Traditionally, autumn, the harvest time, represents maturity. The dropping leaves, pickable produce and new colors of the season remind us that our lives mirror nature. We, ourselves, go through cycles of growth—most everything begins, ends and starts anew. Fall, a liminal time, reminds us to reap what we’ve sown, and to prepare to replant, metaphorically speaking. Here are transformative places to enjoy the autumn season.
Chatham Bars Inn - Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Once a hunting lodge for Bostonians, this circa 1914 inn, defined by its individually decorated guest rooms, has evolved into one of North America’s most storied getaways. On a 25-acre estate, it offers an array of activities, exceptional dining and an eight-acre farm. Slow down in The Spa at Chatham Bars Inn, which has adult-only spa suites for those on spa-focused trips, but also provides oversized treatment rooms and rituals with products gleaned from the farm’s harvest. Ask for the signature homemade cranberry, lemongrass and honey body polish.
Winvian Farm - Litchfield, Connecticut
Wander the tranquil, woodsy terrain of Winvian Farm and you’ll start quoting Robert Frost. This Connecticut country inn, nestled in the woods and home to 18 private cottages and one suite, channels his soul. As the only luxury property in New England with a full working farm, this Relais & Chateaux produces 70 percent of the food for its menu year-round from its four greenhouses and three planted acres. Some of the produce (and environs) also supply the spa, a 5,000-square-foot contemporary structure that melds with the surrounding nature. Within spa rooms graced with fireplaces, guests can experience treatments such as the Signature Aromatherapy Massage, with cedar and juniper oil to melt muscle tension.