Plan a Hallmark holiday escape to these cozy Northeast towns
The New Hope and Ivyland Railroad, a sightseeing train in historic New Hope Pennsylvania, gives evening rides with Santa during the Christmas season. Credit: Getty Images/Bob Krist
Late fall and early winter are ideal times for a road trip to nearby magical towns that seem right out of a Hallmark movie.
Across the Northeast are plenty of beautiful spots where you can shop, explore, visit local galleries or just relax at a cozy hotel.
Hop in the car, blast your favorite tunes and head to these charming destinations not too far from Long Island.
Go shopping in Rhinebeck, New York
DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: About 2 hours and 30 minutes away
From Montgomery Row shops, which house Oblong Books, the largest independent bookseller in the Hudson Valley, to Periwinkles, where you'll find handmade soaps, jewelry and other wares from local artisans, Rhinebeck is a shopper's paradise with more than 40 independent shops.
Take a walking tour of the city or stroll on your own to visit local art galleries and Hudson Valley Pottery, a pottery school and mecca for ceramic artists.
Catch show at the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck including "Carrie the Musical" through Sept. 27.
Museum lovers can choose from the Wilderstein Historic Site, as well as the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, a museum of antique aviation.
The active set should make a beeline for Ferncliff Forest, which boasts 12 miles of trails perfect for hiking and mountain biking.
WHERE TO STAY
Beekman Arms Delamater Inn, in the center of the village in Hudson Valley, offers 80 rooms to choose from as well as The Tavern at The Beekman serving brunch, lunch and dinner (rooms starting at $349 per night for a mid-November weekend stay in a queen room).
Ride the train in New Hope, Pennsylvania
DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: About 3 hours away
New Hope, Pennsylvania, features historic train rides and riverside dining along the Delaware River. Credit: Don Pearse
This Pennsylvania town sits majestically alongside the scenic Delaware River. You can walk or bike along the river's 60-mile Delaware Canal Towpath and dine at one of New Hope's riverside restaurants.
Brush up on railroad history with a train ride to Lahaska on New Hope Railroad's steam and diesel locomotives and explore local lore on a New Hope Historical Society walking tour.
Shop on and around Main Street for antiques, home décor, fine art and gourmet food.
Peruse art by regional artists at the New Hope Arts and the New Hope Colony Foundation for the Arts.
Cultural attractions in New Hope include Bucks County Playhouse (Irving Berlin’s “Holiday Inn" takes the stage Nov. 19-Jan. 3), where legends like the late Robert Redford graced the stage and the Parry Mansion Museum, the 1784 home of one of New Hope's founders.
WHERE TO STAY
For a pet-friendly bed-and-breakfast experience with Victorian charm, book a stay at the 1870 Wedgwood Inn Bed & Breakfast of New Hope (rooms starting at $212 per night for mid-November weekend stay).
Learn about history in Concord, Massachusetts
DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: About 4 hours away
Concord, Massachusetts, boasts historic sites and trails, including Walden Pond and Battle Road. Credit: Getty Images/DenisTangneyJr
A history lover's and naturalist's paradise, Concord is home to Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, with more than 220 species of birds, and Walden Pond, home to Henry David Thoreau.
Take a guided walk or explore Walden Pond on your own, or walk along one of the numerous trails throughout the town. The Annursnac Trail ascends to Annursnac Hill, offering views of Concord; the Emerson-Thoreau Amble Trail lets you retrace the steps of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Thoreau; and the 5-mile Battle Road Trail is the site of a 1775 Colonial battle with the British.
There are several historic cemeteries in town and museums, including the Concord Museum, The Robbins House, Nathan Meriam House, Ralph Waldo Emerson House and Wright Tavern.
Trolley tours also visit nearby Lexington, and there are plenty of shops and eateries along Main Street.
WHERE TO STAY
Concord's Colonial Inn features 40 guest rooms, all within walking distance to shops and eateries in the village (rooms starting at $224 in mid-November and early December).
Head to a Winter Wonderland in Cape May, New Jersey
DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: About 4 hours away
Cape May, New Jersey, offers Victorian architecture, festive tours, and a tranquil seaside escape. Credit: Newsday/Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts
"America's Original Seaside Resort," Cape May in the offseason — sans crowds and traffic — can be incredibly tranquil and serene.
Stroll down and around Carpenters Lane to enjoy exquisite Victorian architecture, boutique shops, art galleries and eateries.
There are tours galore in Cape May: holiday lights ride, historic, ghost, maritime and Black Legacy trolley tours ($20, $15 ages 3-12), as well as a historic haunted house tour at the purportedly haunted Physick House Museum.
Animal lovers should check out Cape May County Park and Zoo, where they will encounter more than 550 animals.
The Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum delves into aviation, military and World War II history. Historic Cold Spring Village is an open-air living museum, and the Colonial House Museum, a former tavern, was the family home of Memucan Hughes, a Revolutionary patriot.
December is an especially festive time, with the illuminated Washington Street Mall, decked-out historic homes and hotels and Congress Hall's Winter Wonderland (reopening Nov. 27) with its Enchanted Vendor Village.
WHERE TO STAY
The Wilbraham Mansion offers guests breakfast, afternoon tea and access to the indoor pool (rooms starting at $269 per night in mid-November and $280 per night in mid-December).
Experience the Gilded Age in Newport, Rhode Island
DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: About 4 hours away
Newport, Rhode Island, invites visitors to explore iconic mansions and scenic coastal views. Credit: Andrea Hansen/Preservation Society of Newport
Having been called "America's First Resort," Newport knows how to put out the welcome mat.
No visit to the area would be complete without touring at least one of its world-famous mansions. Sporting names like Chateau-sur-Mer (reopening weekends late Nov.-Dec.), Marble House and The Breakers, these spectacular waterfront homes harken back to a truly Gilded Age. You can take a trolley tour of the mansions and also try a self-guided Cliff Walk for incredible views of the Atlantic.
Take advantage of this city's coastal locale with a daytime or sunset cruise on Narragansett Bay. After dark, you can get spooked on a ghost tour that peeks into Newport's haunted history.
See some historic sites, like the Great Friends Meeting House (circa 1699), the oldest surviving house of worship in Rhode Island, and the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House.
Stop at Brick Market Place, where you can browse more than 25 unique shops and eateries, and later dine at the White Horse Tavern, which has served guests since 1673.
WHERE TO STAY
Spend the night at The Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina (rooms starting at $229 in October; $179 in November) with water views and on-site restaurant and bar, SALTwater.
