Natura Cabana, DR

A friend of ours recommended the Natura Cabana property in the Dominican Republic, when we were talking about how hard it is to find really non-commercial properties, that are easy to fly into. This completely fit the ticket. We landed into Puerto Plata, after a very quick (3 hours and nonstop) Jet Blue flight from JFK. A taxi that the hotel had booked was waiting for us, and within a half an hour we were walking into our beautiful bungalow. It was a three bedroom, since that was what was available, and they charge just by the person--which was $90 per person, and $40 per child, and includes breakfast. The bungalow was really well appointed, the beds comfortable enough, and the bathroom lovely, although the water pressure was non-existent, and there was no way we were going to take a bath, since it would have taken hours to fill up. Never mind, there was a pool (although not heated, Clara didn't mind), and the Caribbean right in front. I was able to sit in the hammock on the front porch, while Clara played on the wooden swingset out front, right next to the very cute treehouse. The beach was beautiful, with lovely little purple and pink shells, and although the water was rough in spots, it didn't have a strong undertow. The food was really good, and very homemade, with its only drawback being that it took a long time to come out. In fact, our friend who sent us there told us that we should order, then come back 45 minutes later. Since we knew that going in, it wasn't a problem. We would order dinner, then grab a couple of mojitos for us and pineapple juice for Clara, head to the beach, and swing on the silk rope swing. We didn't do any yoga when we were there (it's known for it), and we didn't do any surfing in the nearby Cabarete Beach...but we did do a drive to Sosua, 10 minutes away, which is a very raw and not touristy spot, which has a lot of fish shacks, bars, and stalls selling a little bit of everything you'd expect—but the one thing to look out for and bring back—are the amber necklaces. If you need a long weekend getaway, this is a good option, and if you want a longer time away, I'd pair it with a stay at La Catalina, about another 40 minutes further up the coast.

Talbot County, Maryland

Last fall we took a weekend trip to Talbot County, which is on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It's a fantastic, easy, long weekend getaway from NYC since it's just a four hour drive (provided you time it correctly and don't hit traffic on I-95). We spent the most time in the towns of Oxford, Easton, and St. Michaels (all in close proximity to each other). Here are our discoveries, and let me add, Clara says she can't wait to go back, a huge endorsement, considering the hotel didn't have a pool, and there was no amusement park.

Inn at Perry Cabin: It’s a hotel you’d want to go to, even if it was in the middle of nowhere—great restaurant, inspired gardens, and lovely water views. And the décor is great—cozy, comfy, elegant. Fresh flowers everywhere (cut from their gardens)—in the rooms, public spaces…cozy public spaces with lovely furniture. Kayaks available for checking out the river out front, and bikes to go into town. Cookies made and put in the room every night, cooked by Mrs. Gussy, who has been making them for 24 years. Even if you don't stay here (it gets pricey) it's worth coming to just to check out their garden "rooms", (gardens that were designed to feel like rooms), and the secret passageway door in one of their public living room spaces. Dinner at the Sherwood Landing restaurant is fancy, and perhaps not worth going unless you have a sitter, not that they wouldn't be welcoming of families--it's just that it's expensive, and there are other people there for special occasions (so maybe going early would be an option)...They have a menu that lists each purveyor (mostly local) and a great wine list. We loved the crab cakes, and the Smith Island cake.

The Crab Claw is a family-run local favorite in St. Michaels, where you have to order the blue crab extravaganza. They bring them out, dump them on the table, and you get messy for an hour. They leave a brown bag for you to fill up. We loved it. Order the appetizer of pickles and cheese...sounds weird, but it is great. While you're waiting, you can walk around outside buy some duck treats from a candy machine to feed the ducks.

Andy Warhol Museum

I'm going to do a whole post about Pittsburgh—where to stay, eat, what to do—but sometimes I think you just need one reason to go to a place, before you need to figure out all the details. So here's the one reason to make it to Pittsburgh: the Andy Warhol Museum. Let me first start out by saying that it wasn't the reason we came to Pittsburgh, and it wasn't something I was just dying to go to. It was epic--something like 5 or 6 floors which take you through his entire life, and wow, so well done. On the kid side of things, there's probably one of the best kid activity rooms I've ever seen in a museum. They call it The Factory, and you get to choose between several projects (see sign below to get a sense of the range). There's also a really cute cafe. One thing to be aware of if you're there with your kids is that there are some exhibits that are a little adult in nature--but you could just ask at the front desk what to steer clear of...Note: No one is allowed to take pictures within the main part of the museum, so I could only show here the cafe, the public entrance area, and The Factory. You'll have to trust me that the exhibition areas are epic.