It should be no surprise that some of the most influential creatives of our time sought solitude within the lakes, forests, and mountains of the great outdoors. And now, these stays are more relevant than ever: Expansive grounds, remote locales, and intimate accommodations make them ideal for coronavirus times. New sanitation and social distancing protocols, plus creative al fresco dining options and additional private guided activities, ensure peace of mind if you’re planning a pandemic-era vacation. Whether you crave adventure, like Hemingway, or seek a more meditative escape a la Thoreau, these 15 nature getaways offer an ample dose of fresh air and greenery without roughing it. All come with the added benefits of comfy beds, top-notch service, and curated activities that tap into mind and body.
All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Tutka Bay Lodge, Alaska
The last thing you’d expect to find nestled amid old-growth Sitka spruce at the remote tip of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula is a cooking school and six-cabin lodge run by a Cordon Bleu-trained chef. But here it is. Tutka Bay Lodge delivers the Alaska factor with big adventures and big flavors. Chef-owner Kirsten Dixon dazzles guests with tasting menus featuring king crab beignets, or fresh salmon and halibut, often caught that day by guests. There are plenty of opportunities to work up an appetite, from yoga sessions on the dock to kayaking and hiking the ridgelines of the neighboring 1,000-acre Alaska Range.
Rates and bookings available upon request at withinthewild.com
Minam River Lodge, Oregon
Tucked away within Northeastern Oregon’s 360,000-acre Eagle Cap Wilderness, Minam River Lodge is reachable only by horse, charter plane, or an 8.5-mile hike. You won’t find cell reception, internet, or TV, but you will find 535 miles of trails, 17 peaks taller than 9,000 feet, and multi-course meals featuring ingredients sourced from an onsite garden, greenhouse, and smokehouse. Three lodge rooms and one suite provide sweeping valley views, while nine solar-powered cabins have wilderness luxuries like waterfall showers. For an immersive nature experience, book one of the three glamping tents.
Book Now: From $195 a night at minam-lodge.com
The Point, New York
In the early 19th century, the Gilded Age elite built log mansions rather than log cabins as their upstate wilderness escapes. None was more elegant than Camp Wonundra, William Avery Rockefeller II’s home on the shores of Lake Saranac in the Adirondacks. Today, the estate has been reimagined as The Point, an 11-room, adults-only Relais & Châteaux lodge. Every season brings unique adventures. Hike against a backdrop of colorful fall foliage or spring blooms, beat the summer heat wake boarding or kayaking, and keep warm in winter by cross-country skiing on the snowy trails.
Book Now: From $2,312 a night at skylark.com
Blackberry Mountain, Tennessee
A dream escape for wellness-minded food lovers, Blackberry Mountain combines the culinary cred of its sister property, Blackberry Farm, with mind-body activities ranging from forest bathing to rock climbing. Bordering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the 5,200-acre resort feels like your own private outdoor playground laced with hiking and mountain biking trails as well as curated campsites. With just 18 spacious stone cottages and six cozy cabins, you rarely see other guests, other than for meals at the two on-site restaurants. If you prefer to dine al fresco, request a gourmet picnic (potato and tomato salad with pickled ramps) or trail-side cooking excursion.
Book Now: From $1,678 a night at skylark.com
The Ranch at Rock Creek, Montana
A dude ranch unlike any other, the Ranch at Rock Creek has the prerequisite wrangling, fishing, and shooting activities, but it's also got plenty of softer activities on offer: a spa, bowling alley, and a saloon serving rhubarb whiskey sours. A variety of accommodations, from five-bedroom homes to canvas glamping cabins, make the Philipsburg, Montana, getaway ideal for both couples and multi-gen families. An all-inclusive price structure includes twice-daily activities beyond riding and shooting. Creative offerings include sapphire mining, master naturalist classes, and frontier skills workshops. Every Tuesday throughout summer the wranglers show-off their roping skills at a weekly rodeo.
Book Now: From $2,160 a night at skylark.com
The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek Ranch, Wyoming
The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek Ranch embodies the romantic ideal of the American West. Set against the backdrop of the Sierra Madre Mountains in sleepy Saratoga, Wyoming (population: 1,623), the 30,000-acre working cattle ranch is dotted with a 13-room main lodge and 20 log cabins. Family fun is a specialty of this all-inclusive retreat. While parents fly fish, ATV, or relax at the spa, the Lil’ Wranglers program keeps kids occupied with daily horseback rides and timeless games like capture the flag. At night, everyone comes together for Chuckwagon dinners featuring ranch-raised wagyu and produce from the organic greenhouse.
Book Now: From $1,722 a night at skylark.com
Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado
With 13 hand-hewn log cabins, a hot springs-fed bath house, and an old-timey saloon, Dunton Hot Springs could easily double as a Western movie set. The 1800s ghost town just across the mountain from Telluride has been lovingly restored as a secluded mountain resort with year-round adventures. Guests can horseback ride in the high Rockies, hike in the San Juans or fly fish on an exclusive stretch of the Dolores River. Winter may be the resort’s best-kept secret, though, with opportunities to snowmobile, snowshoe, and cross-country ski on a course laid out by a former Olympian. If your muscles need more than a soak, you can book a massage at the spa.
Book Now: From $806 a night at skylark.com
The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection, Utah
An on-site whiskey distillery is just one of the wow-factor features that sets the Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection apart. Set on 3,500 acres just outside of Park City, the 46-room hotel has a farm-to-table restaurant led by a James Beard Award-winning chef and an ambitious equestrian program that includes an on-site horse rescue foundation. The area is laced with trails, but if you crave a different backdrop, the hotel can arrange high alpine heli-hiking, biking, fishing, and yoga adventures in the Uintas and Wasatch mountain ranges, as well as winter heli-ski adventures.
Book Now: From $947 a night at skylark.com
Taylor River Lodge, Colorado
Activities like archery, hatchet throwing, rock climbing, fly fishing, stargazing, and s’mores roasting around the fire create a summer camp vibe at this eight-cabin, nature getaway hidden away in Taylor River Canyon. Open May through October, the lodge prides itself on its fishing. A stocked trout pond and mile stretch of semi-private river are steps from the cabins, while serious anglers can arrange float trips on the nearby Gunnison River. The lodge may feel remote, but the charming mountain town of Crested Butte and its world-famous single-track mountain bike trails are just 30 minutes away.
Book Now: From $1,750 a night at expedia.com
Troutbeck, New York
This historic Hudson Valley hideaway has hosted literati such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Mark Twain. Today, the 37-room estate attracts nature-starved New Yorkers with 250 bucolic acres featuring streams for fishing, a walled garden for reading, shaded hammocks for lazing, and a pool for sunning. Communal spaces, like a wood-paneled library where guests can curl up by the fire with a tomb by Balzac, and a pantry stocked with locally sourced, help-yourself snacks, make Troutbeck feel more like a well-off friend’s home than a hotel.
Book Now: From $331 a night at skylark.com
Camp Sarika by Amangiri, Utah
Just when it seemed impossible for Amangiri to be any more extraordinary, the iconic luxury resort debuted a year-round glamping offshoot five minutes up the road. Ten tented pavilions, each with its own deck and plunge pool, sit on 136 acres of otherworldly desert landscape. A main pavilion has a pool and sun deck, a restaurant specializing in Southwestern Native American cuisine, and two spa suites offering therapies rooted in Navajo wellness traditions. Try to pull yourself away from the tranquility and explore the ten-plus mile trail network or the five national parks a short drive away.
Book Now: From $1,800 at aman.com
Twin Farms, Vermont
Set on 300 unspoiled acres of meadows and woodlands in Barnard, Vermont, Twin Farms is the quintessential New England countryside retreat. Each of the 20 accommodations is distinctly designed with antique claw-foot tubs, 18th century furnishings, and artwork from masters like Cy Twombly. Thematic cottages transport guests to an alpine chalet or 19th century Appalachian log cabin. Year-round, on-site activities include hiking, canoeing, fly-fishing, snowshoeing, and sledding. A spa with a Japanese furo tub and a stellar restaurant (don’t miss the soufflé pancakes) ensure guests will always be adventure ready.
Book Now: From $1,855 a night at skylark.com
Tourists Welcome, Massachusetts
Wilco bassist John Stirratt is a partner in this artfully reimagined roadside motel. Each of the 48 rooms has giant rear-facing picture windows that soak in the surrounding 50 acres of woodlands. A 220-feet suspension bridge crosses the Hoosic River connects to 30 acres of trails. If that’s not enough, the Appalachian Trail and Mount Greylock—the highest point in Massachusetts—are less than one mile away. The Berkshires is that rare destination that delivers equal doses of nature and culture. Complement your outdoor adventures with trips to nearby art institutions like the Clark and Mass MoCA.
Book Now: From $339 at touristswelcome.com
The Resort at Paws Up, Montana
You could spend a month at the Resort at Paws Up and still not have experienced half of the activities the wilderness retreat has to offer. Set on 37,000 acres just outside of Missoula, this expansive cattle ranch boasts 100 miles of trails, 10 miles of the Blackfoot River, and wildly creative offerings like cow croquet and go-kart racing. The resort's 28 luxury homes are ideal for family getaways. In summer, 36 glamping tents are perfect for couples or can be booked in groups of six, with exclusive use of the camp’s dining pavilion, chef, and your very own camping butler.
Book Now: From $1,792 a night at skylark.com
Half Mile Farm, North Carolina
Nestled on 14 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Half Mile Farm, the intimate sister hotel of Old Edwards Inn and Spa feels worlds away from civilization. But the galleries, shops, and restaurants of Highland, North Carolina’s Main Street are only a five-minute drive away. Romantic cabins feature stone fireplaces and balconies with lake views. Canoes, paddleboards, and fishing poles are complimentary. If you prefer less effort, head for a soak in the inn’s heated mineral pool.
Book Now: From $260 at expedia.com
