Sherman's Travel

As New England’s blazing fall foliage season kicks into high gear, leaf peepers, culture seekers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike will find their paths converging in the leafy cultural hideaway of the Berkshires, a 945-square-mile rustic-chic retreat in western Massachusetts. This pastoral playground has long reeled visitors in (particularly from Boston and New York, at just about a 2.5-hour drive away from each), without ever managing to feel overrun, thanks to the expansive area’s winning trifecta of pristine natural beauty (low-lying mountains, secluded lakes, flourishing forests), picturesque main street towns defined by mom-and-pop establishments and extravagant Gilded Age “cottages” (Lenox, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, and North Adams rank supreme as tourist hubs), and heady mix of museums and festivals showcasing the region’s longstanding artistic and cultural activity (familiar names like Herman Melville, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Norman Rockwell all found creative inspiration here). Read more

Hot off the heels of the buzz-worthy inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix, which transformed this port city’s streets into an action-packed, high-speed racetrack, dynamic Baltimore has been infusing such shots of adrenaline into its tourism infrastructure at almost equally breakneck speed of late. Upcoming highlights include fall’s Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore (www.fourseasons.com/baltimore) debut in the burgeoning Harbor East district, while 2012 will see a smorgasbord of special events cooked up in honor of the War of 1812 bicentennial (www.starspangled200.org). Read more

Toledo grew from humble trading post beginnings to become a hub for glass-making (at the turn of the 19th century) and the auto industry, in the ‘50s. That industrial success ultimately shaped the city’s arts and entertainment culture. As a Midwestern town with an extensive park system, several outdoor attractions, and proximity to Cedar Point (the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World”), a summer weekend here is best enjoyed outdoors. We’ve put together a perfect 1-2-3 Weekend – 1 hotel, 2 restaurants, and 3 things to do – to showcase Toledo’s top end-of-summer offerings.

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Look out Las Vegas – this ain’t your daddy’s Atlantic City. Recent years have seen a wave of development crash ashore at this long-standing Jersey Shore resort town, with a plethora of initiatives soundly underway despite the economic downturn – in fact, more than 15 new restaurants have cropped up in the last year alone, while the much-anticipated $2.4-billion Revel mega-casino resort is due to open its lavish doors in May 2012 (www.revelresorts.com). Read more

The home of Dartmouth College and a cultural hub for the region, Hanover, N.H., makes an ideal getaway from Boston, and it’s doable for a short jaunt from New York City. We’ve put together the perfect 1-2-3 Weekend – 1 hotel, 2 restaurants, and 3 things to do – to showcase the top offerings in the greater Hanover area.

1 – Hotel

The history of the Hanover Inn dates almost as far back as that of Dartmouth. Founded as a tavern in 1780, the hotel moved into its current location in 1903. And it certainly is quite a location: The inn sits on the Dartmouth College Green and within easy walking distance of charming downtown restaurants and shops (as well as national chains like the Gap). Ninety-three rooms and suites sport a classic décor – some have four-poster beds – while offering modern perks like free Wi-Fi. The hotel has two restaurants and a seasonal terrace, but you’ll generally find less pricey fare in town. Rates from $249/night in August. Main Street; 800-443-7024; www.hanoverinn.com

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Once one of Illinois’ largest cities, this historic mining town near the Mississippi River now provides an easy weekend getaway for Chicago residents. We’ve put together the perfect 1-2-3 Weekend – 1 hotel, 2 restaurants, and 3 things to do – to showcase Galena’s top offerings.

1 – Hotel

Bed down on Main Street at the historic DeSoto House Hotel, Illinois’ oldest still-operating property. Opened in 1855, the hostelry’s 55 rooms have played host to 19th- and 20th-century notables Ulysses S. Grant, Stephen A. Douglass, William Jennings Bryan, and even Honest Abe himself. Though each of the oversized rooms is unique, expect Wi-Fi and rich Victorian décor throughout. 203 S. Main Street; 815-777-0090; www.desotohouse.com

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Remembered as a Gilded Age getaway for New York’s elite, today Newport, R.I., is an easy escape for anyone from the Big Apple or Boston. We’ve put together the perfect 1-2-3 Weekend – 1 hotel, 2 restaurants, and 3 things to do – that will show the best of what Newport has to offer.

1 Hotel

Stay at the Mill Street Inn in Newport’s Historic Hill district for ultra-modern digs with lots of plum extras. The 23 suites (all of which sleep up to four) feature cozy seating areas and über-comfortable feather beds, not to mention marble bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Book a duplex townhouse suite for your own private roof deck. In summer months, a hearty breakfast spread – complete with fresh-squeezed juices, gourmet coffee, and homemade smoothies – is served on the communal rooftop terrace. 75 Mill Street; 401-849-9500; www.millstreetinn.com

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