In Montauk, here's a 4000-square-foot 4BR/4BA is situated just 500 feet from "the quiet end" of the Montauk Harbor. The place has four large porches, three fireplaces, and it's decked out with rustic beachy-chic decor. It sits on a one-acre lot and has a 16x44 salt water swimming pool, and the outdoor furniture has "inordinately comfortable cushions." It's $200 a night with a 30 night minimum stay.

For a more modern beach house, here's a 3,300-square foot architect-design house in Amagansett. It sits on 2.2 acres and has a private gated entrance, heated swimming pool, and a double-height sunken living room. There are 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and a wrap around deck with an outside dining room. It's available for $8,500 a week or a whopping $35,000 for a month.

If you're heading upstate, this "dream house" in Cold Spring, NY is located right on Lake Sagamore, just one hour from Grand Central on the Metro-North. The modern 3BR/2.5BA sleeps six, it has a working stone fireplace, and the listing rivals the best brokerbabble around: "Highlights of this property include sunbathing on the boat dock on the exclusive serene lake, relaxation in the enchanting wooded gazebo hovering over a natural stream, engulfed by the soothing sounds of water, and resting or contemplating in many of the majestic outdoor spaces and terraces." Rent is $8,500 a month, plus utilities. If you're looking for a longer escape, it's also available annually.

Fifty-five miles north from NYC in Warwick, NY, you can rent a restored 1790s barn. The Hudson Valley house features original post and beam details, a rustic country design, and it's situated on four acres. It sleeps four to five people in two bedrooms and a nursery, and it has two full bathrooms, one with a jacuzzi tub. Outside, there's a sitting area, hammock, BBQ, bonfire pit, trampoline, and plenty of wildlife. It's $950/a week or $500 for the weekend.

Rustic and modern at the same time, this 2BR/2BA sits on 54 private acres in the Hudson Valley's Stone Ridge, two hours from New York in the Catskills. The grounds include a tennis court, pond, old quarries, and groomed woodlands, and the house has two decks, a sleeping loft, and a full laundry room. It rents for $5,500/month.

By far the oddest-looking house on this list, this home in Litchfield, CT was "holistically designed," and it looks like a series of connected igloos. It sits on 5.5 forested acres, and sleeps four to six people with three bedrooms and three baths. Despite the odd shape, ceilings are rather high, reaching 16 feet. The place has private spa facilities with a heated indoor pool, sauna, solarium, massage room, indoor jacuzzi tub, and outdoor hot tub. Litchfield is two hours from Manhattan, and this home rents for $5,000/week.

For $22,000 a month, you can rent a 4,200-square-foot waterfront home in Groton Long Point, CT. The sprawling four bedroom, three and a half bath home has an open layout with a huge living room and kitchen, and outside, it has a private boat dock, a small private beach, and a landscaped yard. The owner built the house himself in 2001.

New Jersey probably isn't the first place one thinks of when looking for a "private island retreat," but we found just that on Lake Hopatcong in the state's Skylands Region. This historic home was originally used by the Maxin Park Yacht club in the early 1900s, and the same family has owned the estate since 1926. A steel bridge connects the property to the mainland. The 4BR/2.5BA home has wrap-around porches, restored wood paneling, a boat dock, and waterfront patio. Rent is $2,450 a week or $400 per night with a four night minimum stay.