4 Weekend Roadtrips to Soak Up the Fall Foliage
Autumn is one of the most breathtaking seasons to experience in this country. Here are four of the destinations that we like to visit when it comes to taking it...
Autumn is one of the most breathtaking seasons to experience in this country. Here are four of the destinations that we like to visit when it comes to taking it all in.
North Adams, MA Located about 3 hours west of Boston, North Adams is located in Berkshire County. Along with the beautiful scenery the area is a hub for higher education and art. Williams College is located just a few miles away and several world renowned museums reside in the area.
STAY- PORCHES INN
A group of beautifully restored 19th Century Victorian row houses is not only quaint, but extremely comfortable. Situated directly across the street from The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass Moca), this is the perfect base for your weekend. Key to staying at Porches is the year round heated pool. Absolutely magical during a winter snowstorm!
EAT- GRAMERCY BISTRO at Mass MOCA
Situated on the grounds of Mass MOCA, Gramercy Bistro serves light and eclectic fare from local sourced foods.
DO- MASSACHUSETTS CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM OF ART
A converted factory which opened its doors in 1986, MASS MoCA is one of the world’s liveliest centers for making and enjoying today’s most evocative art. With vast galleries and a stunning collection of indoor and outdoor performing arts venues, MASS MoCA is able to embrace all forms of art: music, sculpture, dance, film, painting, photography, theater, and new, boundary-crossing works of art that defy easy classification. There is something for everyone from art connoisseurs to families with small children.
The Clark is one of only a handful of institutions globally with a dual mission as an art museum and a distinguished center for research and higher education, dedicated to advancing and extending the public understanding of art. The collection of the Clark features European and American paintings, sculpture, prints,drawings, photographs, and decorative arts from the Renaissance to the early twentieth century. The collection is especially rich in French Impressionist and Academic paintings, British oil sketches, drawings, and silver, and the work ofAmerican artists Winslow Homer, George Inness, and John Singer Sargent.
Lancaster,PA Lancaster has been the heart of the Pennsylvania German community since the 18th century. And while many visitors assume the culture is all-things-Amish, the region is also home to religious orders such as the Mennonites. It’s this notion of the simple life, with horse-drawn buggies and farm-fresh food, that draws urbanites from the Eastern Seaboard. Lancaster is within a two-hour drive from Baltimore and Philly, within three from Washington, D.C. and within four from New York.
STAY- CORK FACTORY HOTEL
This cool converted cork and glass factory is the perfect spot to stay while taking in the local color. Attractive and comfortable, the hotel also boasts several restaurants and a fitness center.
EAT- MA(I)SON
This charming eatery not only employs traditional slow cooking techniques from the area but serves simple yet flavorful dishes with seasonal ingredients all sourced from local growers.
The country's oldest continuously open farmer's market, Central Market is a hub of constant hustle and bustle. With over 60 vendors selling meats, fish, produce, coffee and just about any edible that you can imagine. A stop at this market will surely be a highlight of your trip.
DO- ANTIQUES CAPITAL OF THE US
Antique shops, antique malls and antique dealers galore, this area of Pennsylvania is truly a antique collector's paradise.
Mystic, CT The charming seaside village of Mystic is home to the leading Maritime Museum and Seaport and a slew of New England's most popular tourists attractions. A visually stunning area to spend a weekend, this escape is one you will want to repeat.
STAY- SPICER MANSION
This commanding mansion built in 1853 was opened to the public as a luxury boutique hotel after years of meticulous renovation in May 2016. A Relais & Chateaux property, Spicer Mansion boasts elegant yet comfortable accommodations for guest 12 years old and up.
EAT- S&P OYSTER CO.
New England fare meets South American flavors at this upscale waterfront spot. Breathtaking river views accompany delicious seafood with a South American twist from Ecuadorean-born chef Edgar Cobena.
DO- MYSTIC SEAPORT & MARITIME MUSEUM
Mystic Seaport is the nation's leading maritime museum and one of the premier maritime museums in the world, founded in 1929. It is the home of four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, the oldest merchant vessel in the country. The museum's collections and exhibits include over 500 historic watercraft, a major research library and a large gallery of maritime art.
Take a leisurely stroll through streets dotted with distinctive buildings designed to represent a New England Village of about 1720. Olde Mistick Village is a picture perfect place for an afternoon of shopping and dining.
Bedford, NY Less than an hour north of the Big Apple, Bedford is not only home to General Knot, but also an area in Westchester County that is filled with culture and culinary destinations that will even entertain the most high maintenance of city dwellers.
STAY- BEDFORD POST INN
Known for its beautiful grounds, two unique eateries and state of the art yoga studio, The Bedford Post Inn, a Relais & Chateaux property is a sophisticated escape perfect for that special occasion get-away.
Owners Pete and Gretchen Menzies have created a warm and inviting cafe and market that is a must-stop during your weekend in the area. Mouthwatering sandwiches and baked goods made from locally sourced produce are one reason you should stop by but the relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff will keep you coming back. Grab a bite and then take a stroll around the Hamlet of Katonah which boasts charming shops and people watching.
Several years ago this rustic old inn built in 1833 was painstakingly restored using as many of the original materials as possible. Behind this renovation was Jean-Georges Vongerichten, world renowned chef and restauranteur. Cultivating a truly seasonal, farm-to-table cuisine, with ingredients sourced from the Hudson Valley and New England, whenever possible, the down-to-earth food and contemporary country feel makes the Inn at Pound Ridge a convivial, family friendly restaurant frequented by neighbors and tourists alike.
Founded over 60 years ago, the Katonah Museum of Art is one of the most celebrated small museums in the country. One of the current exhibitions on show is Matisse Drawings curated by Ellsworth Kelly.
The Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is a destination for exceptional music, captivating programs and spectacular gardens and grounds. World class musicians in the fields of classical, jazz and American roots and opera perform in various indoor and outdoor venues on the grounds.
Great article. And not just because you mention the Reading Room. I want to go to all of these places now. With a general knot tie on of course, so I look classy. Well, perhaps Pete should wear the tie.