It’s the time of year when Aspen, Colo., St. Barts and Bali glides off the newlywed glitterati tongues as readily as their private jets at Teterboro.
No thanks.
Instead of high-season crowds, long flights and the hassle of planning, (wasn’t that throwing a wedding thing enough?) opt for these local itineraries.
New Haven, Conn.
New Haven packs a lot of chocolate-box charm. Peruse the Yale University Art Gallery (Edward Hopper fans are in for a treat) and the Yale Center for British Art. Walk through East Rock Park, with a scenic lookout 350 feet above the Mill River, with views of the Long Island Sound and the city.
Sip and sit fireside at New Haven’s oldest tavern, Ordinary, where George Washington once stayed. Squeeze in a meal at waterfront Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill before heading to Long Wharf Theatre — “Tiny Beautiful Things,” based on the best-selling book opened Feb. 13.
If you crave canoodling under a flurry of sultry tremolos, skip the show and plant yourself at Firehouse 12, a jazz club, bar, concert venue and recording studio in one. Three drinks in, and you may both very well vow to apply for that Bulldogs graduate degree, after all.
Lovebirds lodge at The Blake Hotel. Named after Yale Law’s first female graduate, the 108-room boutique hotel opened this month. Make time to visit the restaurant, Hamilton Park, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Matt Lambert. From $209; 9 High St., New Haven, Conn.
DUMBO
Honeymoon staycation? Sign our exhausted selves up. Marvel at the splendor of Jane’s Carousel — a classic 1922 merry-go-round — before swinging by the Brooklyn Historical Society or the PowerHouse Arena, a hybrid art gallery, bookstore and performance venue. At Cecconi’s, twirl forkfuls of handmade pasta into your forevermore’s mouth chased by the revered spectacle of the skyline and Manhattan Bridge. Or, go for a more casual meal of pizza and too much Burrata at Love & Dough.
Saunter a few blocks over to the Brooklyn Bridge to dine at the Osprey, an airy, greenery-filled haunt with inventive American fare and a bar made for paramours. Whichever bridge you pledge your allegiance to, carve out some time to take in the beauty of the illuminated cityscape towering over the East River.
Lovebirds lodge at one of two fairy-tale spots: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. From $319. 60 Furman St.; or New York Marriott at The Brooklyn Bridge. From $198. 333 Adams St.
Beacon, NY
Outdoorsy couples will relish a hike to the top of Mount Beacon, a year-round destination. Artsy types can hit up Dia: Beacon, an impressive collection of art from the 1960s onwards in a former Nabisco box-printing factory. Rejoice in Beacon’s F&B landscape; Hudson Valley Brewery, Glazed Over Donuts and Meyer’s Olde Dutch are all stellar choices, especially now that you’re not squeezing into meticulously tailored garbs. Wrap up with dinner at the elegant Roundhouse restaurant.
Lovebirds lodge at the Roundhouse Hotel. From $199 2 E. Main St. Beacon.
Philadelphia
The City of Brotherly Love is ideal if history beats Hawaii. Venture to the Museum of the American Revolution, which opened in 2017, followed by an exploration of the National Museum of American Jewish History (pay-what-you-wish admission in February) or the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Still dreaming of your wedding day blooms? Scope out the orchid extravaganza at Longwood Gardens (through March 24). Properly cultured and horticultured, ice skate at Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest along the Delaware River followed by a drink and a bite by an outdoor firepit.
For something fancier, try Maison 208, a funky bistro with a retractable glass roof and wild, wonderful six-story mural.
Lovebirds lodge at The Logan, situated on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, which was modeled after the Champs-Élysées in Paris. You’re a stone’s throw from many of the city’s finest attractions, and an elevator ride away from the hotel’s superb indoor pool, spa and rooftop bar overlooking the city’s bustle and greenery below. From $229; 1 Logan Square, Philadelphia.
New Hope, Pa.
Forsake the tristate for a Bucks County tryst, an easy 90-minute drive from the city. Perched on the Delaware River, this small town balances Main Street homeyness (antique stores, specialty shops, the renowned Bucks County Playhouse) with epicurean brio and nightlife. Reward yourself for a bike or amble along the Delaware Canal towpath with a fireside meal at the Logan Inn, which first welcomed guests in 1727.
Or, spring for a New Orleans-inspired Creole feast at Marsha Brown in a grand setting that was once a church. Toast to wedlock one more time at the Salt House, enjoying the crackling embrace of a roaring hearth.
Lovebirds lodge at the Victorian-style 1870 Wedgwood Inn. From $140. 111 Bridge St., New Hope, Pa. ; or Olivia’s Bridge Street Inn. From $219. 28 W. Bridge St., New Hope, Pa.