janie

After a summer of short weekend trips, I'm determined to find a place for a longer 4-5 day vacation next summer.
Must haves and "like to have"s:

Be in the northeast, no more than about 5-6 hours by car from NYC.

On a lake or other water for canoeing or kayaking.

Somewhat "all inclusive"--including meals or at least with good restaurant onsite that I'd want to eat in almost everyday. I want to go someplace and just hang out, not have to drive around for food and activities.

Priced around $400 night or less (inclusive of meals and activities)

50 rooms or less would be perfect
Not a big sprawling resort like Mohonk Mountain house.

It certainly doesn't have to be "adults only" but not a place that is well known for kids pools or activities(like Smuggler's Notch)

I am envisioning that there must be some nice places in the Adirondacks or the Finger Lakes in upstate NY, but anywhere withing driving range would be interesting to me.

janie

topping

travelbug44

Plenty of places in Lake George

Ike

Here Ya Go....$425.00 is pretty close to $400.00 but Owl's Head Cabin was real cozy when we visited.........

http://www.lakeplacidlodge.com/z-home.htm

janie

Ike,
Lake Placid Lodge certainly sounds like it has everything, but the rates really do add up.
After October 2007, Lowest price room is $515 PLUS "10% service charge, a 7.75% New York state sales tax, and a 3% Essex County room occupancy tax ".
Since it's without dinner, I'd need to add in another $100+ (for 2), so it's more like $700 plus per night.
*sigh*.
If I ever come into enough money, I'm headed to The Point!

travelbug44, any idea of specific places in Lake George area? I have no trouble coming up with nice regions to go to, only the specific places to stay!

travelbug44

I know some people that have spent time there, I will ask and try to get back to you.

travelbug44

Although I did not ask them for myself and spent one night in a place that I would not tell anyone about (clean but RUSTIC)

travelbug44

Janie, just called a friend ans she does not go to Lake George anymore, they bought a house instead. She did tell me about:
The Georgian Resort
Ft. William Henry Hotel
The Sagamore (anyone that has stayed here has raved.

Go to Trip Advisor and check them out

Good luck.

bm

Basin Harbor Club in Vermont? It might be a bit bigger than what you want though.

Ike

The Mayflower is 2 hours from NYC and certainly is a nice place. I don't think much water is close by though........

http://www.mayflowerinn.com/home_inn.shtml

Ike

My wife loves a spa. Mayflower has # 1 spa in US........Glendorn is nice but too high...........

http://www.glendorn.com/index.cfm

travelbug44

Ike, tho prices at this place are big time, I don't think OP was looking to go that price. But by gosh, it looks great, and the menus. yum

Ike

Here ya go......under $400.00 and 300 miles from NYC. Click on leisure activities for hiking, canoeing, etc.

http://www.pitcherinn.com/

Ike

Here ya go....4 hours away and close to water. Price is right........

http://www.perrycabin.com/web/omic/omic_a1a_splash.jsp

Ike

Nother good one........price is just right..........


http://www.innatthornhill.com/inn.html

janie

Thanks, Ike and others. I will look into your suggestions.

The problem I'm coming across is that there are many nice inns and spas (though I'm not the spa type) but I'm trying to find someplace with grounds to walk around, things to do onsite rather than getting into a car and finding 'nearby'-- a real "resort"

I guess there aren't as many of these around as there used to be or as I thought there would be? and maybe the price is part of the problem?

Ike

Janie.....it's about 470 miles and 7 houres from NYC and it has way more than 50 rooms but it has everything you ever wanted and more. I have been 3 times and can't wait to go back. Horseback riding, spa, medical clinic, ice skating, quail hunting, trout fishing, movie theater, great dining, shopping and more. Check it out some day. They have 3 golf courses and all kinds of walking/hiking trails. I walk 4 miles/day and really had a great time here while my wife was shopping and in the spa. On your way back stop for a night at Inn at Little Washington.

http://www.greenbrier.com/site/

Cicerone

I think that the Inn at Perry Cabin is really beautiful and that is such a gorgeous part of the US. You can kayak and sail around the inlets. I would say to look into that. Some other places to consider are:

Cape Cod has some lovely beach resorts. Try the Chatham Bars Inn at http://www.chathambarsinn.com and the Ocean’s Edge at http://www.oceanedge.com. These are going to be family-oriented, as are most of my reccos below, but IMO you can get away from this if you want. I don’t know the room size on any of these, although any hotel of less than 50 rooms is most likely not going to have more than 1 restaurant (if that) and may not offer a lot of activities on-site. Or may not be on the water, like the Inn at Montchanin Village in the Brandywine are of Delaware which is very nice with golf and other activities, but no water (www.montchanin.com).

Cooperstown, New York. Stay at the Otesaga Resort Hotel. It is a very nice resort hotel on the lake, take a look at http://www.otesaga.com. You can play golf of the hotel’s quite famous and challenging course, and of course baseball fans can go to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The town has a lot of antique shops and art galleries. Families do go there for reunions and weddings, but I believe you can get away from those sorts of organized kids stuff.

Consider Newport, Rhode Island which would offer the great mansions to see and the little town which is quite charming and there would be water activities as well as good beaches. I don't know of any resort-type hotels in the area, perhaps others can post. I know there is a Marriott on the waterfront with a pool. There are lots of charming B&Bs and then you can walk to restaurants, so there would not be a lot of driving.

I would also recommend Skytop Lodge in northeast Pennsylvania, a lovely old-fashioned family resort. (This is not one of those hear-shaped tub places, it is more like the Greenbrier or the Equinox.) There is a large lake for boating and a small lake for swimming, and also golf and other activities at the resort, including walking and hiking. I believe that the Appalachian trail, which runs through New Jersey, would be less than 15-20 miles away if you want serious hiking. Take a look at skytop.com. This would be about 2-3 from NYC. There are many families who having been going there for many generations, but I believe you could easily get yourself away from crowds.

The Delamar on the water in Greenwich, Connecticut. This would have some access to kayaking and beaches, not sure it is really the “resort” thing you want though. Nice little town of Greenwich with good restaurants and shopping, however. Go to http://www.thedelamar.com or slh.com. There may be other resorts along the Sound.

Wentworth by the Sea (Marriott) in New Castle, New Hampshire. This is on the ocean and has a marina, and is an old resort that has been completely refurbished. I have not been, but a friend of mine was just there as part of an East Coast vacation and really enjoyed it, so I thought it was worth mentioning. It is larger than you want, but may have all the other things you are looking for. It is on the little bit of Atlantic coast which New Hampshire has.

The Greenbrier or the Homestead are of course famous places that have been around for generations and probably have all you want, albeit they are going to be a further drive. I also believe they have more than 50 rooms. The Greenbrier is in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Go to http://www.greenbrier.com. The Homestead is in Hot Springs, Virginia. Take a look at http://www.thehomestead.com. Also love the idea of a meal and a stop at the Inn at Little Washingon (book ahead for dinner, esp if you want the chef's table see www.theinnatlittlewashington.co

Try LHW.com and SHL.com for other ideas.

janie

topping now (and after the weekend too) in case someone has found something great they want to let me in on!

Cissy

Without going out on line mystelf, check out New Hampshire. No sales tax. Many great resorts. The all inclusive might be difficult to find but I'm sure many have packages. Check Mt. Washington Hotel, Red Jacket in N. Conway or take a look at this website

visitnh.gov