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Driving Time from Poughkeepsie: 1 hour 15 minutes
Weekend Rates: from $899 per night
www.winvian.com
Hidden behind white gates in the scenic Litchfield Hills of tony southwest Connecticut, this extraordinary Relais & Châteaux property offers a luxurious pastoral charm that makes it the quintessential romantic fall getaway. Understated and chic, the 113-acre Winvian Farm comprises 18 distinctive private cottages and one master suite, each designed by a different architect, bordering dense forest and sparkling lakes. The historic 18th-century Seth Bird House boasts a lounge, bar, and Winvian’s farm-to-table restaurant, where dinners showcase the farm’s organic produce and honey from its apiary. (Rooms include a gourmet breakfast for two.)
Cottages range from a whimsical, repurposed helicopter and an actual tree house to a pet-friendly interpretation of a medieval castle (where pets and guests are treated like royalty, of course), and all feature fireplaces, walk-in steam showers, Jacuzzi baths, radiant heat, and sumptuous king beds.
Not only is the property itself suffused with vibrant fall color, it’s situated a short drive away from several special fall-foliage destinations perfect for leaf-peeping shutterbugs. No wonder it’s received so many accolades, including a spot on Travel + Leisure’s 100 Best Hotels in the World and Condé Nast Traveler’s Top 25 Resorts in the US.
Scenic Spots
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Hike the falls—and feel the mist of the water on your face—cascading 250 feet down at nearby Kent Falls State Park. |
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The half-hour drive to the iconic West Cornwall Covered Bridge offers stunning scenery, weathered barns, white-fenced pastures, and graceful old trees. |
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Savvy shutterbugs head to Lake Waramaug State Park in nearby New Preston, where the colors of the turning leaves are reflected in the lake’s glassy surface. |
Must Do
Relaxation is the name of the game: Stroll or cycle the property (using the farm’s provided bikes, if you wish) while exploring the gardens and orchards of this working farm. Indulge in a heavenly massage at the spa; cuddle up by your own fireplace; or simply inhale the country air while nodding off in an Adirondack chair.
