Need weekend destination within approximately 3 hours of Long Island
 

I am interested in finding a good weekend- Friday through Sunday- destination for just the girls. Since it is just a wekend, it needs to be close- either within 3 hours driving distance or a short inexpensive flight from MacArthur airport. We are hoping to go the third weekend in June.

Spring Lake, NJ-Breakers Hotel
Cooperstown, NY-Otesaga Hotel
Madison, CT-Madison Beach Hotel
Litchfield County, CT-Maybe the Boulders in New Preston, CT
Williamstown, MA-The Orchard Hotel

You don't give any hints about budget, your ages or what you'd like to do (hike, shop, sit on a beach, go antiquing) so in the absence of that info:

The North Fork (Greenport, Jamestown)
Shelter Island
Montauk
Old Saybrook, Ct. (Saybrook Point Inn & Spa)
NYC (spend a weekend in one of the suite hotels, shop, see a show)
Greenwich, Ct.

If you consider Spring Lake, NJ, scratch the Breakers and stay at the Hewitt Wellington...much, much nicer!

Thank you for your replies. We would like a relaxing weekend. A pool/beach would be great. A spa would be even better. Some nightlife might be nice, as well, but is not esential.

We would like to go off Long Island if possible. I love Shelter Island but my friend is not into nature. We would like to keep the cost of accommodations to $250/night if possible. We are a bit flexible on that.

I don't know that it would fit your budget but Sunset Beach in Shelter Island is right across from the beach, very relaxing, very good restaurant which is THE nighlife on Shelter Island and you'd have all the places in the Hamptons a short ferry ride away. No need to be a nature lover, just a beach lover. I think $250/night for a summer weekend is going to be tough at a nice place. Do look at the hotels in Greenwich Ct. You could take the Port Jefferson ferry over if you're near there.

Thank you.

What about Newport RI? Maybe closer to 4 hours but worth it. Check out Castle Hill, Hotel Viking or the Marriott Goat Island, I believe they all have spas.

What the heck. Throw all financial cares to the winds and go to The Mayflower Inn in Washington, CT. World class, pool, spa, restaurant etc.

Atlantic City-spas, pools, nightlife, within 3 hrs drive.

Not a bad idea. Your budget may work better there. http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/03/27...7Atlantic.html

Why don't you go to Block Island? There is a ferry from Montauk to BI.

http://www.vikingfleet.com/vikingnew...d=57&zoneid=15

We went there for a week every Summer while I was growing up. No big resorts, but a good assortment of hotels and nice beaches.

Although Atlantic City is not one of my favorite places, I also thought that it would fulfill our requirements at a price within our budget. However, when I mentioned this suggestion to my friend, she said she had 2 other weekends scheduled at AC within the mont. So, back to the drawing board.

Mike, Block Island was also my next thought. I have to look into the ferry schedule and see about the cost of accommodations there. I have never been to Block Island, and have been wanting to go so, hopefully, this suggestion will work out.

If anyone has another suggestion, though, I am certainly open to it.

Thanks to all of you who have shared your ideas!

Another option would be to take the ferry from Orient Point to New London, which puts you within range of the Connecticut casinos, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, as well as Mystic and Stonington Borough. Another hour from there and you're in Newport.

What about Chicago? It is within the three hour travel requirement via Southwest and has all of the things you are looking for.

Southwest has a $99 dollar flight one way. There's a spa at Nordstroms on Mag mile that's nice and plenty to do and see in a weekend within your budget.

I am not a Block Island fan. I know a lot of people are but....there's nothing to do there (imo)! Most b & b's/inns stay in business doing weddings and in June, IF you can find a room, you'll probably fall into a wedding party. Most places have no a/c. It's beach and kayaking and that's it. No shopping, spas, nada. I don't see the appeal vs Shelter Island for a girls' weekend, esp. for someone who goes to Atlantic City!

http://nymag.com/travel/guides/52weekends/

If you'd consider flying, Southwest does last minute pkg deals air/hotel. Right now, all they list are thru the 17th so you'd need to wait a bit for the weekend you want, but you can have a look at what's on offer including Reno and Las Vegas, some for as little as $100/person for air & 3 nights hotel.

I'd opt for a hotel in Greenport, NY on the North Fork of Long Island and use that as my base to hit the wineries out that way.

We've stayed a couple of times at the Greenporter and liked the combination of old motel feel with an updated design.

If you wanted to go to Shelter Island or across Shelter Island to the Southfork the ferry leaves right from the town of Greenport.

Depending on the traffic, 3 hours could put you in the Bronx. ; )

Using the same ferry from the end of Long Island you could get to Boston in 3 hours. Lots to do in Boston - good food, shopping, art museums, history, spas etc etc.

that is a good idea bennnie