Any better ideas?

We're taking the kids to New York in September. This is Sean's big pilgrammage to Yankee Stadium so the boys can see it before it gets torn down. So I figured we'd make a week of it, go a little further north and see some foliage, hike a little (as much as my lazy toddler and fat belly will allow), relax.

Now I knew the weekend in the city would be expensive. There's no avoiding expensive hotels in NYC, but I'm trying to see if I can use some Marriott points to buy a few nights. But I figured the rest of the week wouldn't be too bad. I went to check this lodge/country inn where Sean and I stayed about 7-8 yrs ago in Vermont. It's a little rustic, but family friendly (adult + bunk beds, goats and stuff to play with), and if I recall, ran us about $80 a night last time we stayed. Now: $175 + taxes a night for the same room! And it doesn't look like they've undergone any renovation to go from a rustic converted barn to a luxury B&B. So what gives? So I'm on the prowl for something suitable and affordable for the last wk of Sept somewhere within driving distance (5 hours?) of NYC. Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut...any place would be fine where we could get a little country outdoors time and not spend a fortune. I guess $175 a night isn't a fortune, but we paid $80/night taxes included for a 3 bedroom townhouse in Orlando so I think I've gotten a warped sense of cost.