With July nearing its end, we inevitably find ourselves struck by the annual oh-my-God-summer-is-going-to-over-soon-and-I-need-to-plan-something-really-fun-now panic. If you're scrambling to throw together a little local getaway at some point before the leaves start turning, look no further than these three fabulous spots. All are within a couple of hours of Bergen County and allow you take advantage of the fabulous-but-fleeting summer weather you'll be pining away for soon enough.
A super hip hotel complete with rooftop cocktail bar, outdoor beer garden, and live bands in the lobby that's a stone's throw from the ocean and just about an hour away from home? Sign us up! If you haven't been to Asbury Park in a while, now is definitely the time to go and this is definitely the hotel to book, one of many businesses that's making this once-weathered shore town wonderful again. When you're not lounging at the pool or taking advantage of the fun lineup of summer events the hotel hosts (from movies under the stars to morning yoga), you can head to the beach, the boardwalk, one of a zillion restaurants that make up the burgeoning food scene, or of course, catch an act at Bruce's legendary hangout that still attracts killer acts, The Stone Pony.
The Catskills may bring to mind visions of outdated lodges a la Dirty Dancing (without all the good music), but times have changed and there are plenty of super stylish overnight options both large and small these days. The 11-room Foxfire is situated on 10 rustic acres and boasts a bohemian vibe and an eclectic décor of Moroccan tile, antler accents, and velvet couches along with a stone fireplace, pond, lily pool, bonfire pits and outdoor pavilion for stargazing. Guests get a dreamy breakfast of house-made granola and banana bread, fruit, juices, a selection of cheeses, smoked fish, and meats with a Nordic country influence. Later in the day, you can poke around the neighborhood antique, vintage, and design shops, catch a show at the local live music venue The Bearsville Theatre, or indulge yourself at some of the nearby standout eateries like Italian-inspired Cucina, housed in an elegant farmhouse, or sip some rose at the ultra-Instagrammable Brunette wine bar.
Reeds at Shelter HavenLive the luxe life for a weekend at this breathtaking bay-front boutique hotel that you can either use as a home base or not actually leave the entire time. In addition to amazing coastal-meets-modern rooms, many equipped with balconies and fireplaces, there are also water activities like paddle boarding, pedal boating, and kayaking right out the back door as well as daily yoga and a sundeck complete with plunge pool and hot tubs. As for eats, there are multiple onsite restaurants including the Water Star Grille on the bay, which offers upscale casual fare of small plates, as well as a ridiculous waffle-and-ice-cream shop. A trip to the nearby beach becomes gloriously easy-breezy thanks to the hotel's complimentary beach service: Attendants usher guests down to the sand in the house electric car and provide beach chairs, towels, tags, and umbrella. Ahhhh.
