We are trying to plan a romantic weekend for two people who are active people but will be needing a break soon! We would like to get them out of NYC on a Friday evening in October/November and back home by Sunday night. Any suggestions? Really need to plan this soon as we don't live near NY and need to co-ordinate with people there to ensure surprise for travelling couple.

Mohonk House in New Paltz is the most beautiful, romantic place within 2 hours of NYC. I believe it's called Mohonk "house", although I'm not positive. It is pretty expensive, but I believe some meals are included. IT is unbelievably beautiful!

It is called Mohnk Mountain House. The website is http://www.mohonk.com/

This is exactly the kind of place I am looking for! Thank you both!!

If anyone else has this kind of suggestion, I would be very appreciative! It doesn't have to be a "drive from NY" could be a short flight too.

Again, thanks to Susan and rqf! This is the kind of place I probably wouldn't be able to find myself!!!

Try checking the website at http://www.site59.com/ I just read a reference to it recently in a travel article and it might have some great ideas. They're consolidators for last minute weeeknd travel. If you can spring this on them only a few weeks in advance of departure you might get a great deal. The packages typically include airfare and hotel but in some cases (as in resorts) meals or a car are also included. At the least you may get some good ideas but the prices I saw were very good.

I did a search here based on the name "Mohonk" and saw some very old postings saying this is more of a family place - not at all a romantic place for couples and that the food wasn't very good - there was just lots of it.

Can anyone confirm of deny? Also any other suggestions for an upscale place within a 2-3 hour drive from NYC would be appreciated.

Try the Mayflower Inn in Washington, CT - I have never been there but have heard wonderful things about the rooms and about the restaurant. Supposedly trés romantic. Chester, CT is also a romantic little town - Inn at Chester is beautiful and the food at their restaurant is delicious. There's another wonderful restaurant in Chester, Restaurant du Villages.

Probably they've been out to the Hamptons, but you might also try East Hampton: the Maidstone Arms, James Lane Inn, and J Harper Poor Cottage are all beautiful, they're all within walking distance of town, have great restaurants. And, they could just get on the train in NYC for a 2 1/2 hour ride out east.

L

Mohonk is fun for the Victorian style rambling nature of the place, but I would not recommend it. The rooms are usually very cramped and the food is mediocre. I would recommend a b&b in Cape May. There are great restaurants there, and it's romantic. Another option would be a b&b in the New Hope area. Also, Old Drovers Inn in Dover Plains NY is a 250 year old very romantic inn with a great restaurant. I'd also get them reservations for the Culinary Institute for another meal, and suggest hiking at Innisfree in Milbrook

Thanks Steve and Lizzie. I am cheking out some of these places now. They look pretty good! It's so hard to do this for a place you are not familiar with without the help of people like you both!

I just have to comment on the food at Monhonk. I went for lunch a few months ago and thought it was fabulous. It has a definite emphasis on vegetable and low fat dishes, which is what I like, so if you're looking for heavy meat dishes with cream sauces, it doesn't fit the bill. I also loved the atmosphere of the place. The grounds were beautiful; lots of hiking trails that are on the hotel property as well as other state trails. I haven't stayed there, but just enjoyed the grounds and food.

How about Newport, Rhode Island? A little over 2 hrs away from NYC, great restaurants, charming town, shops, walks along the cliff walk, a drive along ocean drive, another walk on a deserted (at that time of year) beach. Tour a mansion. Also, there will be several nitelife options available for Saturday night. Granted, Newport isn't some quaint little town in the mountains, but I've always felt it was one of the east coast's best "date" towns.

Larry, I ran across Newport when looking at the other places. Can you recommend any "upscale" hotels or inns?

A great website for Newport inns and b&bs is http://www.gonewport.com. Newport is a wonderful town - tons of great restaurants and bars. Unfortunately, I have no inns to recommend - only one in which I'd recommend NOT staying, but can't remember the name.