Cuddle up in Connecticut: Suburbia never felt so chic: Snuggle up by a bonfire, snowshoe through the scenic outdoors, and sip hot apple cider (we won't tell anybody if you spike it) while you get in touch with your inner woodsman in the Connecticut countryside.
Pack: Get cozy in layers—think cardigans and nubby knits; scarves, mittens, and maybe a glam balaclava if you're daring.
Eat: Fresh, local, and organic. Check out the West Street Grill, a rustic, homey bistro that serves authentic fresh food with a sophisticated Asian twist. Hailed as "the restaurant that changed Connecticut dining forever," you'll barely miss Momofuku at all.
West Street Grill, 43 West Street, Litchfield, CT; 860-567-3885.
Sleep: Rest up in the wild woodland at the Winvian Hotel, a rural boutique refuge. The resort boasts 18 cottages, each with a unique design scheme, so there's sure to be one that tickles your fancy. With a plethora of activities like hiking, snowshoeing, and private yoga sessions, plus a super luxe spa, Winvian will have you fresh-faced and ready to hit the city again in no time.
Winvian Hotel, 155 Alain White Road; Morris, CT; 860-567-9600.
Get There: Just over two hours by car on I-684.
Play at Lake Placid: Think old school frosty frolics and a fairy tale setting with the idyllic Lake Placid as the center of your winter wonderland. Try downhill skiing at a woodsy luxury lodge (and maybe find a sexy ski instructor to give you "lessons"), take a toboggan ride, or make like a polar bear and hibernate next to the blazing fire against a breaktaking lakeshore backdrop.
Pack: Think Dr. Zhivago meets Chanel's winter wonderland. Try Burberry's bear-esque fur coat or hit Zara for faux-fur trims to die for.
Eat: Sample some microbrews at Lake Placid Pub & Brewery—might we suggest Ubu Ale, a strong English ale that's the pub's flagship beer? Oh, and maybe nosh on a classic shepard's pie or New England clam chowder if you get around to it, but suds are definitely the main attraction here.
Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, 813 Mirror Lake Drive, Lake Placid, NY; 518-523-3818.
Sleep: Lay your head down in one of Lake Placid Lodge's seventeen luxury cottages nestled in the Adirondacks, each outfitted with a fireplace and located right at the water's edge. Once you've thawed after ice fishing on the frigid lake, imbibe in some vintage vino at the lodge's Wine Cellar dining room.
Lake Placid Lodge, 144 Lodge Way, Lake Placid, NY; 518-523-2700.
Get There: Two and half hours by car on Route 73, or hop on an Adirondack Trailways bus straight from the city.
Hunt hidden treasures in Hudson: When relaxation and recreation fail, turn to the next best thing that is sure to make you smile: retail therapy. Hudson is an antiques gold mine, the perfect place to find that velvet Victorian fainting couch or pick up some objets d'art to deck out your abode. After you shop 'til you drop, unwind at a charming little hilltop B&B in the historic Hudson Valley.
Pack: Get in the mood for scouring though antique stores with a cinched in belt and full skirt for a '50s look that adds to the getaway vibe—head scarf and Jackie O sunglasses optional!
Eat: Expand your culinary palate at the Scandanavian-inspired eatery DA/BA. Unsual ingredients and creative preparations make this an ideal spot for an adventurous eater—though if you eat elk carapaccio or golden whitefish roe on the reg, you'll be right at home.
DA/BA, 225 Warren Street, Hudson, NY; 518-249-4631.
Sleep: Mount Merino Manor takes bed and breakfast to a whole new level, replete with old world charm and a twist of natural beauty. Soak up some history, art and architecture—the Manor is just next door to Olana State Historic Site, the estate of Hudson River School artist Frederic Edwin Church.
Mount Merino Manor, 4317 State Route 23, Hudson, NY; 518-828-5583.
Get There: Amtrak has trains that will drop you off right in Hudson, or drive a little over two and half hours on I-87.