Wildflower Farms

If you’re visiting New York and looking to explore areas outside the city, this resort provides the perfect opportunity to do just that. Only a 1.5-hour drive from Manhattan in the town of Gardiner, you’ll swap cityscapes for the property’s immersive, pastoral surroundings, with its wildflowers, orchards, and stunning views of the Shawangunk Mountains. (Known colloquially as ‘the Gunks’, this is a top spot for rock climbing.) The property is two hours or less from all of New York’s major airports, with New York Stewart Airport in nearby New Windsor, the closest at just 30 minutes. Venturing outside the resort, you’ll find plenty: Minnewaska State Park Preserve is a great spot for hiking and waterfall-viewing, the college town of New Paltz, with its restaurants and shops, is just 10 minutes away, and if you’re up for a bit of a drive—especially if you want to do some antiquing—don’t skip some of the area’s most picturesque towns, like Woodstock, Rhinebeck, and Hudson, all within an hour or so of the resort.    

The design-forward property shines against the backdrop of such a beautiful setting, with elements of wood juxtaposed with warm textures, grounding colors, and lush materials that feel at once cozy and contemporary. There are a total of 65 stand-alone accommodations, ranging from cottages to cabins to suites. All offer floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the views—and, as they note, to bring the outside in—with amenities ranging from fireplaces and private outdoor terraces in the cottages to a hot tub, outdoor shower, large outdoor space, and separate living areas in the suites. A great option? The woods-facing Bower Cabins, situated “beneath the tree canopy”, where you can wake up to wildflower views, lounge on the daybed on the private terrace, and curl up with a good book on the window seat. Don’t be surprised if you spot deer right outside!

We’ve already talked about how the resort makes the most of its natural surroundings—and it does the same with the area’s farm-first culinary tradition. Spearheaded by executive chef Rob Lawson, the signature restaurant, Clay, features a curated menu of “rustic new American” and locally-sourced cuisine. Guests will also love spending time at The Great Porch, an ideal outdoor spot for cocktails and small plates, either before or after dinner (and coffee in the morning, too!) and the seasonal Dew Bar for eats and drinks by the pool. Also fun? The hotel offers sweet and savory s’mores for guests to make at any of the wood-burning fire pits throughout the property. 

But that’s not the end of the culinary offerings: Along with the working farm, be sure to check out Maplehouse, where you can, for instance, take a class on making floral focaccia, try foraging, and learn how to pickle veggies. Wellness is also big here, with a large, 9,000-square-foot wellness facility that encompasses the six-room Thistle, an Auberge Spa. Taking a seasonal approach, there’s a focus on the use of botanicals and local ingredients in treatments. Rounding out the wellness experience is an indoor pool, outdoor hot tubs, and fitness studio with classes held every day. Other activities to try? There’s lots of hiking, both on the three-miles of trails at the resort and off-site, as well rock climbing, ice climbing (!!), and, as is customary of Auberge properties, plenty more, from electric motorbike tours to learning pressed flower pottery.

By booking with F1S you’ll receive free daily breakfast for you two and a $100 resort credit, along with a room upgrade and early check-in/late check-out, if available, and more.