Cliff House, Maine
Roaring surf, endless views, salty sea air and a spa inspired by the surrounding beauty are just a few reasons why Cliff House, perched on a high bluff overlooking the coast of southern Maine, has attracted nature-loving guests since it opened in 1872.
Every season has its own brilliance at Cliff House, but the blaze of color from the fall foliage is truly awe-inspiring. With most rooms showcasing expansive views of an endless horizon, Cliff House evokes a wild beauty that can’t help but bring guests into bloom, like the lovely sea roses that grow nearby.
The 9,000-square-foot Spa and Wellness Center connects to the elements—wind, water, earth, fire, metal—which are all on display, in full force, along the rugged Maine landscape. Each treatment room frames a view of the boulder-strewn coast tumbling into the Atlantic. A cliff walk called the Marginal Way ends in the town of Ogunquit, where guests can take a stroll, then head back to Cliff House and tuck into—what else?—a Maine lobster at the restaurant or lobster shack.
—Rona Berg
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The Springs Resort, Colorado
Immerse yourself in nature-centered wellness with ancient mineral waters drawn from the world’s deepest hot spring. Explore the majestic Rocky Mountains, restore your mind and body, and connect with those you love at The Springs Resort, located in Southwest Colorado.
Beach Plum Farm, New Jersey
Beach Plum Farm is a regenerative farm with a restaurant, a market and five idyllic cottages. The area around the historic vacation town of Cape May, New Jersey, was once also a hub for agriculture, and today you’ll find that tradition alive and well at Beach Plum Farm.
Operating year-round, the 62-acre farm is home to everything from gardens and greenhouses growing over 100 different fruits and vegetables to chicken coops, pig pens, beehives and plots of edible flowers. It also has a restaurant and market, and five idyllic cottages where guests can check in to enjoy peace, relaxation and goodies grown just outside their door.
Much of the property is protected marshland, so head farmer Christina Albert and her team work just seven acres of it using regenerative and sustainable methods; fields are rotated, herbicides are avoided and care is taken to attract native birds (and, in season, monarch butterflies). The resulting bounty is used by area chefs and bartenders and sold in the farm’s market, and cottage guests can opt to have their kitchens stocked with fresh produce and house-brand gourmet products; they are also welcome to collect eggs and pick herbs during their stay.
In between activities, stroll the on-site trails, or use your cottage’s bike or golf cart to head to sister property Congress Hall’s Sea Spa, which uses seaweed powered OSEA products to honor the coastal location.
—Sandra Ramani
Chatham Bars Inn, Massachusetts
The Chatham Bars Inn, dating back to 1914, has evolved into one of Cape Cod’s most popular getaways for couples, families, wellness retreats and solo stays. Set on a 25-acre estate, it offers an array of activities, exceptional dining and an eight-acre farm. With 217 comfortable accommodations and its own quarter-mile private beach just a short stroll from historic Chatham, one of the most picturesque villages on the Cape, the fall foliage by the sea is nothing short of magical.
Breathing in the salty sea air is its own restorative. In addition, the inn offers 12 adult-only Spa Suites, nestled close to The Spa at Chatham Bars Inn and constructed with luxury and pure relaxation in mind. The suites feature supersized hydrotherapy tubs, saunas, steam showers and cozy fireplaces, with yoga mats, in-room massages and other treatments available.
The new autumn Nirvana Stress Relief Massage is a revitalizing deep-tissue aromatherapy massage that is deeply relaxing and restorative not only to the muscles, but to mental well-being. With warm, spicy notes of cardamom, sandalwood and sweet orange, and a refreshing Alpine Arnica Massage Oil it is a perfect way to immerse in the bounty of fall!
—Rona Berg