As we inched back to some version of “normal” this summer, many of us pulled our suitcases out of the attic and hopped aboard a plane the first chance we got. The deluge of travel-related nightmares came on like a flash flood soon after, and they still haven’t relented. Flights delayed for an entire day or cancelled minutes before boarding was to begin. Abrupt changes to routes, with new layovers thousands of miles out of the way. People with breakthrough infections quarantined for weeks abroad.
Much as we want to be able to roam as freely as we once did, the world’s just not there yet. But that doesn’t mean you should resign yourself to hibernating until the spring. Just remember why you love traveling. Whether you went halfway around the world or a few hours down I-95, your goal was the same: Expose yourself to something new. Hit refresh. You can do that by getting curious about your own backyard, too.
Finding the pitch-perfect place to stay will help a lot. We’ve saved you some searching and found a few places on Airbnb that are quintessential Delaware River Towns. Safe travels!
Get cozy in New Hope
A hundred-year-old cottage situated on a three-and-a-half-acre estate that sits minutes from downtown New Hope and Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. Convenient as that may sound, there are ample reasons to never leave the grounds, including a private terrace, lush gardens, and the coziest living room, complete with a fireplace and an unlimited supply of logs.
Have a hotel all to yourself
How many times have you driven past that place on North Franklin Street in Lambertville that looks like a boutique hotel and wondered what it looks like inside? Wonder no more. It features three spacious, well-appointed bedrooms, two spa-like bathrooms, a kitchen that belongs in a magazine, and a roof deck where a small group of friends could easily lose itself in conversation for hours at a time.
Embed yourself in peak fall
With peak fall foliage season upon us, you could climb in the car and drive for hours to New England or upstate New York. Or you could head up River Road and make this newly renovated cottage in Upper Black Eddy your home for a long weekend. You’ll find all the seasonal color you could want just outside your door. And Frenchtown, with all its quirky shops and quenching restaurants, is just a few minutes away.
Settle into the stillness
You know those coming-of-age movies where several friends meet up at a secluded and spectacular home for a week? It’s only a matter of time before a location scout for the next installment in that genre finds this character-rich farmhouse in Upper Black Eddy. Meander the surrounding 20 acres or slip into one of the home’s many nooks and peel open a book. At night, linger over a loud, boozy dinner with friends, stoke the fire in the fireplace, and realize you haven’t looked at your phone all day.
