2Doodles

Looking for a nice quaint town for a group of friends to go away to celebrate a special birthday. We want to stay a nice B&B which is close to a nice quaint town. We would like nice shops and resturants to walk to.Theater/show/play in evening.We don't want to drive more then two hours from NJ. We are 5 couples in our 50's. Thanks

2Doodles

Oh ,I forgot to mention this will be in the middle/end of JANUARY.
Towns I was thinking of
Cold Spring NY,Milford PA,Lititz,PA, Frenchtown ??

rizzo0904

You could do the Chadds Ford area and visit the wineries as well as Longwood Gardens.

AnnRiley

Some quaint towns i came across on my travels were:

Lambertville NJ and across the river (over a small bridge that joins them) the town of New hope (think this comes under NY) Lovely small pretty towns with lots of quaint shops/restaurants.
Also has a lovely restored railway/trains.

Also, Paradise,Bird-in hand & intercourse in Lacaster county PA are lovely small towns. The Revere Tavern attached to the Best western(which is a nice hotel) in Paradise is wonderful for a fab bar meal or something posher in their lovely restaurant.

Also, the town of Skeneateles (spelling!) in NY finger lakes is lovely, right on a river with lovely quaint shops etc, all very walkable around.

Non of the above will disappoint i promise.

wliwl

I agree with Skaneateles.

http://www.skaneateles.com/

SusieQQ

Walking to a theater/show/play is a problem. New Hope has theater but I think it is only in the summer. All of the places mentioned are quaint but don't have this requirement. Evem though you are all from NJ, have you considered Princeton? McCarter Theater usually has some great theater going on....

taconictraveler

You might consider Rhinebeck, NY, 2 hours by train or car from NYC on the Hudson. Great shops, restaurants, the Upstate Art movies, and lots more. Beekman Arms has nice annex of rooms at the Delameter House. Restaurants: Gigi, Arielle, a Thai and a Chinese and Le Petit Bistro.

gb944

Rhinebeck, NY has the Beekman Arms Hotel, with Upstate Films just a short walk away. Lots of dining options, nice little quaint town.

taconictraveler

OH, just thought of this: if you consider Chadds Ford area, check out the Inn at Montchanin, where we stayed last May. A perfectly lovely country inn, with several buildings, very decent price, good restaurant, wonderful countryside, winter or summer. Longwood Gardens are divine, Winterthur is world class. Check out winter sched. on all of the above. Good Hunting!!

taconictraveler

GB944: How funny that you posted same place as I did, only one minute later!! Is there something in the water?

gb944

Betsy: Must be those PCBs in the Hudson.

2Doodles

Thank you ALL so much for all your suggestions! I'm still deciding and looking into the different towns.
THANKS!

2Doodles

Thanks everyone! I'm thinking of Paradise,bird in hand ,intercourse PA
Any very nice B&B's that anyone stayed at? Out of these three towns which has the most in town? Shopes/resturants etc.

Possible Rhinbeck NY.?

It will be in the dead of winter so I don't think they will want to travel too far.
Thanks!

SuCo27

Of those three towns, Intercourse is probably the most condensed and walkable. Intercourse also has Kitchen Kettle Village, a small 'village' of shops...it's very cute. This site has lots of info on shopping, restaurants, attractions and accommodations. They also have info on Paradise and Bird-In-Hand.

http://www.800padutch.com/intercourse.shtml

If you get the chance, see a show at the Fulton Theatre (about a 20 min drive from Intercourse, in downtown Lancaster). The theatre is beautiful, a National Historic Landmark, and considered to be the nation's oldest continuously operating theatre. They get actors from NYC and all over the world and usually put on shows that rival Broadway. I see they have '42nd Street' through Jan 4th, a cabaret - 'Liz McCartney: Rosemary & Time, A Tribute to the Life and Music of Rosemary Clooney' on Jan 23 and Agatha Christie's 'The Unexpected Guest' starting Jan 29.

http://www.thefulton.org/pages/index.php?pID=24

Have fun!

sobster

How about Princeton, NJ?

Proenza_Preschooler

For Pennsylvania:

Mauchunk (Jim Thorpe).

Eaglesmere. Eaglesmere has a toboggan run in the winter. It is a lot of fun. There is a theatre, but I don't know if it is open in January.

Eaglesmere was the home of my deceased mother, Linda, and step-father. The surrounding mountains are very beautiful.

www.eaglesmere.org

There is also the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble (Alvira Krause Theatre) in Bloomsburg, PA, if you want theatre. The town has many shops, restaurants (Russel's is very good) and it is the home of Bloomsburg University. I don't know how pretty the town is in January, however.


Thingorjus

paangwife

I would recommend checking out the Lancaster area. Downtown Lancaster is a place to avoid, but the surrounding area is just filled with quaint little towns. The Sight and Sound Theater puts on a wonderful show if they have one open in Jan. The Amish country is lovely no matter what time of year. It is also filled with places to purchase hand made quilts and other home made goods. Also, if nostalgia is up your alley the Christmas Museum is wonderful. They have one room that takes you back to Woolworth's 5 & 10 cent stores. It is filled with decorations and gifts from years gone by. I absolutely loved visiting there.

Another really nice area is Tioga County: Wellsboro. This could be a risky trip at that time of year. It would definitely be a weather checker.

There are plenty of B&B's in both areas. Just Google. I think Lancaster Area would be your best bet time and weather wise. Check out all the little surrounding towns in the Lancaster area - most are fun to visit!

SuCo27

paangwife,

Just out of curiousity, why would you tell people to avoid downtown Lancaster? And when was the last time you were there (if ever)?

Sorry to hijack your thread 2Doodles, just wondering why someone would recommend avoiding a town with so much culture, great shops and amazing restaurants that was recently ranked one of the safest metropolitan cities in the US...especially someone who just joined here (and TA) 2 days ago to promote their own website.

paangwife

Well, I don't see what joining 2 days ago has to do with anything. And my advice comes from personal experience, and my sons. I'm not saying that downtown Lancaster doesn't have those things you mention going for it. My suggestion was made because I don't think being in the middle of downtown Lancaster, (or any city, for that matter) at night, when you don't know the area is a good idea. There are plenty of things to see and do in the surrounding area that may be a little safer. I wasn't trying to sound like a know it all - I just like to use common sense and be a little on the safe side. There are parts of most cities that I would avoid when given the choice. Sorry I stepped on your toes.

paangwife

Oh, yeah, one other thing: I believe the original question asked for quaint. I don't exactly see downtown Lancaster as quaint. And, again, yes, I've been there.