{"id":57742,"date":"2017-07-26T10:43:26","date_gmt":"2017-07-26T14:43:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/?p=57742"},"modified":"2025-09-02T02:59:31","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T06:59:31","slug":"mid-summer-romance-5-places-to-escape-by-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/57742\/mid-summer-romance-5-places-to-escape-by-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"Mid Summer Romance: 5 Places to Escape by Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

When planning a romantic getaway with a loved one, the pressure is on! It has to feel far away without too long of a trek, luxurious but also slightly adventurous, and your meals have to be top-notch without a price tag that hurts. Remember, it\u2019s your vacation too, so let\u00a0<\/span>brand new booking platform TravelWits\u00a0help. On TravelWits you can search by budget, transit time and most importantly for offMetro, type of transit (bus and train options abound!) All you need to do is plug in your budget, your prefered method of transportation, max time you\u2019re willing to travel, choose \u201cRomantic resort\u201d in the Destination field, and TravelWits will pull up your options. Once you choose a hotel, it\u2019ll even fill you in on what to do. From there, the romance will fill in naturally. Here are a few summertime getaways for you and your loved one: <\/span><\/p>\n

Option 1: Philadelphia, PA<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"Love

Budget for all travelers: $600<\/span><\/p>\n

Time in Transit: 2 hours by bus or train<\/span><\/p>\n

Get There: Use our Manhattan to Philadelphia Guide<\/a> for options including bus and train.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights: Starting the day with free outdoor yoga at Race Street Pier and ending it with views of the Delaware.<\/span><\/p>\n

Check in at the <\/span>Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing<\/span> (around $200\/night for a waterfront view room). From here, you can easily explore Old City or “America’s most historic square mile” or venture further with\u00a0Indego<\/a> bike share ($10 for a day pass) which has a station located in the heart of Old City.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you can arrive in time for Friday Nights at the Museum, kickstart the weekend with live music, cocktails, and tapas at the <\/span>Philadelphia Museum of Art<\/span><\/a>. Start your mornings with free outdoor yoga at <\/span>Race Street Pier<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and keep your zen going by wandering your way through\u00a0the <\/span>Magic Garden\u2019s<\/span> ($10). For those looking to dedicate the entire weekend to history, you can even\u00a0follow in the footsteps of Alexander Hamilton<\/a>. <\/span>For dining, we recommend grabbing lunch at <\/span>High Street on Market<\/span><\/a> and ice cream at The Franklin Fountain. Later on, venture out for authentic Cambodian at <\/span>Khmer Kitchen<\/span>, followed by dancing at <\/span>Dolphin Tavern<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Option 2: Pocono Mountains<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"skytop

Time in Transit: 2 hours by bus<\/span><\/p>\n

Get There: <\/span>Martz Trailways<\/span><\/a> bus from Port Authority to the Mount Pocono stop, where you can arrange a pickup through Skytop Lodge ($80 roundtrip pp).<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights: Guided mountain hikes by day and stargazing by night.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you arrive in the Poconos, you\u2019ll wonder why it took you so long. <\/span>Skytop Lodge<\/span> (starting around $300 \/ night) is a great no-hassle way to experience the Pocono Mountains. With 5,500-acres of property and endless activities on offer, you can spend the entire weekend outdoors – stargazing, birdwatching, hiking, archery, swimming, biking, boating – take your pick. But don\u2019t forget to kick back and relax – try a Couple\u2019s Massage or Reflexology at the <\/span>Skyview Spa<\/span>. Watch the sun set over the mountains from the Skyview Lookout, before a hearty meal at one of the five on-site restaurants – try the Windsor Dining Room for an elegant meal with your partner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Option 3: Portsmouth, NH<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"Portsmouth\"

Time in Transit: 7 hours by bus<\/p>\n

Get There: Head to\u00a0to Boston<\/a>\u00a0and then hop on the\u00a0C&J Bus Lines<\/a>\u00a0at Boston\u2019s South Station for the 60-minute ride. Alternatively, take\u00a0GoTo Bus<\/a> (about $120 roundtrip pp) for Greyhound transportation with a transfer in Boston.<\/p>\n

Highlights: Eating Fried Scallops at The Old Ferry Landing as the sun sets.<\/p>\n

Getting to Portsmouth, NH is a trek, so hopefully you have Summer Fridays and can get out early. Check into the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel (around $250 per night), drop your bags, and get ready for a casual dinner on the Piscataqua River. With so many foodie options<\/a>, it\u2019ll be hard to choose, but one of our favorites is The Old Ferry Landing<\/a>, Portsmouth\u2019s oldest waterfront restaurant (around $25 for an entree). Walk around town by day, dip into nautical-themed shops like SAULT<\/a>, caffeinate and people watch at Breaking New Grounds<\/a>, grab a quick lunch at Ceres Bakery<\/a>, cool off with homemade ice cream at Annabelle\u2019s<\/a>, and hydrate at The Portsmouth Brewery<\/a>. For the active adventurer, schedule kayaking, hiking or even ziplining<\/a> into your weekend for some great views and a little adrenaline.<\/p>\n

Option 4: Kennebunkport , ME<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"Things

Time in Transit: 6 hours by bus and train.<\/span><\/p>\n

Get There: From Boston<\/a>, take <\/span>C & J bus<\/span><\/a> to Ogunquit and taxi from there ($160 roundtrip bus pp). <\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights: Taking in the ocean view along the <\/span>Parsons Way Trail<\/span><\/a> cliff walk.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is an easy one to plan! <\/span>The Breakwater Inn and Spa<\/span> conveniently offers a Summer Romance package (around $300 per night), which includes a complimentary bottle of Prosecco, fresh flowers in the room, and use of bicycles and canoes. Get lost in a book on the deck of your riverside room, or stroll into downtown Kennebunkport<\/a> to explore the cafes, galleries, and shops. Gooch\u2019s Beach (15 minutes by bike) is great for a dip and sometimes a surf, but you\u2019ll find more privacy at Goose Rocks Beach (a quick drive, or 40 minutes by bike). Treat yourselves to a seaweed wrap at the Breakwater Spa, a sea salt body scrub, or a warm stone massage (with stones from the Kennebunk River). When in Maine, live a little and eat lobster! Dine al fresco at the <\/span>Stripers Waterside Restaurant<\/span> – put on your bibs and crack into a steamed lobster or try the daily catch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Option 5: Washington, DC<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"\"

Time in Transit: 2-4 hours<\/p>\n

Get There: Bus, train or plane all are great options. See our Manhattan to D.C. Guide.<\/a><\/p>\n

Highlights: Saying yes to the Goober Pie at Afterwords Caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n

There is an endless amount to do in DC, but remember you\u2019re on a romantic getaway, so let\u2019s keep it simple. You can always check off the touristy things later. The Dupont Circle (around $200 per night) is right in the center of the Dupont Circle neighborhood<\/a>, with easy access to the Metro should you want to venture. Start the weekend with an expertly crafted cocktail at Bar Dupont<\/a> before strolling to Kramerbooks, where you can pick up a weekend read and a great meal (in the back) at Afterwords Caf\u00e9. Wake up with a coffee at Filter<\/a>, find your balance at Dupont Circle Yoga<\/a>, then grab lunch (in your workout gear is fine) at Glen’s Garden Market<\/a>. If you want to keep moving, lace up your sneaks and walk the 2-mile stretch of Massachusetts Avenue known as Embassy Row, find the Spanish Steps, cool off in the National Geographic Museum<\/a> ($15 for adults), and catch the latest subterranean exhibit at Dupont Underground<\/a>. End on a romantic note with authentic Italian at Giovanni’s Trattu<\/a> or French cuisine at Bistrot du Coin<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When planning a romantic getaway with a loved one, the pressure is on! It has to feel far away without too long of a trek, luxurious but also slightly adventurous, and your meals have to be top-notch without a price tag that hurts. Remember, it\u2019s your vacation too, so let\u00a0brand new booking platform TravelWits\u00a0help. On […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":57752,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[757,817,747,314,770,969,364,375,907,332,911,1241,805,714,748,1867,330,316],"tags":[238,381,293,280,212,133,282,9651,204,169],"class_list":{"0":"post-57742","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-activity-2","8":"category-biking-adventure-activity-2","9":"category-bus-2","10":"category-dining-nightlife","11":"category-food-drink","12":"category-locations","13":"category-maine","14":"category-new-hampshire","15":"category-pennsylvania-2","16":"category-philadelphia-2","17":"category-poconos-pennsylvania-2","18":"category-portsmouth","19":"category-romantic-themes","20":"category-summer-travel-guide","21":"category-train-2","22":"category-transit-type","23":"category-washington-dc-destination","24":"category-weekend-getaways","25":"tag-adventure","26":"tag-biking","27":"tag-budget-friendly","28":"tag-cultural-getaway","29":"tag-hiking","30":"tag-outdoors","31":"tag-romantic","32":"tag-sponsored-post","33":"tag-train","34":"tag-weekend-getaway"},"acf":[],"mv":{"thumbnail_id":57752,"thumbnail_uri":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Couple_Unsplash_matthew-henry-86779-350x197.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/60"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57742"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57742\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57752"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}