3 Quick Weekend Getaways

3 Quick Weekend Getaways

Doesn’t really matter how much we heart Boston, we still find ourselves wanting to have an occasional escape, a romantic tryst, or just a plain ole change of scenery. Charge the car, borrow a friend’s or grab a Zipcar, but allow yourself the leave of absence – New England’s got thousands of places to flock to just hours away. Here are three perfect for spring.

 

FORE!

Shining Rock Golf Club, Northbridge, MA – just an hour drive

Time to get the clubs out of storage, polish up your spikes and head to the links. And not just any 18 holes – visit Shining Rock Golf Club in the Blackstone Valley, where the course is literally carved out of a granite canyon – how cool is that?! Apart from the natural landscape and rock formations, the golf course offers challenging par 4s and long par 3s, not to mention a spectacular grill, pro lessons and a parking lot to wash your clubs. If you’d like to make a weekend out of it, make reservations at the luxurious boutique Beechwood Hotel, where rest comes easy.

 

Art and Soul

Lots of places in New Haven, CT – just two hours by car

Looking for a little bit of culture, be it by art or music? Then New Haven is the place for you! Some of the best jazz thrives at Firehouse 12, and if you’re lucky – and I’m talking so lucky like the folks who happened upon an unannounced Rolling Stones gig – you should wander into Toad’s Place to see who’s playing. Because like I said, it could be an international rock legend, or a local band lucky enough to grace the stage. Whichever it is, it’s all good. There are also Tony Award-winning theaters, Yale University’s Louis Kahn designed art gallery, and its Center for British Art [maybe that’s what drew the Stones!]. If you’re getting hungry in between all this soul feeding, you must get to Archie Moore’s, where you’ll find the best wings ever and a lovely selection of beer on tap. Stay the night at The Study at Yale, where literature, art, music and design are its themes.

 

Food, Glorious Food!

Too many to mention, Portland, ME – a short two hour drive!

Where to start? Hmmm, definitely Silly’s. In fact, you know what, end there too. Where else can you have an Allagash in an ice cold tin cup, while noshing on sweet potato, spinach, roasted garlic, dried rosemary, caramelized onions, balsamic glaze and toasted almond flatbread at 10am? Exactly. Hugo’s on Fore Street, Duckfat, Five Fifty-Five – the list is endless in this very foodie town where the uninitiated would only suspect the fisherman’s platter around every corner. Stay the night and head to the Holy Donut, where you can choose amongst a dark chocolate Maine potato donut with sea salt, a ginger glazed sweet potato donut and a toasted coconut and coconut milk glazed donut, to name but a few. You will not regret these calories. There are plenty of big name hotels, but the Portland Harbor Hotel is where you’ll find a bit more character.