Four Seasons Santa Fe – Hot Kivas, Prickly Pear Margaritas and Pueblo Festivals!

So many reasons to visit Santa Fe – cultural activities, endless blue skies filled with puffy white clouds, countless fine art galleries, delicious dining, hiking, and spa visits.

I hadn’t visited in a few years, so I included a stay at newly refurbished Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado – so happy I headed to the hills! The hotel is tucked in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains just outside of downtown Santa Fe. The resort is a luxurious oasis of privacy, serenity and calm. New Mexico is known for its mystical energy and the resort and spa are designed to incorporate wellness and rejuvenation.

I’ve been to the resort many times for dinner. One awesome addition since the Four Seasons took over management is the on–site Adventure Center, offering bike rides, guided tours of Taos and Georgia O’Keeffe Country to hiking excursions.

Every morning, a local guided hike is offered by the hotel naturalist, take off from the lobby and be high above the resort in minutes, the dramatic views are amazing. Walk past the adobe home of the original Ranch owner, Betty Egan. The property was once a 57-acre dude ranch and gathering spot for western movie stars practicing their horseback riding skills. If you’re a western buff, the Four Seasons Rancho Encantado proudly displays Betty Egan’s saddle, right next to the bar. There is also a wall display of eclectic western riding gear; John Wayne was a regular and good friend of the original owner; an old tale suggests that he gave Betty his favorite horse. She apparently christened the property with the name “Enchanted Ranch”.

Floating SUP Yoga in the pool. Take your yoga practice to the next level with an invigorating one-hour open-air experience on a paddleboard. The teacher will guide you through a thoughtful and light-hearted flow, allowing you to cherish the inspiring views of the Sangre de Cristo foothills. Please wear your swim attire and bring an open mind and a playful spirit.

SPA At the Spa at Four Seasons Santa Fe, indulge in the unique experiences in the spa or on your outdoor terrace. Retreat through a guided journey of peace and enlightenment to purify and restore from the outside in. Begin with a sage smudging ceremony, clearing unsettled energy. Reduce the visible signs of aging with a Chocolate Truffle Body Wrap. The active ingredients – cocoa, macadamia nut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, ginseng and lecithin – offer antioxidants to help refine your skin’s appearance, plus a boost in collagen production for deep hydration.

Relax and reset with a detoxifying activated charcoal body scrub that will nourish and renew your skin followed by a skin hydrating body wrap, rejuvenating scalp massage and black pearl eye mask to purify, balance and promote well-being.

Casitas and suites – Perfect for family vacations or getaways with friends, the two luxury Suites deliver rustic luxury in a secluded setting, with separate living, dining and sleeping areas that combine effortlessly with sweeping mountain views. Casitas are large and cozy yet minimalist with wood burning adobe Kiva fireplaces, soaking tubs, and terraces. It all feels very private and spacious. I enjoyed breakfasts and a massage on the terrace and fires each night. There’s nothing quite like an adobe Kiva, for me it was the cozy star of the room. One afternoon was spent in the fabulous Four Seasons bed with Kiva burning all day while I read and wrote in my journal. If you haven’t slept in a Four Seasons bed, you must – I think they are the best beds in the world, and you can purchase them on line.

Prickly Pear Margarita Four Seasons Santa Fe

Dining at Terra – Begin outside at the Terra Bar with dramatic views and sunset sipping! Experience an array of favorites, choose from an array of Santa Fe Queso, Green Chili Chicken Wings, Spanish Cheese Board and Encantado Shrimp Tacos. Sip on a selection of tequilas and do order the special, Prickly Pear Margarita Cocktail, Yummy!

The restaurant menu draws on local techniques and organic seasonal produce, utilizing the finest ingredients to create memorable regional cuisine. Arrive early for a cocktail and enjoy the sunset before heading to dinner. In my case, lightening slashed the dark sky, thunder pounded like a drum, all in the distance, as a yellow ball of sun dipped below the thunderclouds.  A dramatic evening finale!

Terra Bar Four Seasons Santa Fe

Situated in the Sangre de Cristo foothills, at over 7,000 feet, Santa Fe is known for year-round outdoor adventure, a vibrant arts scene and rich Native American history. The art and sculpture dotting the public spaces and rooms provide a strong sense of place.

On my last night after dinner, the security guard saw me waiting in the cold for a buggy back to my casita. He said if you don’t mind the truck, I’ll take you back. Ok, I’m fine with a little truck! After stopping for the full moon photo, he built a fire in my casita Kiva, and gave me a little s’more package with a stick!

He then told me about his Native tribe… and their Pueblo… I’m fascinated by local culture and always thrilled to hear personal stories! It’s what makes Travel worthwhile. He invited me to bring my friends to a Feast, every July 14, in his Pueblo, the Corn Dance. All the grandmothers prepare food, there’s singing and dancing… come with your friends!

Making friends, a new story for my Journey!

The corn dance takes place on July 14th at Cochiti Pueblo as part of the annual St. Bonaventure Feast Day.

And an indication of Four Seasons service: an unexpected buggy ride, moon photo, kiva fire, s’more’s and a personal story! Grateful. Highly Recommend!

Shelter in Place – Isolate in Five-Star Luxury Soon!

Every day feeling like Sunday? Vital Social Distancing, seems more like a recipe for Stir Crazy Stew. During this stressful period, online postings have revealed distinct personalities; it’s abundantly clear that some are devoted and very well read news junkies, others need daily doses of humor, others or all are rabid Netflix bingers.

Continuing from last week’s list of luxury properties with private bungalows and villas – for the eventual first toe back in the water. Read on, we hope to transport you to a world of escapism and brighter times ahead.

Inn at Five Graces, Santa Fe, NM, a charmer! I’ve been a frequent visitor to this picturesque city, the oldest capital in the United States, the charming city is set at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and possesses a unique Southwestern charm all its own. A few miles south, these mountains diminish down from a height of 13,000 feet to a flattened level plain, marking the end of the North American Rockies. A desert jewel, The Inn of the Five Graces in Santa Fe wows with exotic decor, raw silks and rich color that seamlessly blends the Southwest with the Far East. Step through its doors, and a feast of color and texture awakens the imagination. Each distinctive room showcases handcrafted artisan pieces and eclectic treasures from the historic Silk Road that once linked Europe and Asia. Echoes of rustic Spain, lingering in New Mexico’s Hispanic heritage, are reflected in the diverse style, a trademark synthesis of East and West. The richness will evoke memories of your Journeys to Istanbul and India. The Seret family who own the Inn have roamed the world to bring together Persian, Indian, Tibetan, Uzbek and other Eastern architectural elements and antiques with classic Santa Fe adobe construction. https://www.gwenbooks.com/2018/05/inn-of-the-five-graces-santa-fe-new-mexico/

Inn at Five Graces,Santa Fe New Mexico

Ranch at Rock Creek, Montana – Ultimate Dude Ranch. Our favorite adult & kiddy Relais & Châteaux Ranch in Montana books up fast in summer – time to plan for your lavish Western Glamping escape. Adventure and glamping make for a superb visit to Ranch at Rock Creek, just a short distance from Missoula. Our multi-generation families stay for a week, sometimes two weeks. The Forbes Five Star guest ranch has more activities than one can actually enjoy in a week, something for everyone and whenever you feel like moseying out from your rustically elegant and very comfy lodge room, private home or an over the top Glamping Tent, set on the banks of the gurgling Rock Creek. Camping in the most elegant style, bug free, full indoor bath and a roaring stove to ward off the cool night chill. Consisting of 29 private homes, lodge rooms and elegant Glamping Tents, some easily accommodate a large family gathering. https://www.gwenbooks.com/2018/10/summer-at-the-ranch-at-rock-creek/

Ranch at Rock Creek Home

Triple Creek Ranch, Montana, Adult Dude Ranch–Triple Creek Ranch is an award-winning Montana Luxury Ranch Resort hidden away in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. The valley was the ancestral home of the Salish tribe of the Flathead nation. The luxury Ranch caters to families with children16 and older, but the majority of the clientele is adults. Cowboy chic décor abounds, the architecture provides the first hint, charming log cabin homes and cottages dotted amid the towering fragrant Ponderosa Pines. The air is fresh, the skies robin egg blue, all this punctuated by the gurgling creek running through the property; my comfortable cabin was enhanced by the sound of the rushing creek, guaranteeing deep sleep. The owners are serious Western fine art collectors and generously share their collection in each cabin and in all the public spaces, truly an added perk.

There is an annual Stave Puzzle Weekend, if you aren’t a puzzle expert by now, a weekend here will enhance your skills- imagine warm fire, a fine Cabernet and a Stave puzzle weekend! https://www.gwenbooks.com/2017/09/triple-creek-ranch-montana-luxury/
https://www.gwenbooks.com/2018/04/triple-creek-ranch-activities/

Triple Creek Ranch

Further afield: Four Seasons Maldives Private Island – Voavah. A heavenly hideaway, a sublime sanctuary offering the utmost in privacy and iconic Four Seasons pampering at the world’s first exclusive-use UNESCO hideaway, Voavah. A seven-bedroom private island Maldives home, the sojourn includes a 62-foot luxury yacht: Voavah Summer and a marine territory that’s utterly your own! Voavah, private island is a welcome addition to the two luxurious Four Seasons Resorts in the Maldives.

Our mantra on the art of the opening act, your arrival sets the stage: with a personal VIP Seaplane, alighting on the pristine pure white sand, your private beach! Tip toe over the scuttling white shelled hermit crabs and the delicious dilemma develops, what shall you do first: laps in the pool, a discovery afternoon of diving or casting, or snooze until sunset? Decisions, decisions!

Sneak peek: accommodating up to 22 guests in seven bedrooms, with its own chefs, staff, private spa, and a 65-foot-long PADIequipped motor yacht with a dedicated dive master. This extraordinary five-acre, island paradise is your private playground – retreat or indulge in the total privacy as a castaway!

https://www.gwenbooks.com/2018/02/four-seasons-maldives-private-island-voavah

Four Seasons Maldives Private Island – Voavah
Four Seasons Maldives Private Island – Voavah

We haven’t stayed yet, but Twin Farms Resort and Spa, in Vermont is represented by one of our very reliable discerning firms. A Relais & Chateaux and Forbes Five Star Resort, double blessings! Located about one-and-a-half hours from the nearest commercial airport in Burlington, the journey into the bucolic landscape surrounding Barnard, Vermont begins the Twin Farms experience. Once on the property’s vast 300 acres, seclusion and privacy come first. And there is a ‘story’ – which I always adore, who can resist an authentic history, or a property built around a smart or in this case, a romantic tale?

When Nobel prize-winning author Sinclair Lewis proposed to journalist Dorothy Thompson, she promised to marry him if he bought her a farm in Vermont with sweeping lawns, orchards, and “delicious air.” They found their idyll in a 1795-era farmhouse on 300 acres – all of which they purchased in 1928 for $10,000. In various seasons, they created and entertained at Twin Farms. Their guest list included political and literary figures who lingered for provocative discussions, outdoor activities, and the opportunity to attend the couple’s legendary parties. Dorothy kept Twin Farms until she was no longer physically able to live here. As she grew frail, her family sold off parcels of the land, completing the final transaction in 1958. Subsequently, Twin Farms changed hands several times. It operated as Sonnenberg Haus, an inn with a reputation for fine dining, when Thurston Twigg-Smith acquired the property as a second home for his family in 1974. By the late 1980s, the Twigg-Smiths found themselves able to visit Barnard only a few weeks a year, so they decided to launch a Bed and Breakfast to share this special place – a quaint notion that soon escalated to the number one small hotel in North America.

Open all year, the resort offers specific activities related to the seasons. Sinclair Lewis described his favorite hideaway in Fall at Twin Farms: Our legacy revolves around Fall foliage, bringing unparalleled beauty in shades of red and gold bathed in crisp air, with the promise of warmth and intimacy at the end of the day. “There will be apple trees and flaming lilies, and the moon over the low mountains and you and me, after dinner, sitting….on the terrace, and inside, when it becomes chilly, the fireplace and lamplight and lots of books,”

Twin Farms Resort and Spa

Freestanding cottages, lodge rooms and Farmhouse rooms provide multiple stay options. The cottages are secluded amid 300 wooded acres, ten freestanding cottages comfort and inspire with fireplaces and screened porches – each a unique setting for reflection, romance and serenity./https://www.twinfarms.com/

Twin Farms Resort and Spa
Twin Farms Resort and Spa, a to die for tub!

A unique plethora of somewhat secluded options for your first foray back to civilization. We also have a list of very isolated private homes available, so private we can’t broadcast the locations, but if you have an interest, ping me for a proposal!

Be Well and be Safe, we look forward to curating your dream escapes!

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
 
— T.S. Eliot