East Coast to West Coast R&R: Wildflower Farms & Post Ranch Inn

Wildflower Farms

On the East Coast, a quick trip to upstate New York takes you to active restoration personified. Wildflower Farms, an Auberge resort, greets you with a roaring fire in the center of the covered porch, a welcome cocktail (or mocktail) at the front desk, and a handwashing ceremony to cleanse you of anything that you carried in the door. From the moment you get on this property, you are immersed in an earthy peace. A cozy bedroom with its own fireplace is complemented by a spacious bathroom with a deep soaking tub. Every detail in the cabin is there to offer the ultimate R&R. Scissors are provided to trim your own wildflower bouquet and binoculars to glimpse the hawks circling the nearby cliffs. Turndown service is centered around one restorative treat or ritual every night, ranging from a CBD chocolate to an essential oil mister for a quick breathing exercise.

February views at Wildflower Farms

In addition to your home away from home, there are yoga classes daily and an impressive gym. There are nature paths on property and a spa with indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs. Lounge chairs line the pool deck to grab a nap, read your book, or just stare through the windows at the beautiful nature around you. An on-property farm, which guests are free to wander through, provides many of the restaurant’s ingredients and is tended by on-staff farmers, constantly producing new and exciting things. You can even pick out eggs to have the chef cook for you! The restaurant, Clay, is exceptional and offers an open kitchen concept and an impressive wine list. Dinner and a show! If you just can’t take your eyes off that roaring fire at the entry, you can also have drinks or food in the Adirondack chairs surrounding it, and yes, blankets are available. 

Fireplace entry at Wildflower Farms

Wildflower Farms also offers an impressive array of daily classes for those wanting to do a bit more than relax. Fancy a mixology class or single-barrel whiskey tasting? How about a terroir honey tasting, foraging adventure, or pressed flower pottery class? Truly, there are endless opportunities for new and exciting activities on property. There are even occasional events; think chef-, ingredient-, or seasonally themed dinners and wine tastings. This is one of many things that sets Wildflower Farms apart from other wellness-themed hotels: it is truly active recovery. You are welcome to simply sit on your cabin’s porch and relax, but you can also do as many activities as you can imagine. It is the perfect retreat for busy East Coasters looking to relax and restore in nature. 

Room at Wildflower Farms

Post Ranch Inn

Looking for a similar experience on the West Coast? How does a weekend focused on sitting in an infinity pool overlooking an incredible ocean view sound? Post Ranch Inn is the definition of rest and relaxation. The rooms here vary, with eight unique and beautifully designed room styles. Whether you face the ocean, the mountains, or the forests, you are in for stunning design, incredible views, and a fireplace that's loaded with wood during every turndown service, with extra provided. Unique to Post Ranch, these are not gas-activated fireplaces, but rather wood-burning fireplaces that guests light for themselves, offering incredible aromas around the property and your room. There is also a fully stocked fridge and snack bar, all included in your stay. With the binoculars included in your room, you might glimpse migrating whales or circling birds right outside your windows.

Infinity soaking pool at Post Ranch Inn

Outside your door, two infinity pools on property look out over a view a few hundred feet above the Pacific Ocean. While you soak, why not use the pool phone to dial up a farm-fresh salad and cocktail with fennel syrup made on site with the fennel from one of the most creative on-property farmers you’ve ever met. There is also a larger lap pool and a full gym, morning yoga in the yurt, and numerous nature paths on property. Stunning hikes surround the area, and the concierge can point you towards them and even lend you a Lexus to get there. The on-property farm also supplies the hotel restaurant, Sierra Mar, offering incredible meals all day with a deep wine list and world-class cocktail bar. Breakfast features a make-your-own trail mix bar for the day, and dinner offers some of the most amazing sunsets you’ve ever seen. Choose between the chef’s multi-course tasting menu, ranch dinner for two, or the à la carte menu; each offering a unique experience. 

Room at Post Ranch Inn

In between relaxing, why not do a forest meditation or a garden tour, or go stargazing with the on-site astronomy enthusiast? There is also the opportunity to try falconry if you’re looking for a thrill! However, after your hikes and exploration, make sure to find yourself back in those heated pools or get a massage in the spa. Read your book on a lounge chair or watch the sunset from the hidden bench on the edge of the property. The nature of Big Sur makes Post Ranch Inn one of the most incredible places in the world to simply be and breathe. So rest, relax, and restore yourself!

Sunset at Post Ranch Inn

Both of these hotels offer a complete energy reset like no other. You can’t go wrong with your R&R retreat. Whether you live on the West Coast or the East Coast, if you need a break from big city life, retreat to Post Ranch Inn or Wildflower Farms to take your well-deserved break in nature.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our wellness travel page.