Weekend Getaway NJ-PA-NY-MA

[guppy]

My mother is celebrating a big birthday this year, and we wanted to get away as a family for a few days. There will be 3 couples, 6 adults total going on this trip. We were looking on vrbo.com for a nice 3br home with a lake that we could canoe/paddle boat/etc. during the day and then have a nice town closeby to visit in the evenings for dinner/bowling/live music/entertainment. Does anyone know of a good area for this?

My mother does NOT want to go to the Poconos, so anything in that area is out. She said she had heard of Sturbridge, MA having a cute town. Has anyone been there and do they agree? I tried looking online but it doesn't seem like much. I know this isn't exactly a savingadvice kind of thread, but I know a number of you like to vacation and use vrbo.com and live sort of in the area, so I was hoping someone could help out!

So far I'm thinking Hershey, PA or Sturbridge, MA. We are trying to stay within a 5 hour radius of central NJ. Any other areas/towns you know of are greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

[jIM_Ohio]

Try finger lakes in New York State

Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake are where I do wine tasting, there are more lakes to choose from (further east).

[cschin4]

Gettysburg, PA. Nice historical sites and town.

[disneysteve]

Not sure about the water sport availability but check out the Lancaster, PA area. Also, consider shore towns like Cape May, NJ, Rehobeth Beach, DE... Somewhere like Mystic, CT is also very nice.

[guppy]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I will have to let my mother know and see if there's any she's interested in.

I realized I posted above about Sturbridge, MA. It seems it's actually Old Sturbridge Village, MA that my mother was interested in. Anybody ever been there? Is there enough to do for at least a day?

[disneysteve]

Another very pretty area is around Bear Mountain in NY and the Hudson River Valley region. Go to hudsonriver.com to check it out.