Four Destinations for Design Lovers to Explore this Fall
There’s nothing like enjoying the charm of a small, boutique hotel or inn and there’s no better time of year to explore them than fall. In my mind, these are some of the most idyllic inns in America for taking in all that is fall – from foliage to apple picking, farm-to-table dining to spa treatments.
Twin Farms | Barnard, Vermont
Back in 1928, journalist Dorothy Thompson agreed to marry Nobel-prize winning author Sinclair Lewis if he would buy her a sprawling Vermont farm. And buy he did. Nestled on 300 acres of stunning land, the 1795-era farmhouse welcomed a who’s who of the 1930s with politicians, writers and socialites clamoring for an invite to the couple’s legendary parties. Since then, the estate was sold and converted into an award-winning inn that’s unassumingly luxurious and undeniably authentic. Five luxe cottages have been added to the original estate lodge, along with a world-class spa and bespoke dining. New England’s fall foliage is second to none, and the acreage surrounding Twin Farms is breathtaking. Enjoy fishing or canoeing on Copper Pond, biking or hiking the surrounding trails, or simply playing a board game in front of a crackling fire. Design enthusiasts will note the incredible fine art collection that dots the property, as well as the flawless interiors by Jed Johnson.
Mayflower Inn | Washington, Connecticut
Located in the charming town of Washington, Connecticut, Mayflower Inn & Spa is a gorgeous country retreat spanning 58 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland. A two-hour drive from New York City, it is renowned as one of the east coast’s most coveted luxury hideaways. According to the inn, it’s a “portal to a simpler time, where the definitive measure of the good life is in soul-stirring moments rooted in the idyllic countryside.” There’s a wellness center and spa that rivals anything in the country, and I love the fact that the property’s interiors were recently reimagined by designer Celerie Kemble. Read all about her vision for the Inn and its aesthetic here.
The Lodge at Glendorn, Bradford, Pennsylvania
Ensconced in 1,500 acres of forest, this resort feels like gentleman’s estate in the British countryside. Glendorn began in the 1920s as the Dorn family’s private retreat and stayed that way for decades. Set deep in the Allegheny Mountains, the resort is designed like the grand family camps of a bygone age, with a redwood lodge (“Big House”) and standalone cabins, each with a fire pit, monogrammed linens, and nightly homemade chocolate chip cookies. Among a number of other family-oriented activities from lawn games to golf to horseback riding, guests can slip away to the spa, embark on an intimate picnic, or take a cooking class. The Glendorn prides itself on its returning clientele, who, as the property attests, “find an escape from the pressures of modern life and bond not just with family but with the place, creating a lifetime of memories.”
glendorn.com
Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Virginia
Pioneering American Chef Patrick O’Connell started this legendary inn in a former garage in 1978, where out of necessity he made use the now-trendy farm-to-table concept by allying himself with local farmers and producers. A self-taught chef, he has earned countless accolades and is credited with re-inventing American cuisine. Over the past thirty-odd years, the inn has grown to include four standalone houses from the colonial era, each sumptuously decorated by London stage and set designer Joyce Evans. The small village in rural Virginia remains nearly as unspoiled as it was when George Washington himself named the streets in 1749. Nearby towns offer antiquing and pick-your-own orchards, winery tours, and scenic drives through the Shenandoah Valley and Montpelier and Monticello presidential estates.
