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ON THE COVER

You don't have to board a plane to have a romantic honeymoon. Road trips are a great way to spend time together and get to know each other all over again. And with so many great destinations within driving distance of the Tri-State area, all you need to do for an amazing post-nuptial escape is pack a few things and hop in the car.

Destination: Newport, Rhode Island
Why: The Vanderbilts, the Astors, and a string of other renowned 19th-century elitists loved this summertime retreat and you will, too. The cobblestone streets are full of New England charm, and the robber barons summer homes on Bellevue Avenue-the Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, among others- will keep you ooohing and aaahing for days. The waterfront downtown is filled with little shops-everything from postcards for mom and dad to nautical gear to saltwater taffy-and you can always amble along the Cliff Walk or settle in for lazy days on one of the famous bay beaches. Sleep on It: Who needs a summer home? At The Adele Turner Inn, it's all about luxury. Rooms have canopy beds, whirlpool tubs for two, and working fireplaces, and the gourmet breakfasts are indulgent-even for a Vanderbilt (from $195 a night, including breakfast; 93 Pelham St.; 800-845-1811; www.adeleturner.com). Table for Two: Don't miss an outside table at Christies of Newport, where you can enjoy local specialties like New England clam chowder, lobster, or, on the raw bar, oysters-aphrodisiacs (dinner for two $75 and up; 351 Thames St.; 401-847-5400; christiesofnewport.com). Travel Time: three and a half hours from New York; three from Connecticut; and four from New Jersey. Tourist info: 800-976-5122; www.gonewport.com. -Mary Lynn Mitcham

Destination: Boston, Massachusetts
Why: Red Sox lovers who need a Fenway fix will love cuddling up on Boston's historic streets. In between games, you'll find plenty to do: shopping at Quincy Market, touring the underrated Fine Arts Museum, visiting the symphony, the theater, or the ballet. And then there's history: the Paul Revere House, the federal architecture, the site of the Boston Massacre, and the Freedom trail, to name a few.

Sleep on it: XV Beacon, a 15-room hideaway, mixes history with modernity. Spend your nights at the 1903 Beaux Arts hotel, in a oneof- a-kind room equipped with a queen-poster bed, a CD player (and a library of CDs to get the mood rolling), a fireplace, and, depending on which one you book, a whirlpool tub. While there's no need to ever leave, you can-in a complimentary chauffered Mercedes courtesy of the hotel (from $350; 15 Beacon St.; 617- 670-1500; xvbeacon.com). Table for two: Make reservations at the hotel's restaurant, The Federalist, a sleek gourmet eatery, and you can enjoy entrees like Atlantic halibut or rack of lamb, along with wine from a long list of choices (dinner for two around $100). Travel Time: four hours from New York; three hours from Connecticut; four and a half from New Jersey. Tourist info: 888-733-2678; www.bostonusa.com. -Mary Lynn Mitcham

Destination: New Paltz, New York
Why: The "come as you are" vibe of this hippie village welcomes you with open arms-and a peace sign-so you can make your honeymoon what it's supposed to be: Yours. Fall is the best time to visit-you can leaf peep on the bike trails and the wine trails. Shoppers, bring the credit card-Main Street buzzes with antique stores (the village boasts more than 10!), bookstores, and vintage-clothing boutiques. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your tie-dyed T-shirt (we know you still have one), and kick back on this do-as-you-please trip. Sleep on It: Mohonk Mountain House is long synonymous with New Paltz, and it's perfect for couples looking to-um, how shall we say it?-couple up. The 215-room Victorian castle, set on a ridge above the Lake, will make you feel like you're fl oating on the clouds ("mohonk" means "lake in the sky," after all). Get lost in the gardens; tee off on the award-winning nine-hole golf course; dine by candlelight in the restaurant (we hear the seared breast of duck is delicious); or just cozyup in front of the fireplace in your "Tower" room complete with a private balcony. And if the lake-front setting doesn't help you wind down from the wedding, the new spa- which debuts this summer-sure will (from $389 a night; includes three meals daily, afternoon tea and cookies, and complimentary recreation activities; 1000 Mountain Rest Rd.; 800-772-6646; www.mohonk.com). Table for Two: At the Main Street Bistro-a great spot for lunch-you'll get the full "New Paltz experience:" Tofu Tornado, Minnewaska Salad (named after the famed New Paltz preserve) or, our favorite, the Peacemaker burger (59 Main St.; 845-255-7766; www.mainstreetbistro.com). Travel Time: about an hour and a half from New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Tourist info: 845-463-4000; www.dutchesstourism.com.-Erica Wilders

Destination: Cape May, New Jersey
Why: This seaside hamlet is a registered National Historic Landmark, and its colorful Victorian-era homes ooze charm no matter the season. October 8 kicks off Victorian week, and you can get sneak peeks into some of the finest ones in town. In December, they're decorated in full holiday regalia, so cozy up in a trolley and take in the splendor. When you're ready to venture out, take a whalewatching tour (through December; 800-786- 5445), or a self-guided audio walking tour of the historic district (609-884-5404), or hike trails that wind past picturesque sand dunes leading to Cape May Meadows, where hawks and Peregrine Falcons are typically spotted in the fall. Sleep on it: Immerse yourself in history (and luxury) and book a room at the white-columned, Federal-style Congress Hall; the sprawling hotel dates from 1879 and has hosted countless presidents. Its 107 rooms are done in 1920s decor, and the private verandas offer stunning ocean views (rooms from $115; 251 Beach Dr.; 888-944-1816). Table for two: For dinner, try the elegant Ebbitt Room at the Virginia Hotel; you'll dine on delicacies like Kumamoto Oysters with iced champagne and caviar, pan-roasted soft-shell crab, and citrusspice rubbed duck breast (25 Jackson St.; 800- 732-4326). End your evening back at the hotel with a massage at the spa or cocktails in the posh lounge. Travel Time: About two and a half hours from New York and Connecticut. Tourist info: 888-898-2997; www.capemay.com. -Nicole Sprinkle

Destination: Burlington/ Stowe, Vermont
Why: Cozy inns, glistening white snow, quaint towns: If you like the thought of honeymooning in a winter wonderland, then Vermont should top your list. Begin in Burlington, where you can shop in any of the 150 stores along Church Street on the Lake Champlain waterfront or stop in Champlain Chocolates and feed each other truffl es or buy something pretty for your table at Bennington Potters. Take a detour 15 minutes east to the Essex Outlet Fair, where you can get up to 70 percent off at Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, and other brand-name stores, or stop in for a tour at the Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury (802-244-8687; www.benjerry.com). Sleep on it: After you've shopped (and licked) your hearts out, head 40 miles north to the beautiful village of Stowe, and cozy up at the Stone Hill Inn (rooms from $315; 89 Houston Farm Rd.; Stowe; 802-253- 6282; www.stonehillinn.com). You'll be just in time for evening hors d'oeuvres at five (like shrimp with Remoulade sauce and Stilton cheese with sliced pears). Afterwards, hit the nearby slopes for an evening run, or borrow a pair of snowshoes from the front desk and play on their backyard hill. To wind down, soak under the stars in the outdoor hot tub or in your room's own whirlpool tub (a twosided gas fireplace faces both the bathroom and the bedroom). Or stop in at the Stowefl ake Resort's famed spa for a couples' retreat, which includes an aromatherapy bath and massage by candlelight ($305+; 1746 Mountain Rd; Stowe; 800-925-3735; www.stowefl ake.com). Table for two: Stowefl ake's award-winning Winfield's Bistro serves New American cuisine and wines from an extensive list. Ask for a table in front of the fireplace. Travel time: About five and a half hours from New York and New Jersey; four hours from Connecticut. Tourist info: 800-837-6668; www.vermontvacationcom. -Nicole Sprinkle

Destination: Poconos, Pennsylvania
Why: If you thought that the Poconos were only about cheesy heart-shaped tubs, you're missing out. This mountain retreat in northeast Pennsylvania has upscale resorts and inns, rustic restaurants, and breathtaking scenery. Spend the day at the Italianate Asa Packer Mansion (the former home of a railroad magnate) or do a wine tasting at some of the area's vineyards (like Cherry Valley or Big Creek). Sleep on it: For some of the best views, book a room at the Skytop Lodge, a member of the Historic Hotels of America. This stately stone mansion, set on a 5,500-acre estate and perched above Skytop Lake, has awesome views of the West Mountain peaks. In fall, you can golf on their 18-hole championship course or hike the hundreds of trails. Come winter, ice-skate on their outdoor rink, zigzag the grounds on cross-country skis, and hop on the lifts for runs down their four slopes (800-617-2389; rooms from $492 per two-night stay, including three meals a day and unlimited skiing, ice-skating, and snow-shoeing). Table for two: Visit the Stone Bar Inn, a favorite Poconos spot, for fireside dining and fabulous Angus beef, native game, and seafood (570-992-6634). Travel time: An hour and a half from New York and New Jersey; three hours from Connecticut. Tourist Info: 800-762-6667; www.800poconos.com. -Nicole Sprinkle

Traffic Jam
While New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey offer extremely different atmospheres, they all have one common thread (or nuisance, rather): traffic. From the hold-ups on the I-95, to the rubbernecking on the Garden State Parkway, to gridlock on Manhattan's city streets, congestion is a part of daily life. And yes, you might get stuck on a road-trip honeymoon. What can you do to pass the time? Play lots of games.

Game: The Movie Game
How to play: Start by saying the name of your favorite movie (mine is Pretty in Pink). Then your hubby has to name someone in that movie (Molly Ringwald). Next you have to name a movie that star appeared in other than the one you mentioned (Sixteen Candles). And then your hubby has to name someone in that movie other than the actor mentioned before (Anthony Michael Hall). And so on, and so forth. Whoever stumps the other person first gets a point. Who it's for: Movie buffs or those with photographic memories. Why it's fun: You can keep up on your entertainment trivia, and it could lead to great movie conversations, which can highlight what you have in common.

Game: Dial Up
How to play: Start at the end of the radio dial and slowly move through the stations. When you get to one with a song playing, whoever can name the song first gets a point. Who it's for: Longtime subscribers to Rolling Stone. Why it's fun: It eases frustration about commercials being the only thing on the radio.

Game: Time It
How to play: Guess the time you will arrive at certain destinations. Whoever is closest, wins! Who it's for: Mathematicians who had no trouble figuring out that classic word problem: If a train leaves New York City at 8 a.m...Why it's fun: On the open road, a countdown to your destination can make time fly.

Game: License Plates
How to play: See how many license plates from different states you can spot. Tally it up at the end of the trip and whoever has the most is the winner. Who it's for: Geography aficionados with 20-20 vision. Why it's fun: You get to learn all the different state mottos-and possibly talk about where you'd like to live in the future.

Game: Punch-Buggy
How to play: When you see a VW Beetle on the road, punch your hubby (gently, he is driving) and say "Punch Buggy" and the color of the car. Whoever spots the most, wins. Who it's for: Car (or boxing) enthusiasts. Why it's fun: Hitting is a form of fl irting, right? -E.W.

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