Spring road trips beckon, and these heavenly escapes are easy drives from Boston.
The Aurora Inn living room
The calendar waits for no one. Despite the chilly tug of March, we know warmer, longer days are coming. Which is why we’ve assembled a roundup perfect for planning weekend escapes—from an impressive new spa in the Finger Lakes to a recently christened hotel in the heart of Newport. Grab the keys; let’s go.
Inns of Aurora
Located in New York’s Finger Lakes region with views of Cayuga Lake, five distinctive inns and a mere 54 rooms fall under one lovely umbrella of luxe across several acres. New this spring is a 15,000-square-foot spa and healing center, which boasts an already impressive menu of wellness programs, including restorative yoga, meditation sessions and ayurvedic consultations. The new space offers four hydrotherapy pools, multiple meditation spaces, gender-neutral saunas and steam rooms, and 11 treatment rooms with warming fireplaces. The setting is impressive—above the village of Aurora—with lake views and access to nature trails framed by lavender fields. From $370 per night, 391 Main St., Aurora, N.Y., 315.364.8888, innsofaurora.com
Bedroom suites at the Zabriskie House, part of the Inns of Aurora
Brenton Hotel
This new property offers an architectural (and decidedly modern) Gilded Age twist on the harbor in Newport. With 57 rooms and suites—probably the most spacious in town—look for luxe finishes and an exceptional staff. Spring visits are a must for golfers, who can book the Brenton’s Proper 18 package: 18 holes at the renowned Newport National and, after a round, 18 oysters on ice and 18 ounces of local craft brew— all served at the hotel. Golf packages price upon request, waterfront bedroom suite from $654 per night, 31 America’s Cup Ave., Newport, R.I., 401.849.3100, brentonhotel.com
Newport’s new Brenton Hotel
Weekapaug Inn & Ocean House
Sure, it’s a summer coastal destination, but spring has its appeal at these Westerly, R.I., getaways, including nearly empty beaches and scenic roads (we love Routes 1A and 102). After checking into the Weekapaug, spend an afternoon outdoors with the staff naturalist, Teddy Beahm, for guided hikes, tide-pool strolls and engaging chats about the region’s diverse pond ecology. Down the road (and operated by the same hospitality group), the 15-Forbes-star Relais & Chateaux Ocean House awaits with a full itinerary for kids on spring break, including culinary classes, fishing instruction, croquet clinics and art and fitness classes. Weekapaug Inn, Carriage House Suite from $1,155 per night, 25 Spray Rock Road, Westerly, R.I., 401.637.7600, weekapauginn.com; Ocean House, Atlantic Suite from $1,360 per night, 1 Bluff Ave., Westerly, R.I., 401.584.7000, oceanhouseri.com
Weekapaug Inn offers lots of water activities
Hammetts Hotel
Opened last summer, this 84-room property is a nod to Newport’s historic mercantile wharves seen through the lens of a modern aesthetic. In addition to sleek rooms and suites, the springtime appeal is the hotel’s 9,000-square-foot deck that transforms into a guests-only outdoor living room—away from the foot traffic of the harbor’s Quarter Deck—once the weather warms. Art collectors, stop by the Sarah Langley Gallery, which is located on the hotel’s lobby level. Commerce Suite from $417 per night, 4 Commercial Wharf, Newport, R.I., 401.324.7500, hammettshotel.com
The living room-like deck at Hammetts Hotel, which opened last summer in Newport
Woodstock Inn & Resort
At this classic retreat, Vermont’s spring thaw delivers hundreds of acres to explore via hiking and biking trails at the nearby Marsh-Billings- Rockefeller National Historical Park. Additional lures include an 18-hole championship golf course, a 10,000-square-foot spa, fly-fishing outings, falconry and tennis. The resort’s culinary game is strong at The Red Rooster, as the kitchen team sources from New England watermen, artisans and farms to create dishes like pan-seared Atlantic halibut and slow-seared duck breast with white bean and root vegetable cassoulet. Legacy Suite from $630 per night, 14 The Green, Woodstock, Vt., 802.332.6853, woodstockinn.co
The bar at The Red Rooster
Photography by: The Inns of Aurora; Louis Walking III; The Brands
