Get Away

by Christine Koubek Flynn

Escape to Margaritaville

Get in a beachy state of mind on an island that’s far from tropical: Manhattan. Opened in the summer of 2021, Margaritaville Resort Times Square was designed to feel like an escape, from a lobby check-in desk inspired by the keel of a sailing ship to New York City’s largest tiki bar and Times Square’s only year-round outdoor heated resort swimming pool (at the hotel’s LandShark Bar & Grill).

The island vibe is carried through the 234 guest rooms in weatheredtexture wood furnishings with rope cabinet pulls, bleached white walls, turquoise accessories and soundproof windows to help with getting away from the city’s hustle-bustle.

The property’s five restaurants and bars include the two-story Margaritaville Restaurant, home to the tiki bar and a 32-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty playfully holding a margarita in place of her torch. The margarita glass is made from custom-made LED screens that show images of Manhattan and the tropics set to Jimmy Buffett songs. For a VIP experience, book the booth inside the statue—the text on her tablet reads “No Passport Required.”

The License to Chill Bar on the hotel’s seventh floor has indoooutdoor seating and cozy firepits on the terrace. The 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar is the spot for craft cocktails with 360-degree views from the 31st and 32nd floors. Rates begin at $202.

Margaritaville Resort Times Square, 560 Seventh Ave., New York, 212221-3007, margaritavilleresorts.com/ margaritaville-resort-times-square

The Wildset Hotel in St. Michaels, Maryland

Cozy Up by the Shore

Opened in July in St. Michaels, Maryland, The Wildset Hotel evokes a sense of the Danish term “hygge,” which refers to a cozy atmosphere built on warmth in many forms: blankets, fire, reading nooks, a convivial ambience. The hotel which is composed of five historic structures, features thos comforts and more. The 34 guest rooms and suites have wide-plank oak floors, aged brass and pewter accents, an casually elegant custom furniture and bedding, plus books for guests to read by authors such as Barbara Kingsolver and Mary Oliver. Several rooms have a built-in bench with pillows, a fireplace and a private balcony or patio. The hotels sundry shop includes a coffee bar and shelves lined with bath salts, blankets, candles and literary best-sellers.

Head outside to the oversize stone firepit to relax with a glass of wine or to roast marshmallows for s’mores (free kits are available year-round). A complimentary daily breakfast features fresh pastries, yogurt and house-made granola.

Seafood-centric restaurant Ruse—named as a nod to St. Michaels being known as the town that fooled the British during the War of 1812—has a full bar and a lovely oyster bar with a hand-painted tile base.

Learn how generations of locals have lived and played on the bay at the nearby Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. Bikes are available for cruising around town, and a pool is slated to open in May. Rates begin at $197 per night.

The Wildset Hotel, 209 N. Talbot St., St. Michaels, Maryland, 410-745-8004, thewildset.com

The Prime Rib steak house at the Live! Casino Hotel in Philly

Get Your Game On

Live! Casino Hotel Philadelphia, which opened in February 2021, is in the heart of the city’s Stadium District with easy access to the venues of four major professional sports teams. See a game in person or watch several at once at the hotel’s Sports & Social bar, which sports a 52-foot LED display and 24 TVs. Within the bar is FanDuel Sportsbook and Lounge, with self-service kiosks and retail windows for placing bets.

Casino highlights include more than 150 table games, over 2,100 slot machines and a 29-table poker room. Fuel up at The Prime Rib steak house or at Luk Fu, which features Southeast Asian fare and private karaoke rooms. Quick eats options are found in the 10th Street Market food hall; don’t miss Lorenzo and Sons Pizza, a South Philly staple since 1970, and Termini Brothers Bakery, a beloved South Philadelphia establishment that serves cannoli, cookies and cakes.

The Event Center at Live! seats up to 1,000 guests and is home to comedy, live music and headliners. The hotel’s 208 contemporary guest rooms include pillow-top mattresses, Nespresso coffee and Ultra HD 55-inch TVs. Spacious studio suites offer a separate living area, an expansive marble bathroom and sweeping skyline views. Rates begin at $189 per night midweek, $249 on weekends.

Live! Casino Hotel Philadelphia, 900 Packer Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 833-472-5483, livecasinohotelphilly.com