Easily accessible from New York City -- about an hour by car or ferry -- Long Branch, N.J., offers all the best of the Jersey Shore, plus a luxury resort.
Fresh from a multiyear, extensive refurbishment, the Ocean Place Resort & Spa offers 255 South Beach-inspired guest rooms and meeting space for groups of up to 1,000 people.
An ocean theme carries through the resort, including the lobby's stone fountain and 70-foot wave-shaped bar, the Seaview Restaurant, the outdoor Tiki Bar, and indoor and outdoor pools. The real deal -- the majestic Atlantic Ocean -- is just steps away.
The newest addition is a spa with 11 treatment rooms. Nearby is a stretch of shops and restaurants for off-property enjoyment.