12 May 2026
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Out of all the joys of the city, New York’s most underrated benefit may just be what surrounds it: the forests and mountains, small towns and farmlands that crop up, almost unbelievably, the very moment you escape the city limits.
The best hotels for a weekend escape from NYC live in that sweet spot — within a two- to three hour-drive of the five boroughs, the bucolic escapes and retreats that New Yorkers have relied on for hundreds of years to soothe their overheated nerves.
Wildflower Farms, Auberge Collection — Gardiner, NY
What it's all about: Upstate New York’s take on farm-chic at this One-Key mix where guests choose their own adventure.One of the woodsier luxuries on this list, the free-standing, modern wood cabins stand in fields of wildflowers and the Adirondack chairs circle firepits that blend naturally into the mountainscape. A 90-minute drive north from Manhattan, Wildflower Farms is a place to enjoy the picturesque surroundings that define this region of New York while dabbing in experiences like pasta-rolling or herbalist-led walks around the property’s many trails.
There are cliffs for scrambling, an outdoor pool for swimming, a fitness center and courts for tennis, pickleball, and basketball scattered about. While kids feed the farm animals, parents head to the spa, all before seasonal meals that draw on produce from local farms and fish from nearby rivers.
Pendry Natirar — Peapack, NJ
What it's all about: Just under an hour by car from Manhattan, a One-Key on a 500-acre country estate with its own cooking school and a truly endless roster of activities.The Raritan River runs in one direction past this estate. Reverse the river’s spelling and you get Natirar: a 500-acre estate for luxury and learning, whether at the cooking school, the on-site apiary with its busy honeybees, the watercolor workshops, soapmaking experiences or axe-throwing classes.
Guests fuel up with fine and farm-fresh dining at Ninety Acres, and refresh themselves in cedar saunas, eucalyptus steams and salt rooms at the full-service spa. If the giant estate isn’t enough, Natirar works with local partners for guests who wish to learn the art of fly fishing or horseback riding, to name just a few more activities on site. Parents in particular may be interested in the three-day cooking camp for kids.
The Maker — Hudson, NY
What it's all about: The Maker, a One-Key, high-design gem for a more urban experience in the midst of the picturesque Catskills and Hudson Valley region.A couple-hour drive from Manhattan, the Maker embraces a purely cosmopolitan vibe — a far cry from many of the great inns and cabins that dot the region. On the main drag of Hudson, a small city known for its antique and vintage stores and no shortage of eateries and entertainment, the 11 rooms of the Maker source furniture and artwork finds from the town itself to create their own worlds: the Architect Studio imagines the workspace of a 1940s creative, the Writer’s Studio is full of books and curio objects from global adventures.
On site is the Maker’s café, an ode to the European coffeehouses where famed philosophers once debated and literary talents created masterpieces. The hotel’s expansive gym is a nice touch, as is the small, guests-only pool in the backyard.
Belden House & Mews — Litchfield, CT
What it's all about: A One-Key hotel a two-hour drive from New York City and a five-minute walk to the small but picturesque town of Litchfield.Litchfield, home to America’s first law school and one of the country’s first schools for women, is a charming, bucolic place full of galleries, farmlands, endless gardens and nature preserves. The Belden House & Mews is the way to explore it, whether you choose a room in 1888 Belden House, a Colonial Revival building that’s all stained-glass windows and tiled fireplaces, or the more mid-century modern, Bauhaus Belden Mews.
Both have access to grounds with a solar-heated swimming pool and lawn club, where guests hammer at croquet balls or whack at a badminton birdie, and a wellness center where the masseuse hammers and whacks at sore spots after visits to the steam room, sauna, and cold plunge. Catch afternoon tea, happy hour with oysters and martinis, and Sunday brunch for a real affair. And for a change of scenery, a complimentary BMW service shuttles guests the thirty-five minutes to Troutbeck.
Mayflower Inn & Spa — Washington, CT
What it's all about: Gentle adventures and a lavish spa at this bright One-Key mansion with 58 acres and an expansive spa.Not far from the Belden House & Mews above, this is a different experience entirely: one that’s less about exploring the town than it is an all-encompassing staycation. A large estate that exudes England and New England charm, the hotel library demands a good book and a strong whisky, the tap room is for lively conversation and a good meal, and the spa — fairly titled the Retreat — is in contention for best in the Northeast.
It’s a place for yoga and meditation, every conceivable bodywork treatment, health coaching and restorative soaks or scrubs. Guests who pop in for even a single service may spend the entire day in the relaxation room, where floor-to-ceiling windows and chaise lounges offer gorgeous views of the grounds. Antsier guests may wander the gardens, take short walks through a forest trail, or take a dip in the pool.
Six Bells Countryside Inn — Rosendale, NY
What it's all about: An easy-to-reach country inn in the Hudson Valley, with 11 maximalist guest rooms and an interesting restaurant.In the creekside town of Rosendale, in a corner of the Hudson Valley only about an hour and a half from the city, the maximalist but old-fashioned interior design is notable enough, inspired by a fictional English village dreamed up by the hotelier and entrepreneur Audrey Gelman. Rooms get even more specific, taking inspiration from Bavarian craftsmanship in the Innkeeper’s Suite, or the story of a local vicar’s mysterious disappearance in the Lamplight room.
The restaurant and tavern, created in partnership with highly regarded local restauranteur Molly Levine, features a menu inspired by early-American country cooking and fueled by local farms and bakeries. Expect roasted chicken, hearty pot pies or smoked trout along with Hot Toddys.
Seminary Hill — Callicoon, NY
What it's all about: About a two-hour drive from Manhattan, a One-Key hotel and fully-functioning apple orchard.On the western edge of what most New Yorkers consider the Catskills region, Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery is several worlds in one. At the cidery, a sleek dining room overlooks the orchard through wide glass windows, and guests enjoy farm-fresh cooking or a glass of one of the many house ciders on the wrap-around patio. Open Friday to Sunday, guests enjoy live music, tastings and cidery tours and the occasional party.
A mile down the road, the inn consists of private apartments in a pair of houses walking distance from the peaceful town and its cafes, antique stores and lively farmers’ market, where a bounty of produce can be brought back to fully-equipped kitchenettes, and enjoyed before dips in clawfoot tubs.
Troutbeck — Amenia, NY
What it's all about: Less than two hours by car from the city, a historic One-Key estate visited by former guests like Emerson and Thoreau.Dating to the 18th-century in New York’s Dutchess County, the Troutbeck estate — and it is an estate — sits as it always has, between rivers and creeks and beneath a forest of sycamores. Former iterations welcomed all kinds of New York and New England royalty, from politicians to writers and naturalists. Of the many names, perhaps writers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau best evoke Troutbeck’s upstate serenity.
Today, guests pedal the premises on complimentary bicycles, stroll the 1916-vintage two-tiered walled garden (once famed for the world’s largest collection of clematis — a beautiful climbing plant), exchange volleys on the tennis courts, relax in hammocks and enjoy picnics at sites around the grounds. The Barn, built from timber from the decommissioned Tappan Zee Bridge, offers a robust wellness program, with highlights like kinesoma movement classes, sound and forest bathing.
The Menhaden — Greenport, NY
What it's all about: In the heart of an underrated wine region, the only Key hotel on Long Island and the rare escape of this caliber easily reachable by train.If it’s not quite the Napa Valley yet, the vineyards of the North Fork of Long Island are nonetheless gaining in reputation. It’s among them that you’ll find the Menhaden, a perfect base for winery visits or strolling the quiet, harborside town of Greenport.
When it comes to activities, leave it to the hotel to organize private vineyard tours and tastings, deliver private picnics on the beach, organize oyster shucking outings and pair visitors with classes on the fineries of the wine process. A fleet of complimentary beach cruisers allow guests to explore the North Fork independently. Back on site, fire pits and lounge seats center wonderful sea views and, a lovely addition that speaks to the level of comfort, the galleys on each floor are stocked with complimentary baked goods and free ice cream.
For visitors from Manhattan, there’s the Long Island Railroad and a Hampton Jitney bus stop within walking distance of the retreat.
Eastwind Hotel & Bar — Windham, New York
What it's all about: A two and a half hour drive from Manhattan, this One-Key hotel is among the most civilized ways to embrace the nature of the Catskills.Windham may be known best for its ski slopes, but in summer it’s all hiking. Nearby is the Devil’s Path, among the most challenging treks in the northeast. For those who prefer floating, lazing or firepits on cool Catskill nights, try Eastwind. Lounging is encouraged in hammocks around the meadow-like property, while A-Frame rooms are some of the most stylish in the region — something like a mix between glamping and a Scandinavian version of the log cabin. The main building converts an old motel into stylish rooms, with chairs on the porches to enjoy each day’s breakfast basket.
Eastwind will not disappoint with dry saunas, infrared lightrooms, and heated pools. Rooms are wooden and bright, featuring mid-modern furniture, Scandinavian design, and stunning views of Windham Mountain or the surrounding pine forest. The Lushna cabins offer the experience of glamping. The cold plunge buckets offer the experience of shock. Ride complimentary bikes to cafes and bakeries in town. Or dine at Dandies, the property’s barbecue joint, where they class up slow-cooked meat with well-crafted cocktails and gelato.
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Hero image: The main lodge at Eastwind - Hotel & Bar. © Eastwind
