great minimoon ideas!!

after our october wedding we would like to go away for a few days since we won't go on our honeymoon until christmas break (hawaii )
i'm looking for a really nice place, either a hotel/resort or B&B, perhaps with a spa, great dining, entertainment is not necessary. we will be living in NJ then so montauk would be a bit far. i'm thinking of the hudson river valley or the poconos possibly. definitely not NYC (we're there every weekend). i've been researching online like crazy and can't seem to find anything!! caesars in the poconos is a big cheesy for us, but looks like fun! the emerson & mohonk montain house seem to be the only places that look appealing at all & they are super pricey.
any suggestions ladies?

Re: minimoon suggestions??

spel.
By any chance are you a teacher? I am getting married in November and probably not going on my honeymoon until December so we also wanted to do a mini moon. Let me know what you come up with. We were also thinking a B& B.

Re: minimoon suggestions??

yes!
it has been interesting trying to plan around the school calendar!
i love the fall & was set on getting married in october, unfortunately the next vacation is christmas!
i'm actually looking forward to having some time to relax & unwind before the honeymoon.

Re: minimoon suggestions??

We are also thinking of a mini-moon. We live on LI, we were thinking maybe a weekend in Boston or something.

Re: minimoon suggestions??

I don't have any suggestions, but you might find something in Vermont

Re: minimoon suggestions??

TRy New New England its beautiful. Mystic, CT NeWport RI

Re: minimoon suggestions??

I was gonna say Mohonk Mountain. My MOH went there and said it was so romantic and beautiful.

I would also check the Connecticut area.

Re: minimoon suggestions??

The Marriott in Mystic Ct has an Elizabeth Arden Spa. The Split Rock resort in PA looks nice (We have been talking about going there) - they have cottages with fireplaces, etc that look very romantic.

Re: minimoon suggestions??

I am doing the SAME thing. My date is 9/26/03 but where we want to go for our honeymoon it's PEAK hurricane season so I think we will delay it until Nov. For our mini moon we were thinking Martha's vineyard or R.I,. They have tons of beautiful B&B's in New England.

Re: minimoon suggestions??

thanks christine, i'll check out your ideas!

Re: minimoon suggestions??

My best friend and her husband are also teachers and did the same thing. They went to Vegas for a couple of days but if you're not interested in a 5 hour flight, New Hope, PA is supposed to be a really nice place - one of my BMs goes to a b&b there every december.

Re: minimoon suggestions??

I have a great idea for you!!!! Consider the Castle at Tarrytown. It is a beautiful romantic castle overlooking the Hudson River. It only has 31 rooms so It is totally quaint. The service is 5 star.

You might also enjoy Vermont- by Dover which is about an hour east of Albany. There is a wonderful romantic inn with a fireplace called The Inn at Saw Mill. I love it!!! Depending pn the time of year, you could go skiiing, ice-skating, horsebackriding, shopping at the outlets malls, fishing, swimming, take a boat outon this gorgeous 20 miles lake.... I love it!!!

Re: minimoon suggestions??

FI and I went to the Poconos for a long weekend. As cheesy as the round beds and heart-shaped tubs are, we had an awesome time!!!! All of the food and activities are included in the price.

Good Luck!!!!!

Re: minimoon suggestions??

I also went to Caesar's and yes it does sound cheesy but it is a great place. All activities are included and what you get in the rooms you will pay double at a hotel plus adding on activities. We have been there three times!

What about Montauk? We love it there. You could go to Gurney's which I believe has a spa and someplace else I can't remember the name at this moment. Never been to Gurneys but heard it is really nice.

Re: minimoon suggestions??

Spel,

Caesars Poconos Resort - Paradise Stream is my favorite! I've been going there for years! It is one place I always can relax & enjoy myself. FH says we will always go there for our minimoons each year. It really is a great place. Small & intimate. They have things to do if you like or you can do nothing. The rooms are great. My favorites are the Apples or the Champagne Towers. The food is fabulous!!!

great minimoon ideas!!

thanks to the ladies here & lots of searching on the internet, i've found some great places!
i was looking for romantic, nearby (but not too close), great food, perhaps a fireplace, whirlpool tub, spa.
some are in fabulous little towns, some are in the middle of nowhere. some are super elegant, some rustic.
keep in mind, many of the room rates INCLUDE at least one meal (sometimes dinner too).
so here's what i've found, let me know what you think!
The Spa at Norwich Inn- Connecticut
The Inn at Saw Mill Farm- Vermont
Sea Crest by the Sea- Jersey Shore
Lambertville House- NJ
My favorite! The Castle at Tarrytown- NY
French Manor- Poconos
Marriott & Elizabeth Arden Spa- Mystic, CT.
The Sterling Inn- Poconos
Split Rock Resort- PA
Caesars Poconos Resorts
Montauk Manor- beautiful place!!
Gurney's inn & spa- Montauk

Re: great minimoon ideas!!

Wow spel, thanks for all that research. I live right near the Tarrytown house. I was their last year for a Bar Mitzvah. It is really nice. I am not too sure how much there is to do there though.

Re: great minimoon ideas!!

Mystic is Great. I cant imagine the spa being anything but wonderful. Mystic is very romantic in itself. With lots of little things to do..

Re: great minimoon ideas!!

Spel that is a great list. Also I just wanted to let you know that Caesars Resorts do have fire places in the rooms as well as whirlpool hottubs. Some rooms also have pools, saunas & massage tables with heat lamps over them. The rates include all you can eat breakfast & dinner. It really is a wonderfully romantic place! FH & I go at least once a year.

Re: great minimoon ideas!!

Thanks for the info! You even included links - you're the best!