Destination: Getaway! 12 Dreamy Spots To Escape NYC for a Weekend

Trade the concrete jungle for mountains or beaches for a few days.

Billy Joel was right when he sang some folks like to get away, take a holiday from the neighborhood. While some might hop a flight to Miami Beach or Hollywood, there are plenty of places closer to home if you find yourself needing a break from the hustle and bustle of New York City and take a trip—which brings us to the best weekend getaways from NYC.

With destinations like the Hudson Valley, Catskills, North Fork, Hamptons, Fire Island and Shelter Island, a dreamy weekend getaway is a lot closer than you think. Spots outside the Empire State in Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts are also accessible by car, train or a quick flight for easy weekend trips.

To inspire your next weekend getaway, we've rounded up over 10 dreamy places to escape the Big Apple.

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12 Best Weekend Getaways from NYC

1. Wildflower Farms

Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection is a luxurious nature-inspired retreat in upstate New York. The 140-acre resort, less than two hours away from New York City, is home to over 60 free-standing cabins, cottages and suites, as well as a spa, cooking school and the retreat's signature restaurant Clay. Complimentary daily rituals include farm sessions and wellness classes. Wildflower Farms, which opened in 2022, was designed "to facilitate meaningful encounters with nature" making it an ideal escape for individuals looking to splurge on a weekend away from the concrete jungle. Auberge Resorts Collection also has properties in Newport, Rhode Island—The Vanderbilt—and in the town of Washington, Connecticut—The Mayflower Inn & Spa—both just hours from the Big Apple and equally beautiful.

Related: Where To Stay in the Sunshine State—27 Best Resorts in Florida, From Disney to Key West

2. Urban Cowboy Lodge

Located in the heart of the Catskills is Urban Cowboy Lodge. The 28-room boutique hotel is a 2.5 hour drive from NYC. While there is no spa, guests can take a plunge in the swimming hole, steam in the Estonian sauna or enjoy a forest bath in one of the lodge's soaking tubs. Urban Cowboy Lodge, recommends driving to the remote location, since car services or taxis do not consistently service the area. The hotel is billed as "an oasis for travelers, dreamers and romantics." Prepare to truly disconnect, since the hotel does not have cell phone service.

3. Twin Farms

Twin Farms is an all-inclusive retreat in Barnard, Vermont. Guests can stay in one of the country hideaway's large suites in the main house or cottages that are built for two. Described as an "adults-only culinary destination," Twin Farms is a menu-less dining experience. Meals are customized per guest preferences. The Relais & Châteaux property is about a five-hour drive from New York City, but should you choose to fly, there are complimentary ground transfers to and from Burlington International Airport, Manchester Regional Airport and Lebanon Airport.

4. Eastwind Oliverea Valley

Eastwind Oliverea Valley debuted in January 2023. The boutique hotel in the Catskill Mountains boasts 27 Scandinavian-inspired accommodations. The property offers sunrise yoga sessions, creative seasonal workshops and complimentary bikes along a nature path, and features a pool, sauna and a refined food and beverage program. “The sentiment of Hygge, the Scandinavian word meaning a sense of contentment and coziness, drove the design of Eastwind Oliverea Valley," Eastwind Co-founder and Creative Director Julija Stoliarova has said. "Think spacious common areas with large windows for natural light, high ceilings, clean minimalistic lines, and earth tones to complement the surrounding landscape."

5. Rose Hill Vineyards & Inn

Ninety miles outside of NYC is Rose Hill Vineyards, which has a bed and breakfast located on its sustainable vineyard. The Rose Hill Inn in Mattituck, NY offers a complete country breakfast, complimentary wine tasting and charcuterie, in addition to a welcome glass of wine and 10 percent of wine purchases. The bed and breakfast in the heart of Long Island’s North Fork "places a premium on sustainability, choosing the most environmentally friendly products, and making the best choices when it comes to a green future," per the inn.

Related: Make a Splash With the Kids Any Time of Year—Here Are the 16 Best Indoor Water Parks in the U.S.

6. Woodstock Inn & Resort

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Road trip up to Woodstock, Vermont to spend a weekend at the Woodstock Inn & Resort. The luxury resort is owned by the Woodstock Foundation, which was founded by Laurance and Mary Rockefeller. The rooms at the picturesque inn are said to express Laurance's "love of nature and historic preservation." At the Woodstock Inn & Resort, guests can unwind at the spa or engage in a variety of activities like mountain biking trails, golf, fly-fishing, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Complimentary shuttles are available to take guests to "popular locations."

7. Piaule Catskill

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Piaule Catskill is about a two-hour drive north of Manhattan. Guests can enjoy different experiences at the hotel in Catskill, NY, including a wine dinner, sound bath, massages and yoga. The 50-acre property features a restaurant, spa and wellness center, pool, hiking trails and complimentary wireless internet, but no TVs! The landscape hotel notes that "if you want to experience the earth's four seasons, this is the place."

8. Canoe Place Inn & Cottages

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Head out east to the Hamptons. Canoe Place Inn & Cottages, located in Hampton Bays, is the "site of America’s oldest inn." Guests can book a stay in one of the historic property's inn rooms, inn suites or cottages. Complimentary towels, chairs and umbrellas are available to hotel guests, in addition to complimentary beach parking permits for seven beaches. Those staying at the hotel can also take advantage of courtesy vehicles, which will travel within a six-mile radius of the hotel. The hotel's pool is open daily for guests and yoga and pilates are offered in the pavilion.

9. INNESS

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Leisure activities await guests at the INNESS in upstate New York. Guests will find a nine-hole golf course, two hardcourt tennis courts and two saltwater pools at the hotel "where minimalist meets rustic." A spa and gym are set to debut in fall 2023. Set on 220 acres, INNES, which has 28 cabins and 12 rooms in a farmhouse, is described as "an inspired country retreat - where cultivated meets wild." According to the INNESS, most "cabin and farmhouse rooms are situated to feature captivating mountain views."

10. Life House Nantucket

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The idyllic island of Nantucket, Massachusetts is less than a 1.5-hour flight from New York City. Situated on one of the highest points on the island is the charming Life House Nantucket. Set to reopen in late April 2023, the coastal cottage, which features a garden terrace, fire pit and communal living room, was designed as "a nonchalant innkeeper’s eclectic escape that reflects her flair for cultivating the island’s native botany and practicing holistic wellness."

Related: Bridgerton-Inspired Vacation Spots Where You'll Feel Like a Member of the Regency Era 

11. The Chequit

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Between the North and South Forks is Shelter Island. Visitors can take the Jitney or Long Island Railroad to Greenport and from there take the ferry to Shelter Island. The Chequit is home to The Tavern, and offers standard rooms, large rooms and suites. On the island, guests can play golf at the Shelter Island Country Club, a nine-hole public golf course, hit one of the beaches or explore the Mashomack Preserve.

12. The Brenton Hotel

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The Brenton Hotel is a boutique hotel on the corner of America’s Cup Avenue and Long Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island. The waterfront property, which opened in 2020, has 57 rooms and suites. The hotel, in partnership with Salt Spa, offers in-room services and has a 36’ Hinckley picnic boat that can be booked for private escapes and sunset sails. According to its website, "The Brenton redefines Gilded Age luxury, offering Newport travelers exclusive amenities, authentic experiences, state-of-the-art technology, and a level of service that makes each stay feel personalized and unique."

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