My husband and I are looking for a special place to stay on the coast somewhere in the northeast. We will either be travelling mid-June or early July, or late August/September. I would like a beach or if a really nice place, a pool. Most importantly the accommodations should be nice. My husband and I can hole up in a room and play cards, work puzzles or read books. We also like to hike and sightsee but this trip we would just like to relax. I would like to stay in a quaint town with nice restaurants, enjoyable just to walk around. Expense: not important depending on the place. We are willing to splurge on a Four Seasons-like place or ideally pay less for a smaller establishment. The problem I have with the Four Seasons in most places is that there is little character, but I like the luxury when you are really wanting to relax and pamper yourself.

www.castlehillinn.com is the website for a resort inn on the ocean in Newport, RI. Some of their accommodations are cottages on the beach. And Newport is quaint, charming (although bustling in the summer), with great beauty, history, restaurants, walks, mansions.

There are two places that you might like both in the town of Chatham on Cape Cod.

The Wequassett Inn on Pleasant Bay and Chatham Bars Inn would both meet most of your needs.

Both have beach access and outdoor pools.

How about Cape May New Jersey? It is a quaint, seaside town with great restaurants and beautiful Victorian homes to tour.

Bar Harbor Maine.Bar Harbor manor is great.Large room-fireplace-big veranda and within walking distance of the village.Take a whale watching trip-visit the beautiful (only)National park (Acadia)in N.England.Paul

Actually Acadia is not the only National Park in New England. For a lovely relaxing time visit the other National Park in N. England at the Cape Cod National Seashore. www.nps.gov/caco The Park begins in Eastham at Fort Hill (that's where we always stay) and runs along the eastern coast to Provincetown. If you want a spacious, luxury cottage with ocean views and lots of character, including a great breakfast you might consider it. www.forthillbedandbreakfast.com The town of Orleans (just a few minutes from Eastham) has many fine restaurants and Eastham is just 20 minutes from Chatham, 10 minutes from Wellfleet and 25 minutes from Provincetown.