idyllic adventures
Life involves so very much planning, and while some folks (read: me!) enjoy that sort of detail-work, for others, it takes all the fun out of what is meant to be relaxing. If you prefer to deputize things like event planning, then take a peek at this section. I have a selection of carefully-curated dates that thrilled me in their creation and are sure to be just as exciting in their execution.
You’ll note that for some adventures, multiple hotels and dining options are offered. These locations are designed to be paired together by distance; Verde on Smith is nearest Nu Hotel, while Worthwild and Citizens are the brunch destinations nearest The Selina. Dining substitutions are always available based on allergy, restriction, or simple preference.
Looking for some broader ideas, or events with a set end date? Glance over my Date Ideas page and see what’s begging to be added to my calendar.
NJ – Refinement (24 hours)
Accommodations at the MC Montclair
Afternoon tea at High SocieTea or Harmony Tea Room
Pampering at The Fountain Spa
Dinner at The Hill, Haven, or Brasserie Memere
Breakfast at Toast or The Corner
NJ – Refinement 2.0 (24 hours)
Lodging at The Reeds at Shelter Haven
Explore Stone Harbor and Avalon
Unwind at the Salt Spa
Dinner at Sax on the Reeds
Breakfast with a view at Water Star Grille
NJ – Animal Kingdom (24 hours)
Overnight at the W Hoboken or Westin Jersey City Newport
Explore Turtleback Zoo or visit the Lakota Wolf Preserve
An exciting dinner and show at Medieval Times
Brunch at Anthony David’s or Buddy’s JC
NJ – Food (24 hours)
Overnight in a cottage at the Woolverton Inn
Cooking class at The Farm Cooking School
Winemaking lesson at The Grape Escape or Grape Finale
Time in the tub with one of the Woolverton’s sheep cheese platters
Dinner at the Frenchtown Inn or Anton’s at the Swan
Breakfast in bed (or on our cottage’s porch!)
NJ – Arts (24 hours)
Accommodations at The Bungalow Hotel
Mosaic making or glass fusion at Time to Kiln
Fondue dining at The Melting Pot
Curl up for a film of your choosing
Breakfast at Yolk’s on You or Turning Point
NJ – Summer Loving (24 hours)
Spend A Day on the Bay (or at least, an afternoon!)
Dinner at Raimondo’s or Salt
Overnight at Hotel LBI or Seaview
NJ – Jazz (24 hours)
Exploring the local bookstores and consignment shops
Dinner and live jazz at the Shanghai Jazz Club
Time for bed at Archer Florham Park, The Madison Hotel, or the Westin Governor Morris
NJ – Casino Royale (48 hours)
Accommodations at Caesar’s or Borgata
Explore the casinos at your leisure
Dinner at Morton’s, Angeline, or Old Homestead Steak House
Rejuvenation at Qua Baths and Spa or Spa Toccare
Continue to enjoy the casino floor as you wish
Catch a show on the mainstage
NYC – Relaxation (24 hours)
A bathtub suite at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi or The William Vale
Time to unwind at AIRE Ancient Baths
Grab some room service as we prepare for our evening on the town
Catch a Broadway show, followed by cocktails by the theater
Begin our day with brunch at Blank Slate
NYC – Culture (24 hours)
Accommodations at NU Hotel or one of The Selina‘s lofts
Choose between American Folk Arts Museum, The Jewish Museum, and the National Museum of the American Indian
Dinner at Tokyo Record Bar, L’Artusi, or Maialioni’s
After dinner drinks and music at Blue Note or Iridium
Breakfast at Verde on Smith, Worthwild, or Citizens
NYC – Debauchery (24 hours)
Stay over at The Roxy or Dream Downtown
Cruise through the Museum of Sex
Lingerie shopping at Agent Provocateur and Journelle
Dining at RH Rooftop Restaurant or Royal 35 Steakhouse
Make it rain at Sapphire, Rick’s NYC, or even Hunk-O-Mania
Greet the day at Mamman Tribeca, The Grey Dog, or La Bergamote
NYC – Bibliophiles (24 hours)
Overnight at The Library Hotel or the Plaza Hotel
Exploring the Morgan Library and Museum
Learn about the greats during a literary pub crawl
Dinner at Ai Fiori, Fine and Rare, or Ocean Prime
Wake up with Mom’s Kitchen, La Grande Boucherie, or Little Collins,
NYC – LGBT Celebration (24 hours)
Queer-friendly accommodations at Hotel Eventi, The Standard High Line, or Nomo Soho Hotel
Take a walking tour of historical sites, including the Stonewall Inn
Explore the Leslie Lohman Museum of Art
Dining at Scarpetta, L’Artusi, or Balthazar
(or catch some drag dining over at Lips!)
Brunch at Friedman’s or Cookshop
NYC – Food (48 hours)
Accommodations at the Grammercy Park Hotel or The Langham
Afternoon Tea at the Russian Tea Room
Sushi rolling class in the Empire State Building
Attend a private truffle making class, or try a local chocolate tour
Dinner at Maialino, or Ai Fiori
Visit the Museum of Ice Cream
Pick between some unique dining experiences for our day: S’mac, Dirt Candy and Chef’s Club
Grab some sweets at Magnolia Bakery or Doughnut Planet
NYC – Exploration and Adventure (48 hours)
Restful nights at the Park Hyatt, Greenwich Hotel, or Baccarat Hotel
Delve into a unique escape room (one of my favorite activities!)
See if you can Beat the Bomb or experience Spyscape
Dinner aboard a cruise sailing the harbor
Battle my skills in VR World
Schedule a tour at The Explorer’s Club
Wander through the beautiful Cloisters
Recover at the hotel spa before ordering room service