Hotel Spotlight: Wildflower Farms, Hudson Valley
It is often said that the
experience is found in the journey, not the destination. While often true, it is anything but the case when it comes to Wildflower Farms...
We were wrapping up a 5 week stint of our annual summer travels visiting family coast to coast when my husband and I snuck away to celebrate my birthday with a stay at an Upstate New York property that captured my attention the year prior thanks to eye-catching images of cozy cabins floating atop wildflower meadows. Dreamy, to say the least. This was my first time visiting the Hudson Valley, and I envisioned our short one-hour drive from my husband's hometown in New Jersey to pull us closer to this pastoral dream with each mile passed. Instead, the journey led us along rundown strip malls, vacant lots and the occasional Dunkin' - a far cry from the quaint towns filled with antique shops and pre-Revolutionary War buildings I had read defined the region. As my phone's navigation informed me we were only a few miles from the resort and the scenery had yet to change, I began to worry the countryside escape I booked wasn't going to be quite what I thought - though my gut told me Auberge Resorts would not disappoint. Any fears I had were silenced as we pulled up to the entrance, our attention drawn to the open-air lobby perfectly framing clear views of the mighty Shawangunk Ridge and those cozy cabins resting in its shadow.
As staff warmly greeted us with rosemary-infused lemonade and led us in their ceremonial hand washing welcome over a modern farmhouse sink, we learned this sprawling deck, centered by a roaring fire pit, is the fulcrum of the resort. The Great Porch, as it's called, serves as the hotel's social hub and is flanked by the gift shop and restaurant. Influenced by a color palette of the region's changing foliage, this thoughtfully designed space captures the essence of the land and sets the stage for your stay - a beautiful balance of haute bohemian spirit and rustic adventure. I unexpectedly found myself reminiscing about my time in Comporta, Portugal’s hippy beach town, as I admired Wildflower’s architecture and the large terracotta pots scattered across this wooden deck, though my attention quickly refocused when they informed us we'd been upgraded to a Ridge Cottage.
There are 65 free-standing
cabins in all, half of which sit in the woods serenaded by the babbling Shawangunk Kill, while the rest are nestled in the meadow with views of the towering bedrock ridge beyond. A blonde-wood foundation richly layered with hand-knotted rugs, jewel-toned tapestries, patchwork quilts and heirloom furniture, our cabin was spacious and well-appointed. A gas fireplace in one corner and a large bathroom with radiant heat and a skylight left me daydreaming about redoing my own back home. To magnify the natural beauty, every room has some private terrace space and wall-to-wall sliding glass doors allowing for indoor/outdoor living. In my opinion, it is luxurious and bespoke guest rooms like these that sets Auberge Resorts Collection apart. After getting settled, the toughest question of the day faced us... Do we lounge on our deck or the Great Porch? Warm olives and homemade pretzels served at the latter was the deciding factor!
In recent years, the Hudson Valley has been experiencing a renaissance of sorts, transforming itself into a modern breadbasket of makers whose crafts run the gamut from distillers and bakers to furniture makers and potters, each one small in scale to ensure their artisanal touch is not lost in production. It takes little time on property to realize this is the common thread woven through every element of Wildflower Farms. In guest rooms, you'll find coffee mugs and rugs designed by a female-founded company upstate; felted stools and art in the fitness studio crafted by a local fiber artist; Bobbin Rockers sourced from a nearby antique shop in the lobby. In fact, over 500 custom pieces of furniture, lighting and textiles were made for the property, accented by antiques that were found local in the area. As a result, although the resort is only a few years old, its roots are deeply grounded in the Hudson Valley, fostering an authentic sense of place.
Possibly no space puts this authenticity on display better than Clay. For a relatively quiet resort, the restaurant's dining room was buzzing with energy on a Wednesday night. Every table was full, many with locals, enjoying New American dishes and cocktails crafted from regional spirits. A tapestry depicting Wildflower’s working farm hanging over the centered fireplace set the mood, and through flickering candlelight, you could see (and taste) the intentionality behind each dish. After a few too many "last bites" of birthday pizookie, I slinked down into a bubble bath as tranquil audio from "Bathe in Nature - a meditation journey into the elements" guided me - a recommendation left on my nightstand during turndown service which, ironically, told me the journey is the destination. Once again, I would beg to differ, as my destination was a peaceful night's sleep, which is exactly what I got.
As the sun rose, I briefly
contemplated heading to the chicken coop to personally select eggs for my breakfast omelet (a popular pastime amongst guests, I learned), but chose a few more hours in bed. You'll find the activities offered to be typical of those found across the wave of luxury farm retreats popping up around the globe - early morning feeds on the farm; hands-on cooking classes highlighting the garden's seasonal bounty; guided nature walks; botanical mixology workshops. The daily schedule hung in the Great Porch informed us that "Butter & Biscuits" followed by a "Grounding Sound Bath" would fill our Thursday afternoon, if we so desired. I, however, had my eyes set elsewhere. Clocking in at 35 days of uninterrupted family time, nothing sounded sweeter than laying by the pool with my head in a book, no matter how flaky the biscuits may be.
To my delight, there are not one but two pools on property. Being a motionless and hot August day, we flocked to the outdoor pool and grabbed chaises with prime views facing the Shawangunk Mountains, aka the "Gunks", letting the rhythm of shifting clouds and swaying grass rock us in and out of a sleepy state. A few children splashed in the water, but we were mainly joined by couples escaping the city. A menu inspired by Wildflower's sister property, Etéreo - which we just so happened to visit a few months prior - was offered poolside. The oppressive summer heat coupled with flavorful shrimp tacos momentarily brought me back to the Riviera Maya - a wonderful memory - but I was ready to cool off at the spa's indoor saltwater pool a few steps away.
Wellness, in whichever form you prefer, is a cornerstone of a Wildflower stay. Thistle Spa, with its oversized daybeds, body treatments that incorporate botanicals grown on the farm, and vat of delicious bone broth, is my preference. For hikers and cyclists, the Gunks are just miles away waiting to be explored. On property, a sun-dappled path meandering through meadows and corridors of trees leads past unassuming tennis and basketball courts, a state-of-the-art fitness facility, and fire pits encircled by Adirondack chairs. During a leisurely walk along this trail, I found myself stopping every few yards to cut vibrant goldenrods and Indian paintbrush - garden sheers were left in our room for this purpose - until finding myself yet again drawn to the comfort of The Great Porch, where another round of olives and rosé called my name.
