Well Intentioned: A Winter Wellness Guide to Upstate New York
Artsy towns blend with steamy spas, hot tubs and hunker-down hotels when you hit the road and head to the Hudson Valley and beyond.
Slushy sidewalks. Biting winds. Looming blizzards. The Big Apple might have a certain romance in winter, but the cold season can be stressful. Upstate, it’s a different story. North of NYC is the Hudson Valley, packed with laid-back hotels, cozy restaurants and sparkling, snow-capped mountains. It’s dream road-trip territory. If feeling small helps you put everyday worries into perspective, mighty Niagara Falls and Letchworth State Park – the so-called Grand Canyon of the east – await further west. Ready to relax? Here’s where to find winter wellness in Upstate New York.
1. Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture
Natural Feature
Once part of the Rockefeller Estate, today this 1930s farm is a non-profit education center and a shining example of slow, sustainable food culture. Visitors can tour the farm (including the greenhouse and innovation labs) to learn all about low-impact agricultural practices and seasonal eating, before settling in for an unforgettable meal at farm-to-table fine-dining restaurant, Blue Hill.
2. The Roundhouse
Hotel
3. Hotel Kinsley
Hotel, Luxury
This design-centric hotel is spread across four historic buildings, each featuring rooms decked with bold colors, vintage prints, snow-white Frette bedding and mini Smeg fridges. There are plenty of yoga and pilates studios around town if that’s your thing (try the Yoga House), while cross-country skiers will love winter birdspotting along the nearby Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. At the end of the day, hunker down in the cozy wood-paneled bar, or relax in the petite infrared sauna.
4. Windham Mountain
Ski Resort
5. The Salt Den
Spa
Halotherapy – which involves spending time in a Himalayan salt cave, breathing in briny air – is said to reduce inflammation and soothe respiratory and skin conditions. But even if you take these claims with a large pinch of the proverbial, chances are you’ll still find a sense of calm at this wellness center on the outskirts of Albany. Ocean sounds, warm blankets and twinkly lights make for a meditative 45 minutes.
6. Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa
Resort, Spa Hotel
If your ideal winter getaway features worn leather armchairs, log fires and mountain views, this lakeside hotel will leave you smitten. It’s a cozy place to return after a day spent skiing at nearby Whiteface Mountain, of 1980 Winter Olympics fame. Keen skiers can even take a lesson with an Olympic medalist. Off the slopes, warm up in the spa’s hot tub and sauna, or treat yourself to a CBD massage or reiki treatment.
7. Letchworth State Park
Park
8. Niagara Falls
Natural Feature
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