The Lodge at Glendorn. Credit: The Lodge at Glendorn
Busy ski resorts and crowded white sand beaches have their charms, but when you really want to relax and recharge, nothing beats a rural getaway with secluded locales, attentive staff and a whole lot of pampering.
Check out these charming, far-flung resorts that all have less than 25 guest rooms and an overabundance of warm hospitality.
The Lodge at Glendorn
Take the path less traveled and head to northwestern Pennsylvania’s rural woodlands, the charming setting of this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Bradford getaway. The Glendorn dates back to 1927 and you can feel a sense of history with its brick façades and wood-planked dining room.
The resort’s 1,500 acres are transformed into a winter wonderland this time of year — you can hike through snow-covered trees, skate on a frozen pond, try ice fishing, go cross-country skiing or borrow a sled to slide down one of the hills found throughout the property.
For ultimate seclusion, book the Forest Hideout cabin. But no matter which unit you end up snuggling in, you’ll feel the warmth — even when you’re not in immediate proximity of one of The Lodge’s wood-burning fireplace. Built in 1931, the retreat is tucked away in the woods and requires vehicle transportation to and from the main lodge.
Twin Farms. Credit: Twin Farms
Twin Farms
Vermont’s Five-Star boutique hotel proves luxuriousness and a rustic destination can coexist beautifully. Set in the town of Barnard (90 minutes from Burlington), the remote, all-inclusive resort has 20 uniquely decorated rooms and cottages to choose from, some with mid-century furnishings and floor-to-ceiling views of snow-covered woods and others with a fireside stone hot tub or soaring cathedral windows with views of the countryside.
There’s plenty of opportunity to get your invigorating outdoors fix, with a slew of wintery activities (skiing the six groomed trails, ice skating, snowshoeing, sledding) but make sure to book time in the Japanese-style Furo bath, a small stone and wood building with a hot soaking pool and views of the icy outside.
You also can’t go wrong with an utterly relaxing treatment at the cozy, two-room Four-Star spa — the Himalayan Hot Stone massage is a heavenly way to warm up and wind down.
Wheatleigh’s The Portico. Credit: Wheatleigh
Wheatleigh
Built to resemble a sprawling Italian palazzo, this 19th-century, Five-Star Berkshires hideaway is anything but rustic.
While much of the original architecture and moldings remain, the 19-room resort has been updated with modern amenities (Bang & Olufsen entertainment systems, Bose Bluetooth speakers) and sophisticated furnishings. Whether you opt for a park, courtyard or mountain view, you’re bound to be awed by serene scenery blanketed in white.
After exploring all that Wheatleigh has to offer (skiing, snowshoeing, tubing), refuel in the most elegant way with the fine French fare at Five-Star The Portico by Jeffrey Thompson. Ask for a room on the glass-enclosed back deck to really savor seasonally inspired plates with a side of wintery surroundings.
Inn at Willow Grove. Credit: Inn at Willow Grove
Inn at Willow Grove
It’s less than a two-hour drive from Washington, D.C., but this Four-Star Orange, Virginia, treasure feels remote enough to qualify for a place on this list (and earns extra points for convenience). The 18th-century Piedmont-style manor house and collection of cottages make up 25 different rooms, each with a lovely mix of antique and contemporary furnishings.
Come wintertime, the genteel inn is a cozy corner where you can spend time holing up in the library, getting a massage in the new Mill House Spa, eating near the brick fireplace in the Four-Star Vintage Restaurant or taking in panoramic views of the snow-dusted Blue Ridge Mountains.
Either way, make the most of your getaway by booking the All About March Madness package and receive 25 percent off your stay and up to a $100 resort credit. Just be sure to make enough time in the morning to enjoy the warm, freshly baked beignets delivered to your door.
The Inn at Dos Brisas. Credit: The Inn at Dos Brisas
The Inn at Dos Brisas
About an hour outside of Houston, this Four-Star Texas Hill Country ranch is an ideal place to relax and recharge. While you won’t see snowy vistas at this secluded, 300-acre spot, you will find wide-open spaces and chic, Spanish-style digs — there’s only nine total guest rooms, styled as haciendas and casitas.
The Point. Credit: The Point
The Point
This Adirondacks camp looks straight out of a movie set. The Five-Star hideaway on Upper Saranac Lake provides 11 accommodations in several buildings, all with a bucolic but thoroughly upscale feel: stone fireplaces, panoramic lake views and claw-foot tubs.
The staff makes it almost too easy to enjoy wintery jaunts by serving warming drinks and building fires while you venture onto the frozen lake to ice skate, try curling or attempt ice fishing.
Inside, you’ll find toasty temperatures, mulled wine and games galore rather than reliable cell service or in-room televisions. It’s a picture-perfect place to unplug this winter, both inside and out.
