You work too damn hard not to kick your feet up early and often this summer.
Head to the Hamptons or Hudson Valley, though, and you run the risk of your entire weekend being a series of run-ins with people who want to talk about … work.
So we’ve rounded up four new hotels slightly farther afoot that are worth reserving right now. Plus, where to eat and play along the way, from endless crab feasts to an exclusive Japanese whisky club to sailing lessons.
Consider your next weekender(s) sorted.
The Wylder Hotel
Tilghman Island, Maryland
Wylder won a Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Award last summer after its inaugural season in business. It sits along the Chesapeake Bay on Tilghman Island, which along with its next-door neighbor, St. Michaels, has a bit of a Cape-Cod-goes-Mid-Atlantic vibe. The hotel is a sweeping renovation of the former Harrison’s Chesapeake House Inn and Restaurant, which had been a stomping ground for locals, weekenders and commercial fishermen since the 1930s. It’s a bit more genteel now, but not obnoxiously so, with two restaurants, a saltwater pool, bikes, kayaks, paddleboards and sailing available for guests. It’s also an exceedingly affordable getaway: rooms start around $100.
Where to eat: The real draw here for us was the food: fresh, locally harvested fish, crab and oysters pepper the menus from Chef Liz Ruberg, who grew up in the region.
What to do: Rent bikes to explore the shopping and food in nearby St. Michaels; take a kayak out for a tour of the Bay.
The Cliffside Inn
Newport, Rhode Island
Doing historic Newport justice, the freshly opened Cliffside Inn was originally an 1876 Victorian Manor and the home of former Maryland Governor Thomas Swann. It retains many of the elements of its storied history in both charm and aesthetic, with original designs from artist Beatrice Turner, who lived and worked on the property for over 40 years. Expect quirky flourishes like zebra wall coverings and wild mixed patterns.
Where to eat: Bouchard Inn & Restaurant for fine French fare
What to do: It’s Newport. You’re going sailing.
The Whitney Hotel
Boston, Massachusetts
For those who prefer a home-away-from-home rather than a sterile hotel environment, this is for you. It’s a 66-room boutique that feels like a splendid Uptown brownstone. It’s uncomplicated luxury, the standout feature being a secluded interior courtyard with lush greenery and a firepit alongside a serene fountain.
Where to eat: Anti-round pizza at Figs
What to do: Spring to it at the nearby Boston Gardens
Conrad
Washington D.C.
Living up to the Conrad name, their newest D.C. location is an exercise in restraint and elegance. It’s sleek without feeling cold or isolating — but that could be a big hat-tip to their outstanding service. You’ll want for nothing, but you also won’t be bothered. And atop the 10-story build, the Summit terrace offers up panaramic views peppered with important national monuments and waypoints. Be sure to visit to their 10th-floor Sakura Club, with a discerning list of heavy-hitting Japanese whiskies.
Where to eat: Estuary, on-site, helmed by James Beard Award recipients and Top Chef finalists, Bryan and Michael Voltaggio. What to do: You’re two Metro stops away from a Nationals game.
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