Halfway point for girl's weekend - NY/MA?
 

I live in MA and am trying to find a halfway place to meet a friend for a weekend.

She lives in NJ - Summit - and I live in MA - Newburyport.

We thought CT might be a good halfway point, but I have no clue what would be a good getaway.

We are looking for the typical girl stuff to do - shopping, eating, and above all a safe place, as we will be two women alone.

Could anyone provide any ideas of towns to look at?

There are a lot of options in CT. Are you plannning an overnight stay? You could meet at the shore and shop at the premium outlets in clinton. There are many places to stay depending on your budget-- Saybrook point inn, waters edge, norwich spa-- all 3 of those places have spas. Great places to eat as well, depending on where you choose and your budget.

I wanted to just rephrase- when i said great places to eat, i meant around those areas, not necessarily AT those places-- i.e. i am not a fan of the food at waters' edge, but love cafe Routier nearby...

I live in NYC and actually did this twice with my cousin who lives in Westford, MA. The first time we met in the Berkshires and stayed in a B and B in Great Barrington. We had a great time. The second time, we met in the Old Lyme, Conn area and pretty much did the same thing. We had a good time, but there wasn't as much to do as in MA (I should add that both times was in the off season and there weren't any spas when we did this). The restaurants in the Berkshires were wonderful and there were interesting little shops. I've been to the outlets in Clinton and I don't recall anything upscale or special.

The Outlets at Clinton aren't as good as the one in New York, but they're not bad. They have an Off5th, polo, gap, bcbg, Barneys... here is the link: http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=12.

Thanks.

From my research so far, it seems, Essex, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, East Haddam are midpoint.

We are planning at least one overnight, maybe two.

Looking to spend no more than $250 a night if possible.

A place with a restaurant at the inn we stay at, or within walking distance would be great so that we can have a glass of wine and catch up without worrying about driving after dinner at night.

The BEST place to meet although a little further for your friend is The Cranwell in Lenox. Shhh, don't tell anyone! I live in CT but have friends in MA, NY and NJ who meet annually at this gorgeous resort and spa, right near funky Lenox, MA and if you're into it, the outlets in Lee. For a weekend, we bring tons of food and some of us venture out to shop and go xc skiing while others prefer to stay and do spa treatments and work out and just chill. Rooms are gorgeous. Do it! Cranwell dot etc.

Essex and Old saybrook are very nice, but i don't think you want old lyme (more of a residential beach community). Depending on what time of year you go, you might be able to get a room at The waters edge for 250, but eat at cafe routier (not cheap, but really good food). It is 5 minutes away if that. The Griswold Inn in essex is a fun and a good place to go for decent food and some music and a fun atmposphere. I've never stayed there, but they do have rooms. There are some other places to eat walking distance in essex as well. Essex is a really quaint town with some cute shops, but not a true "shopping" town. (it does have an eliza B outlet though!), but as stated you could always drive to clinton to shop.

I get the impression that you're not into spa, but if you are the Spa at Norwich inn is great and you could get a room for under 300 there- maybe even 250. Their restaurant is very good- and Mohegan sun is 5 minutes away if you're into that.

Three different suggestions for when the weather turns to spring.
#1 Providence Rhode Island in May when the Historic Preservation Society puts on it's annual house/garden tour. Providence is a wonderful city for strolling, dining, doing art galleries/museums, and the house tour is usually fabulous. There are some great historic B&B's in the city and the restaurant scene is tops.

#2 Brimfield, MA during the Antiques market in early May. Miles and miles and miles of wonderful antiques and collectibles - great fun. Good hotels and B&Bs in nearby Sturbridge.

#3 Block Island, RI - take a short ferry ride from Pt. Judith over to Block Island and you'll feel like you've stepped back in time to a Victorian seafront community.

Have fun!

wanderer1 - you could also meet out in the Hamptons or Shelter Island. Believe it or not, its very easy to get to from Newburyport. You will just have to drive to New London (495S to 290 to 395S)and take the Cross Sound Ferry over to the North Fork. From there depending on your destination on Long Island, you take another ferry or two. But I've down it several times as I live near Newburyport and my brother has a house in the Hamptons.

Like marcommon's idea of the Berkshires, Lenox, etc. or those suggesting Mystic Seaport.

If you were going to meet twice, I'd say take turns -- do the Storm King stuff and then do the Rockport/Gloucester stuff.

My suggestions depend on the time of year for your get-together. If the weather is mild, consider Newport, RI. There are a lot of B & B's and a range of inns & hotels; historic mansion tours from the gilded age; some nice shopping, galleries, and antique-browsing; good dining; and basically a nice atmosphere. However, the place is best from spring through fall, since you'll want to be outdoors much of the time.

...but other Fodorites have good suggestions for places in Connecticutt and RI.

Newport is the best option. Probably a longer drive for her, but it is the best option for what you want.

There are plenty of options in terms of B&Bs.

BTW, I live in the town next to Summit. If you're planning this for a Friday in the summer, she really wants to be past New Haven by the time rush hour starts.

The drive from here to Newport should be about 4 hours. However, if she hits traffic at the wrong time on I95, it could take her 3 hours just to get past New Haven.

Yes, I love Newport and also Western MA, however, that didn't seem quite fair as I think it is quite a bit farther for my friend to travel.

Thanks everyone for the ideas!

Hit the response to soon, the one option that might cross your mind, or be suggested, is either Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun. Immediately banish them from your thoughts on this trip. They are awful places.

Mystic might be another to consider.

Much depends on when you plan to meet.

Hartford is almost halfway, where there is lots to see and do. Several theaters, concert venues, terrific restaurants and coctail lounges. Small and walkable, there's also a free shuttle bus that circles the city (except Sundays).

See http://www.enjoyhartford.com/

You can download a 75 page pdf brochure chock full of information.

In the nicest weather, somewhere along the coast would be idea, but you'd want to pick lodging walkable to a great restaurant/bar or within.

The Berkshires are terrific, but pricey "in season".

Newport, RI, tell her you'll pick up a lunch/dinner, or take the long way around from Newburyport....it has everything you guys would be looking for, New Yorkers tend to handle longer drives anyway;)

Or, see if an Amtrak train would work for her, you could pick her up/drop her off at the South Kingston Station (it's 1/2 hour from Newport)

Ryan, they are not awful places if one likes casinos! Now I don't think that they are what Wanderer had in mind, either, but they are a convenient meeting place. When I was living in North Jersey I once met a friend who was living outside of Boston at Foxwoods for the day. Now the main attraction for us was the ease of getting a bus there, as neither of us drives.
That said, we had a good time, and the place gets full points for being able to feed a vegan with a minimum of trauma. She had never been in a casino before, and was very surprised by how beautifully decorated it was (and that she could actually get something to eat). I have been back, and have always been happy with the restaurants and atmosphere.

Persimmon,
I like casinos. I'd be in Vegas once a month if I could. Which is why I think both Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods are bad imitations.

Different from Vegas, certainly. And probably not a great place for serious gambling. However they do a really good job with food and you don't have to fly to get there (at least if you're on the East Coast). I also stand by the idea that it's a convenient halfway point between New Jersey and Massachusetts. However, I don't want to hijack wanderer's thread, particularily since I don't think she's seriously contemplating them as an idea.

No, not really (the casinos).

So the short list is now Lenox/Stockbridge MA, Essex CT, and Newport, RI.

What is "off-season" in the berkshires?

Thanks to the person who suggested Amtrak for Newport. That would be an easy way to do it (I would think) and if it were me, I'd do that over driving.

Does anyone have any thoughts on Chester, CT?

p.s. Which would be better to stay - Lenox or Stockbridge?

I don't think there really is an off-season in the Berkshires, but my sister went to school in Great Barrington, and I would find myself there at all times of year, so I may have an odd perspective. I have no opinion on Lenox, but Stockbridge is always nice.

There are more places to stay and more shops and restaurants in Lenox. Lenox and Stockbridge are only 7 miles apart.

Edith Wharten's estate and gardens are a fantastic place to visit.

Williamstown is also very nice. The Clark Institute is magnificent.

Rates for accomodations will increase significantly when Tanglewood gets underway.

Playing on emcash's comments... I love quiant little westbrook with the best restaurant no one knows about Cafe Routier. Westbrook also has a terrific little B&B called the Captain Stannard house. And the outlets in Clinton and westbrook have a lot to offer.

I think "on season" for the Berkshires equates to when Tanglewood is in session. So I would say the high season is roughly July 4th-Labor Day. Most of the other artistic offerings overlap with this (Williamstown Theater Festival, Shakespeare Company, Jacobs ladder, Berkshires Chamber Music festival, Theater at the Mount).

you might be surprised at how close to equal the driving time is. Driving up to Western MA from NYC doesn't take as long as I thought, when you come up the Taconic. It will be apretty drive for your friend, too.

chester is very cute, but very small.
I think your other choices would offer more to do, and more options for shopping, dining, etc.

As others have pointed out, Amtrak does not go straight to Newport, it just goes to Providence or Kingston.

Both have their advantages. Not all trains stop at Kingston, which is a tiny, old-fashioned country station near the University of Rhode Island campus. (It's so scenic, Richard Gere is currently shooting a movie there.)
So yes, it's closer to Newport, but you might actually have an easier time arranging transportation from Providence. RIPTA buses leave from Kennedy Plaza, which is a safe five minute walk across Waterplace Park from the Amtrak station. The bus takes about an hour, right down Route 95. (By car it's about 45 mins.)

Or meet in Providence, have a drink/coffee/meal, the mall with parking is right across the street, right off the highway (95), then go off together. You can also take a ferry from Providence to Newport. It takes, I think, an hour and a half? Leaves from the ferry landing downtown. You'd need to catch a short cab ride across town.

You could probably arrange a car, or pick her up in Kingston (if you go to uri.edu, I'm sure there's a map of transport in the area, maybe even bus and cab information for students and visitors). You wouldn't get lost: Just follow Route 138 between Kingston and Newport.

It just depends on what you're comfortable with.

Mystic Connecticut is only 110 miles south of Boston (1hr 35 minute drive). It has quaint little shops like Main Street USA but also about dozen restaurants/bars/pubs. There is a Seaport, beaches, etc. There is the Foxwoods Casino 25 minutes in one direction and Mohegan Sun Casino 20 minutes in the other direction. Mohegan Ithink is better, not just for gambling, but for nightlife/clubs/shopping restaurants/concerts/shows/sporting events. There are also 2 Factory Outlet Malls about 40 minutes south of Mystic. One has outlets for stores like Levis/Reebok/Bali/Fila the other outlet is for designer stuff like Versace/Hilfiger/Donna Karen/D&G/ etc.