I would like to take my wife away for a few days for our anniverary next month. Can anyone please offer recommendations for a nice romantic getaway around 3-4 hours driving from NYC with some hiking and good places to eat, would like to keep the budget under $175/nite. Thanks!

Never been there but the Mohonk Mountain House has always intrigued me. You can get a book on B&B's in NY State and check some of those out as well.

hey caspur,
I am looking for something similar to.Our anniversary falls in a long weekend so we are looking to spend 3 days somewhere close to NYC. One option we are considering is to explore the hudson valley region.

Some good reading for both of you here

http://www.newyorkmetro.com/travel/guides/52weekends/03/onteora.htm

BTW, Mohonk will be much more than $175/nite but food's included, not necessarily a good thing.

http://www.americanstyle.com/Travel/Top_25_2001_Berkshires.html

This is our new getaway and there are many charming and romantic inns and B&B's.
From NYC to the exit on the Taconic is about 2/12 hours, then 3 total to the Mass/NY state line.
Lovely, historic towns, wandering streams, farms, mountains and great places to hike (BashBish Falls) really good places to eat.
We stayed in So Egremont last summer for a month, it might have been a little too hot and crowded then, but early summer can be wonderful. We are going up in June.
If you are interested I will send my recommendations for restaurants
Also-if you just want to go up the Hudson to Rhinebeck, 2 hours from NYC, my favorite places are the Beekman Arms and the Belvedere Mansion. Both have web sites. The town of Rhinebeck is lovely, there is a charming French bistro, Le Petit Bistro right across the street from the Beekman.
I can go on but won't without encouragement

Thanks for the ideas, I will check out the websites posted. Mohonk has been on our list for a while but it's not in our budget right now, maybe one of these days.

Scarlett - we actually went to bashbish falls last year and it was lovely. Rhinebeck may be an option, you also said the magic words 'French bistro' =)

We really wanted to go up to acadia np in Maine again, however the drive is a bit too long for a getaway.

Acadia might be too far, but southern Maine could be 4 hours away. Look into Portsmouth, NH; Kennebunkport or Ogunquit, Maine. This time next month wuld still be before the "season" but could be lovely. And it is indeed romantic along the coast.

Have you considered Newport, RI - there's nice B&Bs for under $110/nite w/gourmet breakfasts ... and the walk along the shore by the mansions is beautiful.

I vote for either the Rhinebeck area or Newport. I have spent alot of time in the Rhinebeck area and love it. The Beekman Arms is a great place. You might also poke around in the towns surrounding it for great antiquing. I quite enjoyed the tour of Valkil(Eleanor Roosevelt's "other house")
Newport is quite romantic. If you go..eat at Shells &Scales..it was quite possibly our favorite place to eat in Newport. Great seafood.

And..Coonnecticut around the sound. We stayed in Essex at the Griswold as part of the same trip including Newport. Liked the "Gris" alot.