Rancho Santa Fe's hidden glamour

This exclusive San Diego enclave was built in the 1920s as a planned village with Spanish colonial architecture. Today it ranks among the country's most expensive housing markets yet feels surprisingly secluded, just 10 minutes from surfing beaches.

A Hollywood hideaway reborn

The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe opened in 1941 and became a retreat for Golden Age stars like Bing Crosby. A 40 million dollar renovation in 2023 preserved its original architecture while adding modern luxury and fresh design elements.

Laid-back luxury in the gardens

The 11-acre property feels like a botanical garden with bougainvillea, birds of paradise, and lemon trees. Guests can hike slot canyons, play pickleball, enjoy spa treatments, and bike through town while staying in rooms with hand-painted murals and antique fireplaces.

Fall rates starting at four hundred twenty-nine

The inn's "Always Summer in San Diego" fall offer includes rates from $429 with daily $60 breakfast credits and a one-time $100 resort credit, designed for mid-week stays.

Oregon's undiscovered wine country

Applegate Valley in southwest Oregon sits just north of California with a Mediterranean climate similar to Bordeaux. Over 70 grape varieties are produced in only 20 vineyards, earning it a spot among the world's top wine regions in 2022.

Jacksonville's Gold Rush charm

This authentic Gold Rush town features handsome brick buildings from the mid-1800s, a farm-to-table food scene, and the Britt Music and Arts Festival. Kubli Haus, a new boutique hotel in a restored 1860 mansion, offers rooms starting at $249 per night.

Wine tasting meets farm-to-table

The Jacksonville Wine Trolley offers a safe way to visit multiple wineries without driving. Red Lily Vineyards pairs its rosé with carrot soup and charcuterie, while Wooldridge Creek serves house-made cheeses with Tempranillo.

Cheaper than Napa, less pretentious

Applegate Valley is only six hours from San Francisco but offers lower prices and fewer crowds than Napa. You can meet the winemakers at tastings, and autumn brings dramatic fall colors as oaks along the Applegate River turn red and gold.

Litchfield County's quiet renaissance

Northwest Connecticut's Litchfield County is suddenly a hot destination, called the "Anti-Hamptons for the smart set" by the Financial Times. Only two hours from New York City, it offers 367 miles of trails, apple orchards, and world-class dining.

“Anti-Hamptons for the smart set”

Fall foliage and bird watching

Visitors can pick apples at local orchards like March Farm or birdwatch at the 16-acre Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy, which showcases over 90 endangered bird species through November.

Belden House Hotel opens

Over a century after fire destroyed the original grand hotel, Litchfield's hospitality renaissance centers on Belden House Hotel and Mews. This restored 1888 mansion features original details mixed with contemporary interiors, steps from the town green.

Chef Daniel Boulud joins the scene

The Mayflower Inn and Spa has welcomed acclaimed chef Daniel Boulud for a residency lasting until the end of 2026. Community Table in New Preston also offers world-class dining in this revitalized region.

Fall mini-break rates at four fifty-five

Belden House Hotel offers rooms starting at $455 per night. Book any three nights and receive 20% off the best available rate in the fall "Mini-Break" offer.

A town with real history

Litchfield is where abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe was born and where the nation's first law school and first all-girls school were established. The historic red brick town green remains the heart of this New England community.