ADVENTURES AWAY
By Olivia Owens
These favorites offer the perfect excuse for an active weekend away from the hustle and bustle.
MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF
Bluffton, SC
It’s not hard to fall in love with the Montage Palmetto Bluff, situated along the May River. Once you arrive at this 20,000-acre community of Palmetto Bluff that has been transformed into a perfect replica of a small island town, complete with its clapboard church.
The Low Country’s most luxurious resort sits within a nature preserve, ideal for an invigorating vacation. All accommodations are generously sized with a chic coastal décor. Your screened-in porch puts you immediately in touch with nature. For active travelers, there’s hiking and biking trails, guided boating tours, and an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course. If you’d rather work out indoors, there’s also cardio- and strength-training equipment, along with a movement studio for spinning, yoga and Pilates classes. Accommodations consist of generously-sized cottages: The one-bedrooms boast a coastal-chic decor with more than 1,100 square feet of space. Enjoy sumptuous bedding, gas fireplaces, surround-sound home theaters, and marvelous bathroom suites with steam showers. The spa, among the best in the country, puts you close to heaven. Pampering treatments that utilize abundant elements sourced from the May River that are blended into a full body experience to rejuvenate. End the day in the relaxing River House Lounge, noted for its mix of delicious food and wines.
For more information on Montage
CHATHAM BARS INN
Chatham, MA
Chatham Bars Inn was originally developed in 1914, as a semi-private hunting lodge for wealthy Bostonians. Decades later, the Inn has seen million dollar renovations that substantially transformed every inch of the hotel. The beachfront property accommodations in the Main Inn, cottages, and 12 luxe (adults only) spa suites complete with saunas, steam showers, and fireplaces. The decor follows the Cape Cod norm, with beige and blue sea motifs. The nautical color palette extends to the hotel’s guest rooms and cottages, which guests adore for their seaside views and large wrap around porches. The delicious New England-inspired fare served at the on-location dining venues have earned rave reviews and added to the list of reasons to return. Regular activities for guests include celebrity chef demos, Murder Mystery Weekends, and Gingerbread Workshops. Look for a Snow Barbecue on the Beach the day after Christmas.
For more information on Chatham Bars Inn, visit chathambarsinn.com.
THE WHITEFACE LODGE
Lake Placid, NY
The Whiteface Lodge is located in the High Peaks region of the Adirondack Mountains, minutes from the village of Lake Placid. Evoking the splendor of the historic Adirondack Great Camps, the Forbes Four Diamond-rated Whiteface Lodge has a fitness center (natch), game room with air hockey, and shuffleboard, and even an ice cream parlor. There’s also a lakefront Canoe Club with boat rentals, biking, fishing, and whitewater rafting. The surrounding Adirondack Park—home to five golf courses—offers a little bit of everything including mountain and trail hiking, road and mountain biking, and fishing. Guests can take advantage of the lodge’s group fitness classes, indoor pool, as well as sauna and steam room. Especially inviting is the 8,000-square-foot spa offering everything from a mud wrap to an Apple Cider Masque and Massage to an Outdoorsman Facial. The excellent Sports Massage helps improve circulation, and strength through muscle massage therapy. FYI: The Lodge was conceived and built by a former Olympian, and the hotel staff almost always include several Olympic hopefuls and recent Olympians.
For more information on The Whiteface Lodge, visit thewhitefacelodge.com.
WOODSTOCK INN & RESORT
Woodstock, VT
Far from the main road but still on Woodstock’s gorgeous green, this resort has a hard-to-beat location. This grand hotel affords guests a contemporary and luxurious ambiance. Accommodations feature huge flat-screen TVs, country-chic furniture, and all-white bathrooms with subway-tile walls. Thoughtful touches include daily afternoon tea with homemade cookies. For pure relaxation, the state-of-the-art, LEED-certified spa offers a wide array of services. Even if you don’t get a treatment, try the eucalyptus steam room, outdoor hot tub and cedar sauna (for a small fee). Dining options are exceptional: The Red Rooster serves an classic menu, and for more casual, there’s Richardson’s Tavern. For a unique experience, learn how to handle and fly hawks at The New England Falconry. Or perhaps take a hike. With more than 20 miles of trails in the nearby Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Historical Park (Vermont’s only National Park), you’ll easily commune with Mother Nature. A big bonus: The resort owns and provides access to the Suicide Six ski area, a Nordic center, and a golf club.
For more information on Woodstock Inn & Resort, visit woodstockinn.com.
