amaclise, Portsmouth becase of its proximity to the ocean. And I like the ocean. The OP could certainly squeeze in CT and Mystic. My kids liked it, it just wasn't my favorite. But then, what do I know?

Thanks, all! I appreciate everyone taking their time to respond. Please continue on with suggestions as you think of them and if you ever need ideas for Colorado please post them...I was born and raised in this most wonderful state!

Gaillynn,
What a small world...I live in SW Colorado and here I am giving you suggestions for North East

Well - since you haven;t done NYC that's what I would do - and then just trek out for the wedding.

But if you want other things you can head up the Hudson (Bear Mountain State Park, US Miliray Academy at West Point, FRD's home at Hyde Park and several Dutch Patroon poerties at Tarrytown as well as the Rockefeller properties).

The head across into CT - which has a lot of small cute towns and museums and head to Mystic (which I loved).

Then take the ferry across the sound and spend a couple of days on Long Island (Teddy Roosevelt's house in Oyster Bay, Old Bethpage Restorations which has colonial and federal buildings with all sorts of activities demonstrated, great beaches - including Jones Beach and Robert Moses State Parks) as well as alittle Hamptons is you have time. You'll have a LOT of trouble finding a place to stay in the Hamptons but if you stay neat Port Jeff it's reall not far to either the North Fork (mostly wiwneries) or the South Fork - old whaling villages, Montauk lighhouse and some incredibly beautiful towns and estates to look at - the latter from afar (many make houses in Hollywood and Maibu look like shanties beside the RR tracks - since they were built by old money, not the trendy trailer trash of the moment.)

If I were going up the Hudson Valley for the first time, in addition to the sites that have already been mentioned, I would include Sunny Side, the home of Washington Irving and also a tour of West Point Military Academy.

I just came across this article about the Catskills - A road trip thing -- and it looked like a fun trip...

http://tinyurl.com/oehqw

Hope this helps...
Debi