BEST MODERNIZED MOTEL
BRIARCLIFF MOTEL,
Great Barrington
The chic look of the Mad Men era mostly by-passed roadside lodging, but new owners have imbued this ’60s motel with wit and style, making it a cool place to unwind in the hippest town in the Berkshires. Monument Mountain is literally across the street. Rates: from $170, including continental breakfast.
506 Stockbridge Road. 413-528-3000; thebriarcliffmotel.com
BEST PET-FRIENDLY LODGING
LAMB & LION INN,
Barnstable
Innkeepers Alice Pitcher and Tom Dott have four small dogs of their own, and welcome guests who travel with canine companions if they’re not too large (25-pound maximum in the summer months). They advise on dog-friendly beaches and dining, offer canine cookies from a local specialty bakery, and even have a doggie massage specialist on call. Lots of amenities for people, too, including pool, hot tub, yoga studio, and full-service spa. Rates: from $239, including continental breakfast.
2504 Main St. 508-362-6823; lambandlion.com
BEST BOUTIQUE LODGING
CHAPMAN HOUSE AT THE VERANDA HOUSE,
Nantucket
The Lark hotel group doesn’t shy away from bringing historic structures into the 21st century. The 11 guestrooms here sport a breezy contemporary decor inside a circa-1830 building in a leafy neighborhood just a three-minute walk from the Whaling Museum. Next door is The Veranda House, a circa-1717 National Historic Landmark. Rates: from $169, including continental breakfast buffet.
3 Step Lane. 508-228-0695; theverandahouse.com/chapman-house
BEST HARBORFRONT HOTEL
DOCKSIDE INN,
Oak Bluffs
Pleasantly renovated in bright and airy Vineyard style, the Dockside’s 21 rooms are steps from the harbor and close to the gingerbread cottages of the camp-meeting grounds. Rates: from $129.
9 Circuit Ave. Extension. 508-693-2966; vineyardinns.com
BEST HIKER’S CAMPGROUND
SAVOY MOUNTAIN STATE FOREST CAMPGROUND,
Florida
Vehicle and tent campers may choose between open orchard locations and private wooded spots at this state forest in the Berkshires. Trails range from an easy hike to Bog Pond, with its abundant wildlife and carnivorous plants, to a 3.5-mile round-trip hike to the 50-foot drop of Tannery Falls. Campsites: from $12. Cabins: $30. 260 Central Shaft Road.
413-663-8469; mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/svym.htm
BEST COLLEGE HOTEL
UMASS HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER,
Amherst
Set atop the Campus Center building on the state university’s flagship site, these chic rooms are nothing like a dorm. Spacious digs combine high-tech amenities with a perfect Pioneer Valley location, striking views, and access to a state-of-the-art gym. Rooms: from $140, including continental breakfast.
1 Campus Center Way. 877-822-2110; umasshotel.com
BEST OUTER-CAPE OASIS
SAGE INN,
Provincetown
P’town can be raucous, but the soothingly simple rooms of the Sage Inn sit so far off Commercial Street that they seem to be in another ZIP code. The ground-level lounge with restaurant and bar might be the most serene spot in town to spend an afternoon or a rainy day. Rates: from $140, including continental breakfast.
336 Commercial St. 508-487-6424; sageinnptown.com
BEST VILLAGE RETREAT
GARDEN GABLES INN,
Lenox
Almost hidden by the trees and landscaping of its five-acre grounds, this gracious Berkshires inn offers 18 rooms, many in the 1780 main house, with several others in two adjoining cottages. Many rooms feature fireplaces; the two suites and several other rooms feature private porches or decks. The period sherry room epitomizes country-squire luxury. Rates: from $260, including full breakfast and afternoon sherry.
135 Main St. 413-637-0193; gardengablesinn.com
BEST SEASIDE GRAND HOTEL
EMERSON INN BY THE SEA,
Rockport
The sea and shore views from this baby-grand hotel (just 36 rooms) are hard to beat, especially when you’re sitting on the porch in a rocker with a book in your lap. Floral country decor gives the rooms a cheery Victorian brightness. Rates: from $159, including full breakfast.
1 Cathedral Ave. 978-546-6321, 800-964-5550; emersoninnbythesea.com
BEST VICTORIAN BEACHSIDE INN
INN ON ONSET BAY,
Onset
On the mainland side of the Cape Cod Canal, Onset has that briny feel without the traffic–or the premium prices. This charming 1896 turreted B&B looks down from a hill onto a sandy beach famous for kid-friendly fun. Rates: from $175, including continental breakfast.
181 Onset Ave. 508-295-1126; innononsetbay.net
BEST EUROPEAN-STYLE INN
VIENNA restaurant & HISTORIC INN,
Southbridge
Known for its Viennese restaurant, this handsome Italianate structure, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, also features five spacious guest suites decorated in late-19th-century Austrian style. Some rooms can sleep up to five. Rates: from $165, including full breakfast.
14 South St. 508-764-0700; thevienna.com
