My mother and step-father have offered to take my kids starting this Thurs-Mon allowing my wife to get away from them for the first time in about 2 years. My wife was thinking Newport or Maine and we were recommended to try The Cliffs in Maine, but it is booked. I figured I would check bbi and see if there were any good recommendations. Thanks in advance!
The Sagamore in Lake George
Mohonk Mountain House in the Catskills
Cranwell in the Berkshires
Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid is excellent
And my favorite spot, The Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid. Great food, service, location.
You could also check out some wine excursions and packages in the Finger Lakes.
Burlington, VT is a great town for food and some romance.
Any of those options are easy - and beautiful - drives. Especially up I87 thru the Adirondacks and Catskills. You could even tack on a half day at Saratoga if you have any interest in the ponies. Burlington is a bit more of a hike, but you mentioned Maine so...
LP is a happy and beautiful in-between. Just research ahead that the Can-Am youth hockey tournament isn't going on. I think it's not in the summer, so you should be good. You won't be disappointed with either MLI or WL. They're both amazing.
There are 2 high end lodges in lake Placid....top notch.
Lake George is too touristy for me
Mohawk is great.....a bit far for you guys but Nemacolin is the best
Beaches, boating, shopping, and all the lobster you can eat.
Portland is an easy ride if you want to check out different breweries and things to do there as well.
beautiful village, great bars, restaurants, shopping, recreation and the history is unmatched IMO.
Saranac lake also not far.
I highly recommend it.
Newport is fun (my wife and I got married there), obviously it's a more crowded coastal town (compared with somewhere like Lake Placid), but good beaches, great food (Black Pearl chowder is among the best anywhere), good shopping if you're into that, tennis HOF, cliff walk/mansions - it's a walking "town" for the most part too which is nice. Narragansett just over the bridge - better beach and Matunuck Oyster Bar - which is the best place on the planet (or at least New England, lol) for oysters.
Someone mentioned Kennebunkport - been a few times, like it a lot, quaint, but a lot to do - Mabels has the best warm lobster roll I've had - saw former President Bush (HW) leaving one time when we tried to go there.
Other beach suggestions if you're thinking of going North:
Block Island
Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket
Cape Cod - so many places on the Cape