What’s your idea of a getaway? Is it long walks along deserted beaches near a favorite bed and breakfast? Or maybe an Inn close to museums or discount shopping or antiques stores?

Or maybe the place you stay at is the “Getaway” and you’re looking to be pampered and indulge a little? If this is you then New England has some of the finest spa and resorts in the country. These places are not your typical $200-$250 per night high-end stays but are more exclusive in the service they provide, the food you’ll eat and the rooms you’ll stay in.

They may not be inexpensive when compared with other accommodations- although deals can still be had certain times of the year -  but aren’t you worth it once in a while?

Here is a selection of seven exclusive resorts that bring luxury and uniqueness to the term getaway in New England. Relais & Chateaux have taken over many of New England’s luxury resorts but has kept the uniqueness of each resort and adding consistency of service expectations.

The Mayflower Inn & Spa – Washington, Connecticut:

Located in the village of Washington in the picturesque northwest region of Connecticut, the Mayflower Inn and Spa is conveniently located for travel from most southern New England locations and New York City.

The Inn encompasses 30 individually decorated luxury rooms, a full service spa resort, and a five-star restaurant for a memorable dining experience. Outdoor activities for guests include: access to walking in the Steep Rock Nature Preserve and the Shepaug River, biking, kayaking, bird watching, archery, tennis, fly fishing and during the winter cross country skiing and snow shoeing.

Rooms are equipped with two-line phones featuring speaker-phone and voice-mail, as well as cable television, DVD players, and flat screen televisions. Fax machines and public computers are also available for use by guests. More information about this resort here >>>

Blantyre – Lenox, Massachusetts:

In the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts the town of Lenox was a magnet for the wealthy in the last century during what became known as the “Gilded Age.” The Berkshires offered an alternative to Newport, RI and many of the grand mansions were built in Lenox. Blantyre was one of those mansions and originally built by Robert Paterson, and the main house modeled after his mother’s ancestral home in Scotland. Blantyre opened its doors in 2005 as a year-round resort. Accommodation is available in The Main House, The Carriage House, and The Cottages.

The Spa at Blantyre offers half-day and full-day total immersion packages at the Potting Shed and the restaurant is no less attentive with service and fresh cuisine. Dinner reservations are required and men are asked to wear jacket and tie. All rooms include TV sets, DVD players, safes, refrigerators, irons and ironing boards, hair dryers, and wireless high-speed internet. Blantyre is available for full property takeover for corporate groups, wedding and other special occasions. More details available here >>>

Wheatleigh – Lenox, Massachusetts:

Wheatleigh like so many of these luxury hotels has an impeccable pedigree of ownership and construction expected from a “cottage” built in the Gilded Age. No expense was spared and is evident even today. On a scale reminiscent of many Newport mansions, materials and over 150 artisans were brought over from Italy during its construction in 1893. Wheatleigh Park was landscaped by the renowned Frederick Law Olmstead and the grounds and buildings are magnificently presented. Today, Wheatleigh has 19 guest rooms and a five diamond restaurant considered by many to be one of the finest on the east coast.

Each room at Wheatleigh is unique in its elegance and vistas ranging from floating in the trees sleeping rooms to private portico with mountain views, all with large bathrooms and soaking tubs. Use of the property is available for weddings and corporate meetings. More information about the property here >>>

Canyon Ranch – Lenox, Massachusetts:

Canyon Ranch is world famous as a health and wellness resort. The Lenox location was the second Canyon Ranch to open after the original in Tucson. Mel Zuckerman had been searching for an east coast location and then saw the Bellefontaine mansion in the Berkshires and after renovation it opened as Canyon Ranch in 1989. The restoration of the mansion is a story in itself and I urge you to visit the website to discover more.

A stay at Canyon Ranch is a package and so your rate is all-inclusive of accommodation, meals, activities, and facilities. While there are choices of rooms they all have extensive amenities including entertainment, internet access, and mini-refrigerator and much more. Dinning offers a rich array of healthy choices without feeling deprived of taste. The Lenox facility is an alcohol-free environment, which means you are free to bring alcohol onto the premises for consumption in your room only. You can read all about their philosophy on this at their website.

The Spa is of course a key part of the program at Canyon Ranch and the world class facilities include a large selection of treatments such as: classic massages, Asian therapies, restorative touch therapies, and Ayurvedic body treatments, soothing body scrubs and replenishing facials. More details about the packages along with rates here >>> 

The Charlotte Inn – Edgartown, Massachusetts:

Edgartown is a popular destination for travelers to Martha’s Vineyard. While welcoming visitors all seasons it is most bustling in the summer months. But even then the Charlotte Inn is well placed to afford privacy yet easy accessibility to the town and island attractions. The dwelling of the Inn has seen many incarnations but as an Inn since 1930’s and with the current owners and Innkeepers from 1970’s.

Today there are nineteen guest rooms and suites, each unique and furnished with antique art and paintings and a throwback to the elegance of the Edwardian-era. The Inn has a terrace restaurant but Edgartown has a vibrant restaurant scene so elegant dining is both on property or a short walk to the town center. For a special occasion Island getaway this is a destination to check out. The Inn is also part of the Relais & Chateaux family. More information about the property here >>>

Castle Hill – Newport, Rhode Island:

Located on Newport’s famous Ocean Drive Castle Hill is world renowned for its accommodation, dining, grounds and ocean views. Castle Hill lodging includes rooms at the Agassiz Mansion, Harbor House, Beach House, and Chalet or Beach Cottages. All accommodations include a gourmet breakfast and guest only afternoon tea.

The restaurant at the Inn is popular not only with guests but non-guests and the Sunday Brunch with live jazz between 11:30am-3pm especially attracts large numbers. Reservations for all but breakfast are recommended. The lunch and dinner menu includes fresh local fish and regional meats and produce prepared and presented with craft by their renowned chefs. The restaurant has over 500 selections of wine. If you’re looking for a romantic getaway destination Castle Hill is likely to fit all your requirements for that special place. More details can be found here >>>

The Pitcher Inn – Warren, Vermont:

Warren, Vermont is on the northeast tip of the Green Mountain National Forest and close to first class ski resorts and scenic mountain range including the famous Camel’s Hump. Wilderness areas and plenty of walking and hiking trails make the area a magnet for those looking for outdoor activities. The Pitcher Inn is is nestled in the mountain and picturesque village of Warren, and though the original Inn burned down years ago the architecture of the Inn today maintains traditional styles with a mixture of surprises and artifacts of fine art and local Vermont treasures.

The Inn has eleven guest rooms and suites each decorated uniquely with the ”fanciful and unexpected – and sometimes both at once.“ 275 Main is the Inn’s restaurant which uses local produce and meats – this is Vermont after all – to design seasonal dishes to delight in an elegant setting. In warm weather the terrace offers seating amongst the sounds of a rushing stream and waterfall. Breakfast is available to Inn guests. More information on the Inn can be found here >>>

I’m interested to hear about your favorite getaway resort in New England. Use the comments section below to share with us and what you like about it.

Another New England post by our staff is being prepared right now so be sure to visit again or just subscribe to our RSS Feed here and get notified automatically of events and news.

Cliff Calderwood
Publisher
New England Online Magazine

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