When you close your eyes and picture paradise, what do you see? A breathtaking view of the ocean or a desert stretching as far as you can see? A few thousand acres of peaceful countryside or somewhere in the mountains?
Sometimes we forget the brilliance The United States has to offer in landscape and experiences, and that paradise is closer than we think! When you’re feeling that itch for something different than your day-to-day hustle and want to step into your vision of paradise – don’t overlook some of our favorites within the States.
The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay – Half Moon Bay, California
Prestigiously placed atop a rugged bluff overlooking 50 miles of California coastline and only 23 miles southwest of the San Francisco International Airport, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay provides a magnificent backdrop to the perfect Northern California coastal vacation.
This property is a stunning destination for your next getaway! Enjoy innovative cuisine in their ocean-view restaurants, two championship golf courses, and miles of walking trails in the most romantic setting of Northern California. What makes this property unique is the opportunity to experience their weekend sunset rituals, including outdoor fire pits, Bagpipers & a luxury hot chocolate bar. We recommend booking a Luxury Fire Pit Suite – our favorite because of the panoramic ocean views and private outdoor fire pit. You will feel as though you are in Scotland!
Experience their Signature Drive to explore the 5 regions of Half Moon Bay and at the spa, indulge in their Redwood Forest Ritual treatment or Signature Pumpkin Facial. Some of our favorite activities to take advantage of including a Pacific Ocean coastal bike ride, golfing at both of their championship oceanfront courses, and horseback riding on the beach.
As a Ritz-Carlton STARS property and partner of Ourisman Travel, booking with us secures the following additional amenities for your stay:
- Complimentary breakfast for 2 guests daily, per room
- Early check-in and late checkout, subject to availability upon arrival
- Upgrade of one category room type, subject to availability upon arrival
- 100 USD Monetary Amenity Credit
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
Amangiri – Canyon Point at Lake Powell, Utah
Talk about remote! Amangiri means “peaceful mountain” and is situated on 600 untouched acres in Canyon Point, Utah with sweeping views towards Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Located in the center of the Grand Circle, this all-season resort and its secluded camp, known as Camp Sarika by Amangiri, are surrounded by iconic attractions including the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Bryce and Zion National Parks. Home for centuries to the native Navajo tribe, this region presents the raw landscape for which the American Southwest is famed.
Tucked into a protected valley, guests enter the resort by a winding road through starkly beautiful desert scenery. Built around the main swimming pool, the Central Pavilion houses a living room, library, and gallery, as well as an elegant restaurant. A focal point of the dining room is the open kitchen with its wood-fired oven and floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading to an outdoor dining terrace overlooking the pool.
Apart from the Central Pavilion, the Desert Lounge serves as an open-air relaxation area for sunsets and stargazing. Their world-renowned Aman Spa features hydrotherapy and floatation pavilions, a watsu pool, finishing salon, yoga studio, gym, and indoor and outdoor treatment suites. With only 45 guest accommodations total, you are bound to feel the serenity and intimacy of the property. Two accommodation wings lead from the Central Pavilion into the desert. All suites provide spacious terraces with breathtaking desert or mesa views.
Camp Sarika by Amangiri is home to 10 luxurious one or two-bedroom Pavilions, just a ten-minute drive or stunning 30-minute hike from the Central Pavilion. The camp’s canvas-topped pavilions each have spacious sleeping and living areas, expansive terraces with fire pits, and plunge pools. A retreat in itself, the camp has a common area with a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, two spa suites, a lounge, and a restaurant. Camp guests have full access to the resort’s extensive facilities.
Serving as a catalyst for exploration, Amangiri offers private hiking trails, morning and afternoon Wellness experiences indoors and out, canyoneering, hot air ballooning, horseback riding, and many other adventure activities. Fireside storytelling and stargazing in the evenings allow for deeper immersion in Native American culture, and guests can also learn more about the region’s history from expert archaeologists and paleontologists.
As a Virtuoso property, Ourisman Travel is happy to extend the following amenities for your stay at Amangiri:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Full breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom
- Spa credit of $125 per person, once, for up to 2 guests, applicable to spa treatments scheduled between 9am-3pm
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
Twin Farms – Barnard, Vermont
This 300-acre country estate is located just 10 miles north of picturesque Woodstock in central Vermont. The original 1795 farmhouse has been transformed into stunning living and dining rooms plus four elegant guest suites. Surrounding this core are 20 individually designed guest cottages, a handsome pub, Bridge House Spa, fitness center and a Japanese furo.
Winter outdoor activities on-site include downhill skiing with six private trails, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snow-trekking, ice-skating and tobogganing. In warmer months, guests can enjoy canoeing, fishing, swimming, hiking, tennis, cycling and croquet. For golf lovers, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course is only a few minutes away at the Woodstock Country Club plus two Championship courses in nearby Quechee.
Twin Farms, a member of Relais & Châteaux, is perfect for those who desire a private country retreat in New England. Their seasonal meals incorporate the property’s own herbs, customized for each guest, complimented by vintages from their 15,000-bottle wine cellar.
As a Virtuoso property, Ourisman Travel is happy to extend the following amenities for your stay at Twin Farms:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily full breakfast
- A gift of house-made honey with locally made pottery (value of $150 USD)
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
Blackberry Farm – Walland, Tennessee
Since 1940, Blackberry Farms has been a romantic home-away-from-home destination close to the idyllic Smoky Mountain foothills. Today, it is one of America’s most celebrated intimate luxury hotels, drawing guests who aspire to escape modern-day frenzy and slip into “a Blackberry state of mind.”
Situated on a 4,200-acre estate in the Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Farm is bound to show you why it was voted as the #1 Small Hotel in America. Blackberry Farm is easy to get to but very hard to leave! Direct flights to Knoxville from more than 25 cities mean you can arrive at Blackberry Farm sooner than you think.
The property houses just 80 accommodations, including Estate Rooms, Cottage Suites, Hill Cottages, and houses, all beautifully arranged and furnished with fine antiques. Personal service and attention to detail are the defining elements of Blackberry Farm’s award-winning reputation. Their renowned cuisine is certainly something to be recognized as they have an expert on-site for everything: the chef, the master gardener, the baker, the cheesemaker, the forger, the butcher, the jam lady, the chocolatier, the restaurant manager, the sommelier, just to name a few.
Pamper your mind and body at their Farmhouse Spa, enjoy fly-fishing while surrounded by the tranquility of Hesse Creek, find yourself on a relaxing nature hike, or freewheel down mountain or country roads on a custom co-motion bike. Be as active (or relaxed) as your heart desires!
As a Virtuoso property and partner of Ourisman Travel, we are happy to extend the following amenities for your stay at Blackberry Farm:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily full breakfast
- $100 USD Spa Services credit
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
Montage Palmetto Bluff – Bluffton, South Carolina
This award-winning 20,000-acre resort is nestled along the May River in the Lowcountry of South Carolina between Hilton Head Island and Savannah. Within, it encompasses an extensive nature preserve, walking trails, a marina, two vibrant villages, restaurants, and a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. The resort houses a total of 200 accommodations, including spacious cottages, guest rooms, and suites surrounded by the beautiful landscape of Carolina Lowcountry. You’ll feel right at home as you gaze out of your window at panoramic views of natural beauty.
Eight-inspired dining options offer cuisine curated from the freshest ingredients from the surrounding waters and farms. Spa Montage Palmetto Bluff includes 13 treatment rooms, a plunge pool, a whirlpool, a steam sauna, a fitness room, a salon, and a boutique.
Often described as an outdoorsman’s paradise, this unique setting gives rise to endless, life-enriching encounters with nature. Lazy mornings of beach-combing and kayaking, crabbing, shrimping, and fishing expeditions led by savvy local guides are just a few ways to start your days here. A romantic sunset cruise on Grace commonly follows adventurous afternoons of waterskiing and tubing, the resort’s 60-foot antique motor yacht.
Away from the water, guests can explore 15 miles of trails on a cruiser bike or horse from the resort’s 173-acre Longfield Stables. Golfers enjoy playing at the Jack Nicklaus Signature May River Golf Course. With Savannah and Hilton Head just minutes away, you might be drawn to explore! But it will be hard to find a reason to leave Montage Palmetto Bluff, a gracious and serene Lowcountry escape.
If you are a pet lover, don’t miss the Monday through Saturday canine ambassadors meet and greet at the resort! Canines Trish, Mercer, Columbus, and Georgia are sure to warm your heart!
As a Virtuoso property and partner of Ourisman Travel, we are happy to extend the following amenities for your stay at Montage Palmetto Bluff:
- Upgrade at time of booking, subject to availability
- $60 daily breakfast credit per bedroom, served in restaurant & In-Room Dining
- $100 USD Spa Services credit to be utilized during stay
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
And Of Course… Hawaii!
Hawaii is one of our top destinations year after year for our clients and we completely understand why! World-renowned surfing, volcanoes and hiking, snorkeling, unforgettable sunrises and a rainbow of beaches; what’s not to love? Consider us at Ourisman Travel your Hawaii experts and check out our various blogs on Hawaii.
If any of these properties piqued your interest or you’d like to hear about more of our favorite properties in the United States, send us an email at [email protected] or submit a Travel Request Form on our website!
