offManhattan

What: Martha’s Vineyard Gourmet Getaway

Where: Harbor View Hotel, Edgartown, MA

When: Monday through Thursday, until April 15

Why: This is a smart, sneaky time of year to visit Martha’s Vineyard. Built in 1891, the Harbor View Hotel is located near an old whaling port and brings a modern sensibility to a classic New England aesthetic–one that you can’t normally enjoy for less than $315 on a peak season night if you’d like a room with breathtaking water views. Going into the shoulder season, Harbor View is offering $109 rates and a welcome basket with spa goodies to boot. And while the Hamptons may still seem closed up, Edgartown is a vibrant, hospitable slice of the vineyard that’s best visited before its narrow streets are swarming with tourists.

Dear Valentine, Thanks so much for the charming (sappy) poem, the lovely flowers (that have now wilted), and the box of chocolates (after three that tasted a little like silly putty). Sincerely, and much love, your Valentine

Or this year, ditch the expected and celebrate Valentine’s Day by celebrating your valentine, with one of these six titillating, duo adventures.

Boston may best be known for its history, including quite a few historic hotels, but over the past several years it has seen an explosion of chic, New York-style boutique properties. As you might guess, they come complete with chic, New York-style pricing.

But Boston’s high winter vacancy rate means many of these rooms are available this season at about half of what warm-weather travelers will pay this summer. Combine that with free Megabus tickets through March and the upcoming Winter Restaurant Week, and right now is looking like the best time all year to visit Boston. Here’s a look at five of the newest hotels in town.

Last Thursday, we gave thanks for many things, like family and friends, and New York City’s mass transit system. But it’s really the latter that we’re most grateful for as we enter December and a month packed with snowy frivolity and the coolest holiday events throughout the East Coast—all easily accessible by bus and train from Manhattan.

In addition to yours truly, 12 other NYC bloggers have put together some terrific ideas to bring you the ultimate holiday guide for New Yorkers. Keep reading to find out why this is one season you won’t soon forget.

You already have photos of your tots and tweens grinning under the twinkling LED lights in Rockefeller Center or in front of the Macy’s window displays. This year, rally the family troops for a different day (or weekend) outing. From historic candlelight tours near NYC to cupcake tea parties at the Ritz in Boston, these eight holiday activities for families will jump-start the joyous wintry season. (Of course, all destinations are accessible without a car as you are never too young to lighten your carbon footprint!)

• Recently renovated Savoy Suites in Georgetown is offering a Thanksgiving Holiday Dinner Package starting at $159; while in D.C., visit the new “Inside Tim Russert’s Office” exhibit at the Newseum. [Savoy]
• While you’re shopping for the big feast accoutrement at Greenpoint Farmers Market in McCarren Park this Saturday, donate some produce to the Food Bank for NYC. [DailyCandy]
• If you like your pie extra crumbly (or the aunt with special dietary needs is coming for dinner) gluten-free cooking just got easier. [NPR]
• The Langham Boston has a Thanksgiving prixe-fix for four at $175, and room rates from $165. [LanghamBoston]
• Let the kids know the little ways they can help green Thanksgiving. [GreenGuide]
• Brooklyn Kitchen still has organic locally-sourced birds in case you forgot to reserve the pièce de résistance. [BK]
• The Sagamore Resort in upstate New York is offering a special Thanksgiving package starting at $597 to sweeten their Lake George setting even more. [NYT]

Although the travel industry has hardly escaped being marred by bad economic times, a new website meant to motivate “heritage- and culture-rich experiences” thinks this is a great moment to launch. Gozaic.com (go-zay-ik) offers insights and guided tours on destinations around the world—from the Maya Ruins to San Francisco to the Cape of Good Hope.

With beach bumming behind us for now, we met up with Gozaic’s Amtrak-roving president and CEO John Williams for his top winter recommendations on public transit accessible “places that matter” near NYC.

“In lieu of flowers, please pass health care reform.”

That is what the senior Democratic Senator from Massachusetts would have wanted. Health care reform was his life’s work, something he fought for since the 1960s.

Likely, he would have also wanted friends to visit the same coastal getaway his prominent clan enjoyed for so many years. Known as Teddy to supporters, colleagues, friends, family, and every person from Massachusetts, he divided his time between his family’s famed compound in Hyannis Port and Capitol Hill. There are few better ways to say a proper goodbye to both summer and Teddy Kennedy than a weekend trip to Hyannis Port.

Either we’re too tired or too busy, at the beach, in a movie, or watching people cook on TV, but somehow, somewhere along the way, art got left out. Here is a list of eight expiring museum exhibits from New York City to Boston that are worth a cultural escape from Manhattan.