Top Getaways For Parents Near Philadelphia
Laundry operator, janitor, taxi driver, nurse, teacher, cook, psychologist, facilities manager – the roles of parents never end. That's why a respite from the kids is a necessity, not a luxury. Whether you drop your little tikes off with a caregiver or take them along for the ride, parents can leave the guilt in the driveway and have a blast simply as a couple in love, not as mom and pop. For a terrific time as a twosome, check out these top getaways for parents near Philadelphia.
Antiquing In Cape May
Mainstay Inn
635 Columbia Ave.
Cape May, NJ 08204
(609) 884-8690
www.mainstayinn.com
This is a getaway where you might want to leave the kids at home under grandma's care. Take the scenic drive down the shore and step back in time to Victorian Cape May. The Mainstay Inn, an elegant bed and breakfast, is a 19th century mansion that once served as a private gambling club. Have a romantic evening in a guest room filled with Victorian furnishings left over from the inn's clubhouse days, then wake up to a homemade breakfast around the walnut dining table. Plenty of antique shops are a short walk or drive away, and TreeHouse Antiques is one of the best. The vast amount of vintage toys, linens, jewelry, pottery, furniture and garden art will amaze antique aficionados. Later, take a whale watching tour, watch the sun set over the concrete ship at Sunset Beach, then cap off the day with a cold one at the Ugly Mug.
Biking In The Back Country
Woolverton Inn
6 Woolverton Road
Stockton, NJ 08559
(609) 397-0802
www.woolvertoninn.com
Spring for the Country Excursions Package at the Woolverton Inn for a stay at one of the most romantic inns in the U.S. A magnificent manor house surrounded by lush countryside is the setting for a wonderful kid-free vacation. The package includes a four-course gourmet picnic lunch packed in a take-home picnic basket, two bike rentals and helmets, a map highlighting the best riverside and back country rides and a discount voucher for a bottle of wine. Spa packages and an Ultimate Romantic Getaway Package with roses, truffles, aromatherapy butter and candle, complimentary cheese platter and breakfast in bed might also suit your fancy.
Related: Top Bed and Breakfast Getaways in the Philadelphia Area
Chocolate Spa in Hershey
The Hotel Hershey
100 Hotel Road
Hershey, PA 17033
(717) 533-2171
www.thehotelhershey.com
Forget the Cocoa Cruiser coaster and chocolate factory. Hire a babysitter for the day to take the kids to the thrill park while you and your sweetie relax in sweet luxury at the Spa at the Hershey Hotel. Spend some time in the whipped cocoa bath before pampering yourself with a chocolate bean polish and cocoa facial experience. If you have the time and money, book a room at the decadent hotel, dine at its flagship restaurant, The Circular, and share a chocolate fondue for two.
Jersey Shore Sun and Fun
Windrift Hotel
105 80th St.
Avalon, NJ 08202
(609) 368-5175
www.windrifthotel.com
For a romantic getaway at the Jersey Shore, filled with surf, sand and sunsets, head to The Windrift Hotel in Avalon. This beachfront hotel features luxurious accommodations with gorgeous pool or ocean views, sushi and oyster bars, beach bar, cocktail lounge, outside restaurant and seaside dining room where you can indulge yourself with parmesan-crusted dayboat scallops. During the summer, live bands and dancing draw large crowds. If the young'uns are tagging along, kids' menus, planned activities and childcare services are available, and a spanking new recreation department -- with skateboard park, sports fields, tennis courts and playground -- is right across the street.
Wine And Dine Weekend
Renault Winery
72 N. Bremen Ave.
Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215
(609) 965-2111
www.renaultwinery.com
Renault Winery ranks as one of the oldest wineries in the country. The huge resort is home to a championship golf course and the Mediterranean-style Tuscan House Hotel and Restaurant that's known for its delectable champagne Sunday brunch. After indulging in a Tuscan omelet oozing with pancetta, tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, take a tour of the winery. It starts in the Fountain Room and then progresses into the Champagne Glass museum, hospitality room and grape pressing room before finishing inside of a wine barrel – actually the wine-tasting room. Choose from five different getaway packages that include accommodations, meals and complimentary wine tour.
Susan DeFeo has been a professional writer since 1997. She served as a community events columnist for New Jersey's "Cape May County Herald" for more than a decade. A writer for numerous online publications, Susan has covered health, fitness, beauty and travel, all subjects that are near and dear to her as a married mother of seven children. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
