Sick of staying home under the coronavirus lockdown, Americans are packing up their cars and hitting the open road.
With international travel restrictions still in place, folks in need of a getaway are headed to domestic destinations within 200 miles of home. Vacation-rental giant Airbnb revealed that it saw more US bookings in the weeks between May 17 and June 3 — inclusive of the Memorial Day long weekend — than during the same weeks last year, its CEO tells Bloomberg.
New Yorkers in search of new, nearby sights for a quick getaway — or even an extended stay where they can work remotely in different surroundings — have their choice of rentals within easy driving distance. For that change of pace, here are some of the most popular to consider.
New York
Mid-century modern A-frame home
In Red Hook, a Dutchess County village in the increasingly popular Hudson Valley, this retreat offers stylish comfort and peaceful surroundings. An A-frame cabin that dates to 1968 — a structure marked by a sharply pointed roof — the property stands on 6 acres of untouched land and comes filled with vintage Danish furniture and other assorted decor from the owners’ international travels.
The cozy interiors feature a fireplace, wooden ceilings, a dining area and a full wall of windows that let in natural light. Outside, with woodsy views, there’s a spacious patio with seating. This two-bedroom home runs $302 per night and can accommodate six guests.
Hudson Valley Bali house retreat
You likely can’t travel to Indonesia anytime soon, so why not stay in a Bali-inspired property in the Hudson Valley? Designed in the Bali tradition, with four pods connected by walkways, the home fittingly includes bamboo ceilings under peaked roofs, and waterfront patios with lots of space for seating, hammocks, even a hot tub that overlooks the grounds’ pond. The $614-per-night spread features four bedrooms and can sleep 10 guests. Extra touches include fireplaces, a large eat-in kitchen and a guest cottage.
Seneca Lake house
About five hours from Midtown, this home in New York’s Finger Lakes region is better suited for a long weekend or a weeklong stay. The newly constructed property is perched on the east side of Seneca Lake, with the lake itself just steps away. The bones of the home include four bedrooms and three full bathrooms, with the listing adding that 12 can sleep there. The rate: $518 per night. For that price, guests get a sleek kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a living room with a fireplace that looks out to the lake, a porch with room for seating and a lakeside outdoor dining area.
Connecticut
Sweetbrier Farm
The kids’ history lessons may have been virtual in recent months, but they can come face to face with living history at this stay in Litchfield, Connecticut. This farmhouse was built in 1793, though it had a recent renovation. Original 18th-century details include wide-plank wooden floors and exposed ceiling beams. They mix with modern touches, like an all-white kitchen and, outside, a pool. The house, priced at $583 per night, sleeps 10 people, and stands on a 16-acre plot with a pond.
Water Forest retreat
Washington has the Pentagon — Connecticut has an octagon. This charming 144-square-foot cedar octagon, which sleeps two at $106 per night, is perched next to a brook on 100 acres of forested land. There’s a trail head for hiking steps away, but guests can stay put with an outdoor dining area and a fire pit. Inside, the cabin has a vaulted ceiling with beams. There’s also electricity inside, but no running water or plumbing (a shower and outhouse are located outside). There’s no Wi-Fi in the cabin either, but with a nearby pond, a waterfall and a stock of wildlife all around, you likely won’t want it.
New Jersey
Atlantic City home
A home on an ocean block just steps from the beach? Check. Three decks with a barbecue grill provided? Check. A 70-inch television on all four floors in case of bad weather? Check. In Atlantic City, this 5,500-square-foot stay has seven bedrooms and can sleep up to 19 people — for $1,233 per night. Although the perk is easy access to the beach (and, yes, towels and beach chairs are supplied), it’s also worth spending time inside. Each bedroom is spacious, as is the dining area, which can seat more than a dozen people. The adjacent kitchen has plenty of room for food prep (all utensils provided) and, if you’re looking to tone your beach bod, there’s also an elliptical machine. But outside there’s still more to enjoy, with space on each deck for lounging and six bikes provided.
Waterfront Home on Long Beach Island
All four bedrooms in this New Jersey stay have water views and private bathrooms. Up top, there’s a rooftop deck, and outside, there’s a small patch of beach and a dock. This $995-per-night rental can fit 12 guests — no surprise given images of the large interiors. There’s a roomy open kitchen that leads to a dining area and a living room — all next to a fireplace. This house also offers up two patios with room for seating, offering a bit more alfresco lounging space.