Easy Romantic Weekend Getaways

By Susan Farewell

Last week, we told you about the Ocean House, which sits on a quiet stretch of beach in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. This week, we take you to Newport, where you'll find another seaside beauty that's within easy reach of the tri-state area.

One of the things we love about Newport is that it has a great balance of things to do that fit perfectly into a weekend. You can tour a few mansions, take a fresh-aired stroll along the Cliff Walk, maybe hit balls on a grass court at the International Tennis Hall of Fame and have more than enough options for memorable meals.

A great base for exploring is The Chanler, which is ideally situated at the North End of the Cliff Walk. This magnificent oceanfront mansion was originally built in 1865 as the summer home for New York congressman John Winthrop Chanler and his wife, the former Margaret Astor Ward.

Today, it offers a collection of guest rooms that are every inch as grand, each one with its own décor, several reflecting a certain period of history including the Louis XVI Room, the Renaissance Room and the Empire Room. There are also ocean villas with New England Island themes including Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Block Island. Everywhere you look there are tasteful details including oversized tubs, double showers, plasma TVs in the bathrooms, hand-painted murals, stained glass skylights and sinfully comfortable beds.

While you'll likely want to try a variety of restaurants in Newport, make a point of having at least one meal at The Chanler's Spiced Pear Restaurant. If you go for lunch, be sure to order the Kobe burger, which is now called the GQ burger because it made the magazine's "Twenty Burgers You Have to Try Before You Die" list a couple of years ago. Made with chopped Kobe beef and topped with barbecued Kobe brisket and a tomato-onion jam, it lives up to that lofty accolade. Having just tried it again this past weekend, I can tell you it continues to belong on that GQ list.

From the inn, you can walk to several of the mansions near or on Bellevue Avenue. Thames Street (where many of the shops are) and the wharves on Newport Harbor are also within easy reach.

On your way out, do cruise around Ocean Drive. Taking in the open ocean scenery is a great exclamation point at the end of any weekend visit.

Details: Newport is about a 3-hour drive from New York City.

Rates: Off-season, rooms from $299; in season, from $659.

Website: http://thechanler.com

Susan Farewell is one of our travel editors as well as the editor-in-chief and co-founder of FarewellTravels LLC, a travel concierge for discerning travelers. At FarewellTravels.com, you will find ideas and recommendations for trips all over the world. FarewellTravels also offers personal recommendations and travel advice.