It doesn't take much to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city – in just a few hours, freeways, trains, and aircraft can take you hundreds of miles away and return you in time for work on Monday. And all it takes is a little planning — no extended holiday weekend or PTO required — to get the island beaches, the crisp mountain air, or simply a getaway from the routine of the work week you're wanting.
So instead of wasting the weekend binge-watching Netflix, why not spend it in a cabana on Bermuda's famous pink sand beaches or the ski slopes close to Burlington, Vermont? Whether you prefer wine tasting or visiting crystal caves, there is an accessible east coast weekend getaway for you.
We've done the research for a wide variety of east coast getaways to get you going.
Bermuda
There is nothing like a journey to the island of Bermuda for the ultimate change of scenery—think hammocks hung over blue waters, underground tunnels, and an island vibe. An island getaway is more than feasible thanks to daily flights that take 2.5 hours from New York and Boston.
Elbow Beach, Horseshoe Bay Beach, and Tobacco Bay Beach are some of Bermuda's most well-known beaches. The pink sand beaches on the island are unique. Explore the island's other side when you've had your fill of beach fun. Spectacular subterranean caverns may be found in Bermuda; be sure to visit Crystal and Fantasy Caves. Blue Hole Park also has walking trails that pass through coastal cliffs, caverns, and lagoons. The 18-mile Bermuda Railway Trail can be traversed by cyclists, walkers, and runners, and kayakers can explore the island's coastline.
A fish sandwich and a Dark 'n' Stormy at Blackbeard's Hideout in St. George's are essentials when it comes to eating alternatives. For a night of great dining, visit the capital city of Hamilton for a classy seafood supper at Barracuda Grill or to sample the soul- and seafood-inspired menu at Marcus' from famous chef Marcus Samuelsson.
There are many luxurious beach hotels on the island, but it's difficult to match the downtown accessibility of the Fairmont Hamilton Princess & Beach Club or the serene elegance of Rosewood Bermuda.
New Jersey's Atlantic City
For those yearning for a weekend of glitz and glamour, the "Las Vegas of the east" does not let them down. While the city's expansive beaches, famed boardwalk, and casinos continue to lure tourists, redevelopment plans for Atlantic City have been put in place to cater to a more affluent clientele.
Philadelphians can go there in one and a half hours with NJ Transit, while New Yorkers can do so in three hours with Amtrak and NJ Transit. Even shorter travel distances separate the two cities, and for those traveling from farther away, there is the Atlantic City International Airport.
Visitors can gamble all day at the Hard Rock or the Borgata before enjoying some tax-free shopping. If gaming is not your thing, proceed to the city's renowned beach, which is located along the coast. Explore the nearby boardwalk after some time spent tanning, windsurfing, windsurfing, surfing, or kayaking.
When you're hungry, you can visit renowned chef Bobby Flay's Bobby Flay Steak and read the wide wine selection, or you can enjoy the tried-and-true fame of Dock's Oyster House, a family-owned business that first opened in 1897.
The abundance of luxurious hotels in Atlantic City that are nonetheless reasonably priced is one of its best features. Book a stay at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, which offers unlimited entertainment, nightlife, and eating options, or the Ocean Casino Resort, which has multiple pools and a five-star rating.
Massachusetts' Cape Cod.
Cape Cod, with its scenic lighthouses, seafood shacks, and stunning beaches, is hard to beat in the summer. However, the town's pleasant weather, numerous golf courses, and breweries and vineyards still welcome visitors during the winter.
The distance from Boston to Cape Cod is slightly over an hour by vehicle or 2.5 hours by the weekend passenger rail, CapeFLYER. If you're traveling from New York Metropolis, you might want to take a long weekend because it can take more than five hours to get to the Cape from the city. But the drive is well worth it because of the change in scenery and pace.
Take a cruise with Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises from April to October to the open ocean to see humpback whales that are migrating. You may also go on a leisurely trek around the 40-mile-long, pristine Cape Cod National Seashore, which features dunes, lighthouses, and other historic structures. Golfers will have a choice of 15 private and 27 public courses, while art lovers will be astounded by the galleries that can be found in every town and village on Cape Cod. Take a ferry from Hyannis Harbor to the surrounding islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket after you've toured the Cape.
Several private dining rooms in the historic (and aesthetically magnificent) Captain Linnell House exudes romance and elegance. Or, for a casual supper, stop by the Lobster Pot, a well-known Cape Cod establishment that offers traditional seafood dishes with views of the bay.
Stay at the Honeysuckle Hill Inn, a charming bed and breakfast next to the well-known Sandy Neck Beach, for a genuine Cape Cod experience. The Inn at Cape Cod is a private estate turned boutique hotel that is approximately 200 years old and is located next to a 100-acre nature reserve for guests who want to experience history firsthand.
New York's Long Island
Long Island is a convenient retreat for residents of New York. The island splits, with the Hamptons to the south and Long Island Wine Country to the north, far outside of the frequently visited boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens.
It takes around two hours to drive there from the city, although most New Yorkers take the Hampton Jitney or the Long Island Railroad instead (both around two hours each way). Booking a charter flight through Fly The Whale can bring you to the Hamptons in around 45 minutes for an even shorter travel day.
Settling in, get ready to explore. The Hamptons are known for its amazing parties and gorgeous beaches (don't miss Cooper's Beach in Southampton), but after spending the day lazing about, you'll want to see more of the world by taking a ferry to the North Fork. Wines from nearby wineries can be enjoyed there while taking in views of Long Island Sound; don't miss the offerings at Corey Creek or Croteaux. Make time to attend a performance at the 1933 Art Deco-style Suffolk Theater if you have some free time that evening.
When hunger strikes, stop into TBar, an Upper East Side favorite, for dishes like freshly made sushi and a 40-ounce porterhouse steak. Dine at Caci on the North Fork and enjoy genuine northern Italian food at a farmstead that dates back to the early 20th century.
It is a sheer luxury to stay at the Inn at Windmill Lane in Amagansett. The charm of a bed-and-breakfast is combined with five-star service and amenities. In Jamesport on the North Fork, the Bay Breeze Inn offers views of Peconic Bay and is a short distance from the beach.
Canada's Toronto, Ontario
Less than two hours are needed to go to Toronto from the major east coast cities of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Additionally, each city has direct flights, some of which cost about $150, so there's no need to worry about tedious connections.
The Canadian city is located on the northwest shore of Lake Ontario. Rent a bike and ride the Waterfront Trail to become oriented (also called Goodman Trail). You will pass the Harbourfront Center and Ontario Place from here. Visit the pedestrian-only Distillery Historic District if riding isn't your thing. You may discover trendy restaurants, pubs, and boutiques, as well as a variety of galleries and theatres, all of which are located in charming 19th-century structures that previously served as a sizable whiskey distillery.
At Lake Ontario's Sunnyside Pavilion Cafe, you can get a drink and some calamari, or you can spend the evening at Auberge du Pommier enjoying great French cuisine. Return to your opulent suite at The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, or the Hotel Fairmont Royal York after a night of drinking in the city.
Maine's Kennebunkport
This seaside community in southern Maine is as picture-perfect as the east coast gets. Long sandy beaches, an 1833 lighthouse, and charming lobster fishing towns may all be found in the town. The town is roughly a five-hour trip from New York City and two-and-a-half hours from Boston by vehicle, respectively. The Amtrak Downeaster departs from Boston's South Station and travels to Wells, Maine; the Portland International Jetport is a mere 30 miles distant.
To get out on the water, you can hire a kayak or boat from Aquaholics Surf Shop, or you can try your hand at surfing. Visit and stroll around the less-frequented Arundel Beach in addition to the famous Goose Rocks Beach. You can take a boat to Goat Island, where there is an active lighthouse built there in 1833, or you can go to the Seashore Trolley Museum, the biggest and oldest museum dedicated to mass transit vehicles in the world.
Reserve a table at Alisson's Restaurant, which has been serving American pub fare for more than 40 years, and partakes in a genuine Kennebunkport dining tradition. You shouldn't miss Rococo Artisan Ice Cream, a charming ice cream shop that uses milk and cream from a nearby, family-run farm to produce its ice creams on-site.
The expansive Nonantum Resort is a family getaway with rooms in the Kennebunkport style, award-winning restaurants, and on-site activities for the whole family. The Tides Beach Club, the only waterfront hotel on Goose Rocks Beach, offers an unrivaled setting.
Virginia's Burlington
Consider a weekend getaway to northwest Vermont if you need to get out of the heat of the city. The distance between Boston and Burlington is slightly under three hours by vehicle, and there are one-and-a-half-hour direct flights from Burlington to New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
The Lake Champlain Bikeway encircles the entire Lake Champlain, and the city is biker-friendly. Take a tour of the Ben & Jerry's factory when you've worked up an appetite, then treat yourself to a tonne of ice cream. Explore the close-by ski slopes of Smugglers' Notch Resort and Stowe Mountain Resort during the winter (both are less than an hour away by car from your Burlington home base).
Reserve a table at the renowned Hen of the Wood restaurant, run by chef Eric Warnstedt. Almost always, the food is made using locally sourced ingredients, and there is an entire page of the menu devoted to Vermont cheeses. Visit American Flatbread for a thin wood-fired crust topped with organic toppings for a laid-back evening of pizza and beer. Choose a beer from the Zero Gravity Brewpub to go with your meal.
The Independent Hotel Vermont, located in the center of the city, is the best option for staying.
Carolina's Charleston
You'll be in the charming setting of Charleston, with its cobblestone streets, pastel antebellum homes, and waterfront promenades. An easy two-hour trip from New York City and two-and-a-half from Boston will get you to this surreal getaway.
Spend the day touring Charleston's historic walled city, the French Quarter, which is home to the famous City Market from the 19th century. Before spending the afternoon exploring the city's museums—we suggest the Confederate Museum and the Old Slave Mart Museum—here, you can stock up on distinctive apparel, crafts, and artwork. On a fine day, visit Waterfront Park on the Cooper River or ride a ferry to Fort Sumter, the site of the Civil War's opening salvos.
Visit Peninsula Grill for a night of elegant southern cuisine. There, you can choose to post up in the opulent dining room for the full menu with southern sides like garlic-braised butterbeans and speck ham and hoop cheddar grits or sit at the champagne bar for light bites (think: oysters, caviar, and lobster). Visit the James Beard Award-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott's BBQ for a quick bite. Get a hefty pulled pork or ribeye sandwich, along with collard greens and cornbread.
Make reservations at The Spectator Hotel to experience the glitzy chandeliers and luxurious velvet furnishings that will transport you to the Roaring '20s. The Bar, an on-site speakeasy-style bar with a hand-crafted cocktail menu and Prohibition-era inspiration add to the hotel's charm.
Miami, Florida interior
Go south for a noticeable shift in climate and culture. Less than three hours by plane separate Baltimore from Miami's famed nightlife, beaches, and cuisine, and just over three hours separate New York City from Miami.
Once there, take in the wonderful, year-round sunshine and visit the beach. While Lummus Park Beach is a must for sunbathers and those looking for a laid-back day of people-watching, the picturesque Haulover Beach features lovely sculpted dunes, picnic spaces, and great surf conditions.
Once you've had your fill of the sun, stop by Little Havana's Versailles Restaurant for lunch. It is a genuine Miami institution and the best place to have Cuban food. In Miami Beach, don't miss Joe's Stone Crab for seafood, and go to La Mar by Gaston Acurio for stylish waterfront dining with a Peruvian flair.
You should choose a place to stay that is close to the activities. While The Setai Miami Beach is ideally situated on South Beach, The W Miami and the boutique Hotel Beaux Arts are both in downtown Miami.