A stress-free vacation with the kids?
When pigs fly.
But after being locked up, frozen solid and thawed out this winter, you need a change of scenery, STAT. Ease the stress and check out our favorite nearby beach-side destinations for a weekend jaunt with the crew in tow. (For you lucky ducks who can get a way alone check out the kid-free escapes in our Get A Room issue.)
Cape May, New Jersey Forget Fist-Pumping and G.T.L., Cape May pays homage to the Jersey Shore the way it used to be. With Victorian gingerbread houses and gaslight-lined streets, the town is one of the most charming on our state’s east coast. Check-in to: Congress Hall (doubles from $260 per night) where the cabanas, beach service, daily yoga and spa make you forget you’re only three hours from Bergen. Take advantage of the hotel’s kids program and grab a night alone and some Creole fare at 410 Bank Street (410 Bank Street, Cape May), where you can BYOB or sample some of the Jersey wines on the menu.
Montauk, Long Island Go nautical at the Montauk Yacht Club (doubles from $315 per night) where the recent renovation left all the guest rooms and common areas beautifully appointed but kept the original yacht club architecture in tact (complete with the hotel’s mini lighthouse replica). On the family to do list: Surf Camp, Tennis Camp or Arts and Crafts for the kids (all can be booked by the hotel), a sport fishing trip for Dad, and yoga on the beach for Mom. Then grab the crew and head to Harvest on Fort Pond (11 S. Emery St., Montauk) for an early dinner, duck feeding, and sunset.
Watch Hill, Rhode Island Live like you were born in the Gatsby era in the recently overhauled, grand Victorian style Ocean House (from $430 per night) set on a bluff overlooking a long stretch of Atlantic oceanfront. With round-the-clock butler service, five restaurants and beachfront massages you will never have to leave the compound. Younger guests will also be pampered with mini-robes, welcome treats and activities dedicated to keep the wee set having fun. Hit the hotel’s Friday Night Clambake (July and August) for some of the best seafood in the area.
Yes, you’re there yet.
