Why should people resist Europe this summer when there are so many attractive, even unexpected, destinations? Below are some places where summer is far away, including a converted motel on a New York beach; Airstream suites under the stars in Utah; new Kentucky addresses that pay tribute to horse culture; and a ranch in Wyoming that features activities like petting goats and learning about llamas. And if you want an international getaway, it’s low season in Argentina, where a boutique hotel has opened amid Mendoza’s vineyards and wineries. Whether you’re interested in raising a glass or being raised of llamas, a quiet vacation awaits.
Greenport, NY
Silver Sands Motel and Beach Bungalows
For some, there’s no better way to spend the summer than in New York’s Hamptons. Others, looking for a more relaxing escape, look to the wineries and country roads of Long Island’s North Fork. There, on a beach, this former 1950s motel opened in late June after being sold last year and reimagined. Here you will find 20 rooms as well as eight beach shacks (studios and one-bedroom cottages with private screened-in porches and outdoor showers) and four bungalows, each with outdoor space. Beach houses with full kitchens and fireplaces are slated to open in the fall.
When you’re in the mood for a bite, you don’t have to hit the road. Food and beverage venues at Silver Sands are overseen by Ryan Hardy, the chef behind Italian-inspired Manhattan restaurants Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones. At Eddie’s Oyster Bar you can order seafood, lobster rolls and salads. There is also a pizza truck. Coffee, pastries and grab-and-go bites can be enjoyed at the snack bar. And for cocktails, beer and wine, look no further than the Lobby Bar. There are also plans for a diner later in the summer. As for outdoor activities, you don’t have to go far for those, either: There are free kayaks and bicycles for guests. And unlike some beach town properties, it plans to be open year-round. Prices from $500 per night for bungalows, from $595 per night for motel rooms and from $645 per night for beach shacks in peak season (until Sept. 30).
Lexington and Louisville, Ky.
The Manchester
Kentucky is known for bourbon and horse racing, and in Lexington, this new 125 room-and-suite hotel paying tribute to both. Located on Manchester Street in the distillery district, it is on the site of the city’s first registered distillery, established in 1865. Its brick facade is meant to evoke the historic bourbon warehouses (rickhouses) of the area, while inside, wood and jewel-toned rooms create a warm atmosphere.
When you get hungry, head to Granddam (the term for a horse’s grandmother), where the leather seating is meant to suggest saddles and the food is a modern take on Appalachian-inspired dishes like tomato pie and 12-hour-roasted wild boar. Up on the roof, the Lost Palm bar and lounge aims to transport you to 1960s South Florida, another center of horse culture, with a playful Art Deco style. A “tiki cocktail program” and dishes made for sharing, like taco al pastor with alligator, and baked and stuffed spiny lobster tails, bring a tropical twist to Southern comfort cooking. And yes, there’s a gym, so you can work out later. Prices from $220 per night.
Hotel Genevieve
About an hour and a half west of Lexington, in Louisville’s East Market district, known as NuLu or New Louisville, this 122 room-and-suite hotel takes its name from a regional type of limestone as well as the St. Genevieve, a patron saint of Paris and a nod to Louisville’s connections to France. (The city was named for King Louis XVI, after all.) Another Kentucky newcomer, the hotel, from Bunkhouse hospitality company, is surrounded by shops, bars and distilleries. You can also walk to Louisville Slugger FieldThe Waterfront Botanical Gardens and the Big Four Bridge over the Ohio River, connecting Louisville’s Waterfront Park to Indiana.
Inside the hotel, a mix of modern and vintage furniture and artwork celebrates Kentucky’s history and culture. A restaurant called Rosettes, named for the horse racing ribbons, offers fare from the culinary director Ashleigh Shantia 2020 finalist for James Beard Rising Star Chef of the Year and a former competitor on the Bravo series “Top Chef.” There’s also a rooftop lounge, Bar Genevieve, for cocktails and light bites, as well as a Mini Marché for coffee and grab-and-go breakfast and lunch. The market is also the entrance to the intimate Lucky Penny bar, where you can sip a cocktail long after everyone else has turned in for the night. Prices from $195 per night.
Virgin, Utah
AutoCamp Zion
Planning to visit Zion National Park? If camping doesn’t sound like a vacation, try the nascent 16-acre AutoCamp Zion where you can book a variety of accommodations like Airstreams and cabins. The 31-foot Classic Airstream Suite, for example, has a kitchenette, queen bed, private bathroom, heating and cooling, and private patio with fire pit and dining area. Or consider a Classic Cabin with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living area, along with an outdoor dining area. Accessible accommodations are also available.
Beyond your sleeping quarters, you can savor the view of the desert through the wall of windows in the property’s Clubhouse, where you can also stop by the General Store for beer, wine and grocery items. Or head to the Kitchen for dishes like breakfast quesadillas, sandwiches, pizzas and burgers. When not exploring the park, consider a free morning yoga session, a swim in the pool or a mountain bike ride (free for guests to use). Or linger by the Virgin River. Prices from $269 a night through the fall.
Mendoza, Argentina
SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites
While it’s summer in the United States, it’s winter in Argentina, where there are usually fewer people. But whatever the season, you’re likely to find some serenity at this boutique wine hotel that just opened Susana Balbo, a renowned winemaker (and the first woman in Argentina to graduate with a degree in oenology), with her daughter. Located in a suburb of Mendoza, the hotel is located between the Andes and the city of Mendoza, and has only seven suites. Spa suites have private gardens with outdoor fire pits and heated loungers, steam rooms, “sensations showers” that allow for different combinations of water pressures and temperatures, massage tables and locally made bath products. Each suite also has a living room, terrace, and wine fridge (some also have dry saunas). All suites surround a house and an outdoor pool, a setup that aims to cultivate the feeling that you’re staying at a friend’s property — only this friend has a “wellness butler” to prepare a bath of local salts and herbs in your in-suite tub, and a restaurant called La VidA that serves traditional Argentine cuisine.
There are wine tastings, of course, as well as blending classes where you can combine different varietals to create your own wine. And for those who want to taste and tour, there are “wine safaris” by seaplane to destinations like Patagonia and the Andes. Here, wine isn’t just for drinking: You can try a spa treatment like the body hydration wrap with red wine cream and raisins. Around the property, you will find works by Argentine and Brazilian artists. And if you want to work up a sweat, there are exercise kits with elastic bands, kettlebells, dumbbells, yoga mats and jump ropes. Prices from $780 per night (until September) based on double occupancy, including breakfast. Note: The hotel is for ages 15 and older.
Saratoga, Wyo.
Brush Creek Ranch
For many people, mountain towns are places to ski and snowboard. However their warm weather delights are not to be missed. And few destinations offer more to do in the summer than Brush Creek Ranch, nestled between the Sierra Madre range and Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming. There are three guest ranches: the Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch (which has 19 rooms in its Trailhead Lodge and 25 private log cabins), Magee Homestead (nine cabins) and French Creek (four cabins and a glamping yurt). Guests can participate in activities such as the Llama Hike and Picnic, a full or half day of hiking ($200 to $400 per person), and Llama Wade Fly Fishing, a full-day excursion with fishing guides and llamas to carry your gear and picnic lunch ($750 for two guests). For something less energetic, try Llamas 101, where you can feed and groom the animals and have playtime with the babies, known as crias ($150 per person). Llamas aren’t the only animals at the shelter. Brush Creek’s new experiences include Goat Pasture Walks, where you eat breakfast at a goat dairy creamery, then stroll through a pasture with a herd of goats as they eat breakfast ($200 per person).
Prices from $1,550 per person per night based on double occupancy (guests receive a free night when staying four or more nights). Packages include accommodations, certain ranch activities (such as archery, rock climbing and guided ranger tours) and dining, including a selection of drinks.
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