Escape: So close—just an hour’s drive from White Plains—and yet seemingly so far away, this spectacular apricot-colored Italianate villa located amidst 150 acres of rolling Lower Hudson Valley farmland appears to have been magically transported straight from Tuscany. Five years ago, a massive, $30 million dollar renovation transformed a rundown old mansion of excellent pedigree into this idyllic Relais & Châteaux retreat. Only 18 sumptuous, individually designed guest accommodations—many with fireplaces, all impeccably designed with fine antiques and featuring marble floor-heated bathrooms—are offered.
Unplug: Pass through the ornate iron gates and fall right off the grid into a life of luxurious, one-percenter leisure in this elegant sanctuary. Magnificent manicured formal gardens, stunning interiors that showcase a museum-worthy private collection of Rauschenbergs, Motherwells, and other eminent modern artists, and a gracious, ever-attentive staff, combine to push thoughts of deadlines, multi-tasking, and never-ending to-do lists far from mind. Sipping drinks or dining al fresco in the splendid cortile or open courtyard with marble pillars and grand staircase quickly becomes the new normal—and inhaling lunch desktop while answering email just a distressing distant memory.
Smartphone Substitute: Though secluded high on a hill, the property is still well-situated to enjoy outdoor pursuits like golf, hiking, and riding, and such artistic gems as Dia:Beacon Art Museum, the renowned contemporary art museum and Storm King Art Center. But with two outstanding restaurants—one for fine dining, one casual—an elegant new spa with a lavish bathhouse; fitness center; heated outdoor pool; and tennis, bocce, and croquet courts, you just may not want to ever leave the premises.
Details: Glenmere Mansion, 634 Pine Hill Rd, Chester, NY (845) 469-1900; glenmeremansion.com. Deluxe rooms begin at $750 per night and suites at $1,295 to $3,585; The Penthouse is $3,500. Includes cooked-to-order gourmet breakfast. Two-night minimum for summer weekends and three-night minimum for holiday weekends. And, yes, for the terminally wired-in, there’s high-speed Internet and television.
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