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Photos via resort websites unless otherwise noted

Boston road trip: 16 top hotels and resorts to visit within driving distance

From near Canada to the Cape

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Everyone knows that Massachusetts and its northern New England neighbors are chock-a-block with fantastic destinations.

Here are 16 of the best resorts and hotels within a reasonable driving distance of the Boston area for your next getaway. Each has a lot of activities for guests, never mind serene locations. (H/t Yelp and TripAdvisor for some details here.)

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The Red Lion Inn

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The Red Lion is one of the few hotels in America that has been operating continuously since before 1800 (it dates from 1773). It’s also centrally located in one of the more quaint towns in all of New England.

Cranwell Spa and Golf Resort

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There is plenty of golf here (18 holes and 90-year-old fairways) and plenty of spa treatments (50). The resort also boasts several in-house restaurants.

Blantyre

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It’s said no two rooms look the same at this Downton-esque Berkshires getaway. There is a main house, a carriage house, and a collection of cottages scattered across quiet country grounds.

The Equinox

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The bones of this two-building resort date from just before the American Revolution (the area was a popular hunting hub in colonial days). Guests can hike and bike to their hearts’ content—or take lessons in falconry.

Stowe Mountain Lodge

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Obviously, the ski resorts of Vermont are best visited during the wintry months. But! This resort at the base of Stowe Mountain does include a top-notch spa as well as a 36-hole golf course. Besides, go off-season and escape the crowds.

Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa

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The 60-acre resort offers deals during the warmer months that allow visitors to take advantage of activities such as boating and hiking. And, of course, there is plenty of skiing come winter.

Woodstock Inn & Resort

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This 142-room inn is perfectly placed to allow for exploration of the surrounding town, one of several achingly quaint ones in Vermont.

Omni Mount Washington Resort

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The spa at this resort runs to 25,000 square feet and there are two golf courses—one nine holes and one 18. There are also zip lines. Whee!

The White Mountain Hotel & Resort

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This super-quaint inn includes a relatively slim amount of rooms (80) and raved-about on-site dining options. Nearby hiking opportunities abound.

The Captain Lord Mansion

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There are only 20 rooms at this high-end inn. And a three-course breakfast.

The Westin Portland

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Want a home base for exploring the New England city every Bostonian dreams of relocating to? Try the Westin. It essentially drops guests in the walkable center of town.

Inn by the Sea

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This cozy spread is less than 10 miles south of Portland, so visitors can take in Maine’s metropolis during the day and retire to peak New England quaintness in the evening.

The Mansion at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club

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This 429-acre Cape Cod resort includes a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and 26 miles of hiking-slash-biking trails.

Wequassett Resort and Golf Club

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Golf, sailing, stuff for the kids, beaches, pools, spa treatments, etc.—the Cape Cod location has all that and an in-house tavern called Thoreau.

Chatham Bars Inn

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This Cape Cod spot is more than 100 years old now, and takes a more low-key approach to the whole seaside resort concept.

Photo via TripAdvisor

The Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina

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The prime location of this more than century-old resort includes proximity to Acadia National Park. Note: It’s only open during the warmer months (winter in Maine is an acquired taste anyway).

The Red Lion Inn

The Red Lion is one of the few hotels in America that has been operating continuously since before 1800 (it dates from 1773). It’s also centrally located in one of the more quaint towns in all of New England.

Cranwell Spa and Golf Resort

There is plenty of golf here (18 holes and 90-year-old fairways) and plenty of spa treatments (50). The resort also boasts several in-house restaurants.

Blantyre

It’s said no two rooms look the same at this Downton-esque Berkshires getaway. There is a main house, a carriage house, and a collection of cottages scattered across quiet country grounds.

The Equinox

The bones of this two-building resort date from just before the American Revolution (the area was a popular hunting hub in colonial days). Guests can hike and bike to their hearts’ content—or take lessons in falconry.

Stowe Mountain Lodge

Obviously, the ski resorts of Vermont are best visited during the wintry months. But! This resort at the base of Stowe Mountain does include a top-notch spa as well as a 36-hole golf course. Besides, go off-season and escape the crowds.

Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa

The 60-acre resort offers deals during the warmer months that allow visitors to take advantage of activities such as boating and hiking. And, of course, there is plenty of skiing come winter.

Woodstock Inn & Resort

This 142-room inn is perfectly placed to allow for exploration of the surrounding town, one of several achingly quaint ones in Vermont.

Omni Mount Washington Resort

The spa at this resort runs to 25,000 square feet and there are two golf courses—one nine holes and one 18. There are also zip lines. Whee!

The White Mountain Hotel & Resort

This super-quaint inn includes a relatively slim amount of rooms (80) and raved-about on-site dining options. Nearby hiking opportunities abound.

The Captain Lord Mansion

There are only 20 rooms at this high-end inn. And a three-course breakfast.

The Westin Portland

Want a home base for exploring the New England city every Bostonian dreams of relocating to? Try the Westin. It essentially drops guests in the walkable center of town.

Inn by the Sea

This cozy spread is less than 10 miles south of Portland, so visitors can take in Maine’s metropolis during the day and retire to peak New England quaintness in the evening.

The Mansion at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club

This 429-acre Cape Cod resort includes a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and 26 miles of hiking-slash-biking trails.

Wequassett Resort and Golf Club

Golf, sailing, stuff for the kids, beaches, pools, spa treatments, etc.—the Cape Cod location has all that and an in-house tavern called Thoreau.

Chatham Bars Inn

This Cape Cod spot is more than 100 years old now, and takes a more low-key approach to the whole seaside resort concept.

Photo via TripAdvisor

The Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina

The prime location of this more than century-old resort includes proximity to Acadia National Park. Note: It’s only open during the warmer months (winter in Maine is an acquired taste anyway).