouth. Love both places

divineMissM

You don't say how many girls you need to accomodate, but check out the listing on Craigslist massachusetts for the 3-bedrooom lakeside in Stockbridge, near Lenox. Looks great!

OceanBreeze1

How about Montreal?

ggreen

My girlfriends and I usually do our girls weekends in November as well. NYC and Boston are always good, but this year we will probably return to Newport, RI - a perennial fave. We've also enjoyed Mystic, CT and the Red Door Spa there.

HawaiiVirgin

WOW! Lots of great ideas & quick responses. Thanks.

There are 5 of us. Tho I'd love to do some outdoorsy stuff, I think I'm in the minority in this group. Looking mostly for a place we can go & just hang out, We'd like a place we all could stay in together, where we could walk into town for restaurants & shopping. Definitely not spa girls. Too expensive. I will look into all your suggestions. I had been thinking Newport, NYC or Boston, but now I have lots more to go on. Thanks again!!!

ggreen

We're 6 of us, very similar. We always get a room or two with two queen beds and bunk up together. Typically we roam around town and shop/window shop, find a place or two with decent food and good drinks, and spend lots of time gabbing. And because of that, we're always looking for a good morning walk or similar exercise to lull us into thinking we can consume more calories!

I dunno, I think you might really like Newport, RI for all of the above. Last year on the weekend before Thanksgiving, we stayed at the uber-nice Hotel Viking (http://www.hotelviking.com) for a really reasonable rate. (My apologies that I don't remember specifics, but I think it came to about $60/pp? I think we booked a few weeks in advance, not more.) We had two connecting rooms. From the hotel, in one direction it's walking distance to cute shops and places to eat; in the other, the beautiful Cliff Walk (exercise!) with the sea on one side and the back yards of mansions on the other (loop back around to see the fronts on your walk back).

Shops in Newport range from Gap and J Crew to small boutiques. Lots and lots of dining options too. There's also the boat docks along Thames Street for a different kind of exploring.

dfrostnh

BTW this year we had a nice w/e on Cape Cod with a day trip to MV. I think it's important to do things in the evening unless you've had an extra long day and a late dinner. In the past like the time we went to Mystic, we simply saw a movie. This year we all agreed to read the same book which was set on Cape Cod for discussion and the second night we played card games. We don't do well shopping together. At one time we used to search out souveniers for the husbands and children left behind but we have grandchildren now.

OceanBreeze1

Take a look @ www.tug2.net for a condo rental. You may even get a "Last minute rental"!
Also, www.redweek.com