Mother's Day Getaways: Leave the Kids
Henley Vazquez
Call in the sitter and fly the nest for a weekend of romance (or, let’s be honest, peace, quiet and day drinking) just a road trip from home.
From New York to Connecticut
Jump on the Taconic and head two hours north to the bucolic northwest corner of Connecticut.
STAY The White Hart Inn. A Salisbury mainstay since the 1800s, the inn reopened after a top-to-toe reno in September 2014 with 16 gorgeous rooms (most with four-poster beds) and a new restaurant under the helm of Brit chef Annie Wayte.
EAT Dinner at the inn's Dining Room or more casual Tap Room tavern is a must, so for lunch head just over the state line to Millerton and snag a booth at Oakhurst Diner for seriously tasty, and curiously healthy, diner fare. Macrobiotic plate anyone?
DO Drive north for a morning's antiquing in Great Barrington or Sheffield, MA; hit the great outdoors along Appalachian Trail or on a hike to Monument Mountain; or go for a his-and-hers racing session at Lime Rock Park.
From Los Angeles to Palm Springs
Swap the city for the desert and join the cool kids at a new adults-only hideaway in south Palm Springs.
STAY Sparrows Lodge. A little hippy, a lot hipster, Sparrows Lodge is a frill-free retreat made for lounging by the pool, drinking by the fire pit and ogling the surrounding San Jacinto Mountains from your private patio.
EAT Book in advance for dinner at upscale Copley’s, located inside Cary Grant’s former home, or split the delicious large format dishes at the all-seasonal Workshop Kitchen and Bar.
DO Take a drive out to the magical Joshua Tree National Park, or hit the trails along the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. For a culture dose, tour the Palm Springs Art Museum or new Architecture and Design Center.
From San Francisco to Big Sur
Wind down the PCH and set a seriously romantic scene with a clifftop stay in Big Sur.
STAY Ventana Inn. Big Sur’s romantic clifftop resort for adults only, with standalone cedar cabins, alfresco hot tubs, an art gallery, two pools (one where clothing is optional) and quintessential views of the craggy coastline and crashing surf.
EAT Stay close by and book dinner with a view at cliffside Nepenthe, or at Post Ranch Inn’s Sierra Mar restaurant.
DO As little as possible — holing up en casa is the point here. If you go anywhere, make it the easy hiking trails in the nearby Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park or for sundowners on Pfeiffer Beach.
From Chicago to Door County, WI
Four hours and a world away from Chi-Town, settle in for a long weekend on Lake Michigan.
STAY Blacksmith Inn on the Shore. This cozy, B&B has all the romantic trappings, including four-poster beds, fireplaces, water views and hammock-strung balconies (in some). Go for the newer Harbor House rooms for extra privacy and a more modern look.
EAT Snag a lakeside table at grill restaurant Fred & Fuzzy’s or go for creative Midwest fare at family-run, the Cookery.
DO Explore Lake Michigan on a two-hour boat charter with Bella Sailing Cruises or escape to uninhabited Rock Island for challenging hikes and beautiful lake views.
From Washington, DC to Alexandria, VA
For the time poor, make it a staycation in historic Alexandria, VA, just 20 minutes outside the city center.
STAY Morrison House. In a renovated Federal-style mansion off King Street, the vibe is intimate and grown-up.
EAT In the transforming northwest of Old Town, book in advance for a table at Mason Social and splurge on the decadent burger with bone marrow butter.
DO Hit the shops along King Street and its quieter side streets, then bike the Mount Vernon trail to George Washington’s childhood home.
From Boston to Provincetown, MA
Beat the summer crowds and book an early-season stay at the new Eben House in Provincetown.
STAY Eben House. Formerly the Fairbanks Inn, the design-forward B&B reopens with fully revamped rooms and a new conservatory this month.
EAT Don’t miss the lobster rolls at Canteen and reserve one night for seafood favorites and great wine at Joon Bar and Kitchen.
DO Go before September for a chance to see the migrating humpback whales on a whale-watching tour, or take a kayak trip to Long Point with local outfitters Venture Athletics.