SERENE NATURE GETAWAYS, FROM BEACHES AND WATERFALLS TO THE ROLLING HILLS OF TEXAS
BY AMBER GIBSON
ONERA WIMBERLEY Wimberley, Texas
This treehouse resort in Texas Hill Country is a quiet destination to relax and recharge in nature just 45 minutes south of Austin, with only deer, foxes, and hawks for company. You’re guaranteed to get a good night’s sleep after watching the sunset from your private hot tub with a glass of wine in hand. Each of the 28 standalone suites has its own hot tub and spacious outdoor terrace, and there are 12 Spyglass cylindrical-shaped treehouse units overlooking a verdant canopy of trees, plus 16 Greenhouse units with living roofs. Spring is an especially beautiful time to visit, with wildflowers blooming on the vegetated rooftops of the Greenhouse suites.
Onera Wimberley is not a traditional full-service hotel, but you’ll receive a check-in code so you can go straight to your room. There’s no restaurant, but rooms are equipped with kitchenettes that include air fryer microwave ovens, toasters, and large refrigerators, and three-course in-room dinners and room service deliveries can be arranged with talented private chef Ashley Casebier of Southern French With A Twist. Every meal comes with freshly baked biscuits and Texas honey butter, and Casebier’s tarragon brown butter scallops are a winner. Wimberley is an International Dark Sky certified community and guests can book a stargazing experience with local astronomers, along with wellness experiences like in-room massages, yoga classes, and sound healing. Rates start at $450. 801 Buttercup Lane, Wimberley, Texas, stayonera.com/ locations/wimberley
LA CASA DE LA PLAYA
Playa del Carmen
An all-inclusive resort in Mexico hardly sounds like a peaceful getaway, but Grupo Xcaret’s 63-suite adults-only crown jewel is the pinnacle of luxury and a true oasis from the group’s busy parks and attractions, where exceptional bespoke services and amenities complement stunning architecture and design. Every oceanfront suite includes natural wood and stone walls and floors, vaulted brick ceilings, jellyfish aquariums, and spacious terraces with private infinity edge pools, hammocks, and monolithic stone Jacuzzi tubs. One-of-a-kind artwork celebrates artisans across Mexico, from Huichol beaded winged hearts to colorful embroidered tapestry headboards from Puebla. Help yourself at any hour of the day to chocolate paletas and passion fruit and mezcal bonbons at the Mexican choco late shop, mezcal cocktails at the agave spirits bar, and dozens of different bottles of Mexican wine in the private wine cellar.
If you choose to venture off property to other Xcaret attractions, La Casa de La Playa guests receive black car service and special VIP perks like private cenote dinners and backstage tours of the famous Mexico Espectacular show. There’s no need to leave property though when you can simply lounge at the dreamy infinity rooftop pool, indulge in private hydrotherapy at Muluk Spa, and savor meals by Mexico’s most renowned celebrity chefs, including Martha Ortiz and the Rivera-Rio brothers. With four restaurants, it often feels like you have the place to yourself while enjoying melt-in-your-mouth beef tongue and guava tres leches cake. Rates start at $3,500. Carretera Chetumal-Puerto Juárez Km. 282 L23-2 Colonia Rancho Xcaret 77710, 77710 Playa del Carmen, lacasadelaplaya.com
SALISH LODGE & SPA SNOQUALMIE, WASHINGTON
Located 30 miles east of Seattle in the Cascade Mountains overlooking the dramatic Snoqualmie Falls, you might recognize this historic lodge from mystery-horror TV series Twin Peaks. All 86 guest rooms feel modern and comfortable, with gas fireplaces, double rain showers or tubs, and cozy wood accents. Many rooms have balconies and patios overlooking the Snoqualmie River, and three new suites to be completed in October will feature prime waterfall views.
At breakfast, servers drizzle honey from the lodge’s own apiary from above your head onto piping hot biscuits in a signature “honey from heaven” ritual. That same honey is used to make a dry honey cider served at the bar alongside excellent private label wines by local partners like Treveri Cellars and Terra Blanca Winery. The newly renovated restaurant includes a heated and fully enclosed patio with views of Snoqualmie Falls, and the thoughtfully curated gift shop includes locally made crystal candles by a lodge employee, plus Eighth Generation wool blankets, ornaments and jewelry all made by Native artists.
T he spa should be a highlight of any stay, with advanced HydraFacial treatments, massages, and raw honey scrubs. A co-ed hydrotherapy space includes sauna, steam, and soaking pools with dappled sunshine streaming through the skylights, contrasting with the dark and moody relaxation area where guests enjoy tea and snacks. Rates start at $299. 6501 Railroad Ave, Snoqualmie, Washington, salishlodge.com
SACRED ROCK INN Elk, California
Cozy cedar cottages and bungalows are a tranquil escape in this tiny coastal California town with just a few hundred residents. The inn is named for the majestic arched rock formations rising from the turquoise ocean, resembling two bears facing each other and reflecting the spiritual essence of the Mendocino coast. Native American folklore frequently highlights bears as guardians of wisdom, courage, and healing. Within Miwuk culture, bears symbolize balance, much like the interconnected harmony of the ocean, land, and sky at Sacred Rock Inn.
Castle suites are the most stunning of all, with skylights above the bed and in the bathroom creating a bright and airy atmosphere. A lofted Jacuzzi soaking tub has panoramic ocean views, and the spacious wooden terrace is perfect for practicing yoga in the morning to a soundtrack of crashing waves.
The outdoor hot tub is a relaxing spot to sip a drink, read a book, or just let the sound of the ocean lull you into peaceful meditation. Guests are pampered with little luxuries like a complimentary minibar with homemade chocolate chip cookies, local cheese, wine, and crackers, and the front desk is available by text message for any requests, although in this remote location, cell service can be sporadic.
Stop in at casual pub Elk House for breakfast and lunch, with a wide selection of local beer and chef Ryan Seal’s personal favorite foods like Korean fried chicken sandwiches, burgers, and BBQ pork belly bao buns. The 22-seat Greenwood restaurant is only open for dinner, serving elegantly plated dishes in a relaxed environment. Seal’s housemade pastas are a must, along with local black cod and a playful twist on classic carrot cake. Rates start at $525. P 5920 CA-1, Elk, California, sacredrockinn.com
