The post The Trustees Welcomes Guests Back to Two Iconic Inns appeared first on Active Travels.
]]>
The Trustees just announced the reopening of the two inns they run in Massachusetts on April 2nd. Inn at Castle Hill in Ipswich is a 10-room property located within the Crane Estate and next to Crane Beach. Talk a long walk on the beach by your lonesome in spring and then return to the property for a yummy breakfast. The Guest House at Field Farm is just outside Williamstown, perfect for an art lover’s retreat to the nearby Clark and Mass MoCA art museums. Wander outdoors around Field Farm’s sculpture garden and you’ll have excellent views of the slopes of Mt. Greylock. The six guest rooms are a treat for interior designers, created in the mid-century-modern style.
The post The Trustees Welcomes Guests Back to Two Iconic Inns appeared first on Active Travels.
]]>The post Quick Escape, Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa appeared first on Active Travels.
]]>
Lisa and I spent two nights in the Berkshires last week checking out the new Miraval property in Lenox that made its debut in late July. The Miraval brand is already well known in the travel world for its two wellness properties in Tucson and Austin, so we were excited to see what they had in store for New England. They took over the former Cranwell property and expanded across Route 20, where they now house a horse farm, chicken coop, gardens, and space for archery, hatchet throwing, and pottery classes. Arriving in the rain, we were happy to see that all rooms are connected indoors via a long corridor with classes, restaurants, and lounge area. This will come in handy during the winter months when you don’t have to venture outdoors unless you choose to snowshoe or hike.
Wanting to take advantage of the two nights/three days we spent on property, we signed up for a busy regimen weeks before arrival that included classes in fitness, yoga, mindfulness/meditation, farming, and nutrition. We ended up taking three walks outdoors, along the shoreline of Stockbridge Bowl and beside a rolling brook in October Mountain State Forest, all glorious during the peak of fall foliage. We also took four meditation courses with Will, known as Chill Will, including an introduction to Qigong and Forest Bathing; a fantastic cardio drumming class with Tariq; a visit to the farm to feed the horses and chickens with Jen; a fun flow yoga class with Mark; and an informative lecture on keeping a healthy gut with Annie. We would quickly learn that all of the instructors are excellent and that most have devoted their lives to their particular passion. Will has taught meditation to people in drug rehabs the past two decades; Annie led the nutrition department at nearby Kripalu; Jen not only owns a farm, but was involved in education at Sturbridge Village. Miraval had to know the wealth of talent they would find in the Berkshires, a hub in the northeast for wellness and yoga thanks to Kripalu and Canyon Ranch.
With mild October temperatures, many of the classes were held outdoors. We pounded those drums on a grassy patch near the large pool. Some fitness classes like spin cycling are still on hold until after the pandemic, but the spa was open for massages and facials. When weather cooperated, dining was outdoors on a large patio. Otherwise, you’ll be having meals indoors in a large restaurant, Harvest Moon, with high ceilings. They do a good job of limiting and separating people in the restaurant, especially during dinner, when you have to reserve a time in advance. The food, like most classes, is included in the price. As you would expect, they try to make it healthy, with numerous vegetarian and fish options. Everything we tried was delicious, from the fresh greens to avocado toast to grilled salmon and tuna ceviche. Unlike Canyon Ranch, they do serve alcohol. There’s also have a café next door, Roost, to grab lattes and yummy cookies and casual fare, all-inclusive. Rooms were spacious with large balconies outdoors for taking in the view.
Feel free to ask us any questions! ActiveTravels is here to help book Miraval when you feel comfortable traveling. As part of Virtuoso, we can also offer $175 resort credit, per person, per night to spend on your choice of spa services, activities and private sessions with Miraval specialists.
The post Quick Escape, Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa appeared first on Active Travels.
]]>The post Virtuoso Travel Week Highlights, The Debut of Miraval Berkshires appeared first on Active Travels.
]]>
Every other year, Lisa travels to Las Vegas in the heat of August to meet with hundreds of travel suppliers, hotel GMs, cruise companies, and many other faces in the travel industry for Virtuoso Travel Week. This year, we had those meetings for 4 very full days from the comfort of our office thanks to Google Meet. I have no idea how they can organize hundreds, if not thousands of meetings, at the same time without crashing. But, lo and behold, every 10 minutes we clicked on another link and had our private sessions with the people we most wanted to speak with. This week, I will present the highlights from those meetings:
The big news out of New England is the opening of the new Miraval property in Lenox. After $132 million investment, the Miraval Berkshires wellness resort and its close cousin, the Wyndhurst Manor & Club, opened in late July on the former Cranwell hilltop property overlooking October Mountain. Miraval offers 100 guest rooms and suites, while Wyndhurst has 11 rooms in the historic mansion and 35 additional rooms in nearby cottages. Now, with social distancing in place, the resort can accommodate 40 percent of total occupancy. Miraval’s “digital detox” wellness approach emphasizes outdoor programming, including guided hikes and equine activities, as well as smaller group settings to encourage social distancing for indoor programs such as yoga, fitness, culinary and meditation classes, though many of those classes will be moved outside this fall. Guests also have access to the resort’s private beach on nearby Laurel Lake, where programs include stand-up paddle, paddle yoga and kayaking, as well as meditation. Other activities include sustainable living classes, like beekeeping and raising chickens, and the much-needed spa for healing and nurturing.
If interested in a visit to Miraval this year or next, please let ActiveTravels know and we’ll check availability and pricing. As a member of Virtuoso, we can also get you a free upgrade upon arrival, complimentary breakfast, and $100 resort credit, per person.
The post Virtuoso Travel Week Highlights, The Debut of Miraval Berkshires appeared first on Active Travels.
]]>