I had just finished streaming HBO’s Gilded Age when I booked an overnight stay at the stunning Glenmere Mansion, the country home Robert Goelet, a real estate developer, built for his family in 1911.

It felt like kismet when I arrived and walked through the grand doors of this Chester, New York-mansion that could just as easily be perched on a Tuscan hillside. I closed my eyes, immediately imagining the posh parties that once took place here featuring the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (regular guests), Babe Ruth (he loved visiting here) and women bedecked in fancy hats and floor-length gowns. 

The winter is the perfect time to check into this 150-acre Relais & Chateaux property, renovated in 2010 and filled with a renowned art collection. Located just over an hour from New York City, this regal estate overlooks the Catskill Mountains and the sparkling Glenmere Lake. You’ll get comfy and cozy in one of their 18 rooms, all paying homage to the past while adding the most modern of features, including luxurious Italian linens and soaking tubs.

Meals served at the two restaurants on-property are also epic—and locally sourced. Chef Gunnar Thompson is known for his Hudson Valley farm-to-table cuisine and innovative dishes. The menu is full of dishes sourced from local partners and producers in the Hudson River Valley as well as on-site. Heritage breed chickens are raised for the eggs served here, two colonies of honeybees provide the honey, and organic vegetables in the gardens are seasonal inspirations. 

The breakfast basket of homemade muffins and scones (served with jam made in the mansion’s kitchen) is a standout (and to-go bags are encouraged for snacking while on property or on the way home).

A spa for the ages

When Glenmere’s 8,000-square-foot spa debuted here in 2012, the owners had a feeling that the five treatment suites (all include a whirlpool tub and steam shower) would appeal to guests. 

The centerpiece of the spa, however, is most definitely the hammam experience. Once you set foot in this gigantic marble room, you’ll feel transported to Turkey or Morocco and, with it, an instant mood shift from tense to relaxed courses through you.

Singles or couples can opt for The Hammam Experience (this includes the side-by-side use of the herbal steam, dry sauna, Swiss shower, vitality pool, and cool mist). Another unique treatment is the Turkish Soap Ritual, a virtual trip to Istanbul that begins with a warming ritual that takes place while you lie on a heated belly stone, followed by a luxurious and bubbly scrub, using castile soap, and massage using a traditional handmade kessa mitt. Just think of how quickly your winter weariness will dissipate as warm water cascades over you.

There are five facial treatment options (including customized masks) depending on your skin’s needs. The Mediterranean Salt Wrap & Hair Shine treatment (it’s 120 minutes long) will work wonders to nourish your hair for the remainder of winter.

 The spa’s sunny relaxation library might be the best place to unwind after your treatments. Once you’re settled in, you’ll be served homemade granola, fruit and yogurt, and a delicious cup of tea. It’s a perfect finale to a spa experience here. Best of all, the spa is connected to the mansion via a long hallway, so you never have to set foot outside when walking back to your room after a treatment.

 If by chance the mercury rises during your winter visit, a stroll around the grounds, including the central courtyard and Italian marble fountain, will invigorate you as you marvel at the beauty of the New York farmlands.

 To book a stay, visit Glenmere Mansion.