11 Perfect Escapes From New York That You Can Reach by Car

Choose your own adventure at this 113-acre resort, where 15 architects created one suite and 18 cottages, each inspired by a different theme. Curl up by a roaring fire in rustic Beaver Lodge. Stargaze through the aluminum-and-glass skylights of modern Greenhouse. Climb the 35-foot staircase into throwback Treehouse, a childhood fantasy writ large. Take a dip in the heated swimming pool. Or snag a cocktail from the aircraft turned bar in Helicopter. Winivan recently added a working organic farm onsite, tightening the distance between farm-to-table at their award-winning restaurant. The expansive grounds are primed for lawn games such as bocce and croquet, but adventurers may choose to travel farther afield for golf, hot air balloon rides and horseback riding. Pets welcome. Time from New York City: two hours, ten minutes; 155 Alain White Rd., Morris, CT; 860-567-9600; winvian.com

Located in the pint-sized village of Bedford in Westchester, New York, the Bedford Post Inn sits on 14 acres of hilly, green countryside, complete with a yoga studio, hiking paths, and horse trails. Choose from two on-site restaurants from chef Michael White’s Altamarea Group, and on Sunday nights, grab a table on the string-lit outside patio, which hosts casual events ranging from a shrimp boil to a pig roast. The active wine cellar can also be used for private dinners of up to 12 people. With not much activity in the sleepy town of Bedford, those without a car will be mostly restricted to the quaint, Dutch Colonial style inn, which only houses eight guestrooms (ask for room two or seven). If you tire of Michael White’s house-made Italian pastas at Campagna, there’s another celebrity chef the next town over—request a table downstairs at the Inn at Pound Ridge (258 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge, NY; 914-764-1400; theinnatpoundridge.com), a charming Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant about twenty minutes away by car. Time from New York City: 1 hour, 20 minutes; 954 Old Post Rd., Bedford, NY; 914-234-7800; bedfordpostinn.com

If you’ve ever dreamed of idling on shimmery Upper Saranac Lake, book a visit to The Point, a Relais & Châteaux property that sprawls out over 75 tranquil acres in the Adirondacks. Originally built as a Gilded Age camp for his family by William Avery Rockefeller, The Point bills itself as a fancy house party in the woods. On Saturday nights, guests don black tie attire for cocktails on the property’s boat or in the pub, followed by a seven-course dinner with wine pairings in the ornate Great Hall, set up banquet style to encourage mingling. The property only offers all-inclusive rates, which include accommodations, all meals, free-flowing alcoholic beverages, and a multitude of winter, fall, spring and summer activities, including the use of the resort’s boats. Despite the grandeur of its history, The Point is still a rustic property, and the design behind the 11 bedrooms and lack of Wi-Fi access reflect that. Book the secluded Boathouse for its jaw-dropping views and removed location; though, social doyennes may want to reserve the Mohawk, the Rockefeller’s former master bedroom within stumbling distance from the Great Hall. Note that children are only allowed at specific times throughout the year. Time from New York City: five hours; 222 Beaverwood Rd., Saranac Lake, NY; 518-891-5674; thepointsaranac.com

Guests come to Wheatleigh for the lush Lenox Hill views and the calming essence of the Berkshires, but they return for the property’s restaurant, which offers inventive tasting and prix fixe menus from chef Jeffrey Thompson. Situated in a park designed by the grandfather of landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted, the hotel was originally a gift from tycoon Henry H. Cook to his daughter as a reward for marrying a Spanish Count. Typical of many Gilded Age estates, Wheatleigh is a grand exercise in design, but the Florentine style palazzo also offers a modernity and intimacy usually reserved for boutique hotels. You’ll be pleased with any accommodation in the 19-room property, but we suggest investing in one of their suites to take full advantage of the antique soaking tubs. The grounds also include a pool, tennis, and golf nearby. Time from New York City: two hours, 30 minutes; 11 Hawthorne Rd., Lenox, MA; 413-637-0610; wheatleigh.com

Situated in the lower Hudson Valley, in the petite hamlet of Sugar Loaf, Glenmere Mansion is an Italianate villa with aristocratic gardens designed by Edith Wharton’s niece. While the hotel’s opulent decor is reminiscent of bygone eras, there is nothing archaic about the newly renovated spa, which offers 8,000 square feet of indulgences. Choose from an extensive list of facials and massages, including the skin-soothing Chardonnay Body Treatment ($165), or experience a traditional Turkish Hamman treatment. The toxin-purging, 2½-hour Journey to Shambhala ($440) experience might actually trick you into believing you’ve achieved enlightenment. Time from New York City: one hour; 634 Pine Hill Rd., Chester, NY​; 845-469-1900; glenmeremansion.com

If Mr. Darcy were transported to present-day New York, he might be tempted to eschew the stone façade of Pemberley for the gothic charm of Tarrytown’s Castle Hotel & Spa. There's plenty to do on the property, including strolling through the landscaped gardens, relaxing at the pool, or visiting the Asian-inspired THANN Sanctuary Spa. Make a reservation far in advance at Dan Barber’s Blue Hill at Stone Barns (630 Bedford Rd., Pocantico Hills; 914-366-9600; bluehillfarm.com) for their Grazing, Pecking, Rooting tasting menu ($218 per person, excluding beverages, tax and gratuity). The hotel is a little less than an hour from New York City, but if you want to get there even quicker, catch a 13-minute flight on Gotham Air to the Westchester County Airport (from $188). Time from New York City: one hour; 400 Benedict Ave., Tarrytown, NY; 914-631-1980; castlehotelandspa.com

When you arrive at the Homestead Inn, a refined white farmhouse in Greenwich, Connecticut, its pristine facade may signal a predictable weekend of loose leaf tea and simple New England cuisine. Step inside and everything changes. Distractions abound, beginning with the smell of truffles wafting from celebrated French chef Thomas Henkelmann’s eponymous restaurant. The interior is a cacophony of color, augmented with eclectic touches from interior designer Theresa Henkelmann, Thomas’ wife. No two rooms are the same, but we suggest booking one of the Grand Deluxe Chambers. With the hotel as your home base, skip the shops on Greenwich Avenue in favor of more inventive pastimes, such as chartering a yacht at Greenwich Harbor or visiting The Glass House (199 Elm St., New Canaan, CT; 203-594-9884; theglasshouse.org), Philip Johnson’s ode to modern architecture. Thomas Henkelmann is closed on Sundays and Mondays (except in December), so plan accordingly. Time from New York City: one hour, ten minutes; 420 Field Point Rd., Greenwich, CT; 203-869-7500; homesteadinn.com

Once a dilapidated textile factory complex, the Roundhouse, a Rockwell-designed hotel, is situated within the Hudson Valley community of Beacon, New York. The inconspicuous hotel, marked by a simple sign at the front door, is in an ideal location to explore the area’s art-filled surroundings, with Dia:Beacon (3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY; 845-440-0100; diaart.org) an outpost of the venerable Dia Art Foundation, only five minutes away and Storm King Art Center (1 Museum Rd., New Windsor, NY; 845-534-3115; stormking.org) a few towns over. The rooms are sparse, in the vein of the upscale minimalist trend that pairs Scandinavian design with luxury amenities, but the public spaces, especially the lounge, have a cozier vibe. Ask for a room on a high floor with a view of the cascading waterfalls below, which are lit at night. Time from New York City: one hour, 30 minutes; 2 E. Main St., Beacon, NY; 845-765-8369; roundhousebeacon.com

Located at the base of the Berkshires in Litchfield County, Connecticut, the Mayflower Grace, with its manicured grounds and stately terraces, appears plucked from John O’Hara’s imagination—sans the unsightly subtext. Outfitted in carefully considered tones of white and beige, the estate is a panoply of New England aristocratic tradition, and a weekend here is to step into a world of meticulous perfection. Channel literary inspiration with a morning stroll through the Shakespeare Gardens and American Poets Maze before spending the day in the pristine, all-white spa. In addition to exploring the property’s 58 acres, take advantage of the tennis courts, five-hole putting green, and expansive health club, which includes an indoor pool and a schedule of complimentary fitness classes. The Mayflower Grace has two restaurants: the more casual Tap Room, and The Mayflower Dining Room, with executive chef Isaac Olivo. If you’re willing to venture off property (and into a neighboring town), we recommend Bantam's cozy Arethusa al Tavolo (828 Bantam Rd., Bantam, CT; 860-567-0043; arethusaaltavolo.com), which utilizes ingredients from its own dairy farm. Time from New York City: three hours; 118 Woodbury Rd., Washington, CT; 860-868-9466, gracehotels.com

Rejuvenation awaits at this luxury chalet in the Pocono Mountains. The all-inclusive, adults-only resort is situated on 150 acres of pastoral greenery, with a private lake stretching over 15 acres. A visit here recalls summer camp, albeit gussied up and fine-tuned for adults, with enough activities to fill a week­long stay (you could easily spend a full day in the spa, lounging under a cascading waterfall in an oversized soaking pool or trying out an aqua fitness class, before even entering one of their treatment rooms). Adventure aficionados will appreciate the bevy of trails, water sports, and when weather allows, cross-country ski slopes. Unwind after a long day at Tree Restaurant & Bar with inventive spa cuisine that incorporates fresh produce from local purveyors and its onsite garden. Time from New York City: two hours, 20 minutes; 109 River Birch Ln., Hawley, PA; 570-685-8500; thelodgeatwoodloch.com