The Jefferson
Photo Courtesy of The Jefferson
You love a great tech-free getaway or a long weekend at the beach. You know, the kind where you come back only drinking water sourced from a fresh coconut and wonder why you ever thought heels were a good idea. Maybe your significant other craves an exhilarating weekend in one of your favorite cities, catching up on the latest shopping, dining and nightlife. What’s a jet-setter to do? Why, do both, of course. These following two-night itineraries let you combine all of your loves into one single trip that doesn’t require compromise … or unlimited vacation days.
The Rittenhouse and The Inn at Leola Village – Philadelphia
You’ll hear the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages on the roads surrounding The Inn at Leola Village, a former tobacco farm turned Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel with elegant, Italian flair. Start your weekend on a relaxing note just moments from Amish Country, where you can easily find romance (pillowcases read “tonight” and “not tonight” to set the tone) and raves from foodies for Five-Star TÈ Restaurant. Thanks to the intimate setting, sittings for the five- and nine-course tasting menus book weeks in advance.
The Rittenhouse, Photo Courtesy of The Rittenhouse
After you’ve reveled in exquisite cuisine and other rural charms at The Inn at Leola Village, head about 67 miles east into the city to check in at The Rittenhouse, a Four-Star escape that feels equally peaceful in its own way. The once-grandiose hotel had a 2013 makeover that left the property posh yet contemporary. Stroll the shops near Rittenhouse Square, offering everything from Barneys Co-Op to Tiffany & Co., but be sure to save room for some high-end dining. You can’t miss brunch at the Four-Star Lacroix at The Rittenhouse. If you only have an afternoon to spare, however, the Mary Cassatt Tea Room also presents an elegant white-glove affair.
The Jefferson and Salamander Resort & Spa – Washington, D.C.
Stroll the historic roads of our nation’s capital and then mosey on out to wine country with the Town And Country Experience from Four-Star hotel, The Jefferson, Washington DC, and Middleburg, Virginia’s Salamander Resort & Spa. At The Jefferson, you’re just four blocks from the White House and minutes by metro to Smithsonian museums, monuments and more. Spend a day exploring before returning to the hotel to dine at Plume, the city’s only Five-Star restaurant.
The next morning (after your complimentary breakfast in The Greenhouse, of course), make the 90-minute drive to Virginia’s horse and wine country to check into Salamander. Here, spend time strolling the property’s 340 acres, where you can take part in equine experiences for any level, zen out at the expansive spa, which offers the area’s only rasul (a Moroccan-inspired therapy), or simply snuggle at one of several couples areas that come with a private courtyard. That night, dine at Harrimans, a grill specializing in farm-to-table fare.
Taj Boston and Wheatleigh – Boston
Boston may boast many luxury hotels, but the one presiding over the area’s best shopping on Newbury Street is none other than Four-Star Taj Boston. We don’t miss a chance to visit the area’s best boutiques and designer finds, but we’d also never pass up an opportunity to stroll through Boston Public Garden right across the street either. Just be sure to take plenty of time to enjoy the hotel’s fabulously cushy service as well — you’ll find butlers for your bath, fireplace and even your in-room technology.
Wheatleigh, Photo Courtesy of Wheatleigh
When the time comes to turn off the gadgets, go just about two hours away to The Berkshires and discover Wheatleigh, a 19-room resort that was once purchased by real estate tycoon Henry Cook for his daughter when she married a Spanish count. Stroll the 22-acre park conceived by Frederick Law Olmsted, the man who designed Central Park, marvel at the intricate carvings around the hotel by Italian artisans or try your hand at badminton on the lawn. Should you have an itch for something techie, though, each of the unique rooms features Bang & Olufsen entertainment systems and Bose wireless speakers. Still, it’s easy to imagine you’ve stepped back into a simpler time as you gaze out over the mountains or go for a lakeside kayak.
