Rooms to Explore -- Three luxurious retreats
These grand American resorts lay claim to a common characteristic. Each has a close connection with the culture and customs of its location.
This Rooms to Explore feature focuses upon accommodations throughout the country and the world that become part of a visit to a destination. These are resorts, hotels and inns that help to bring the local history, culture and lifestyle alive in a very meaningful way — where the sightseeing and travel experience begin in the lodging itself. When I’m lucky enough to come across such places, I take pleasure in sharing my fortunate encounter, and my observations, with others. I recently enjoyed three such accommodations which tell very different stories.
One resort hotel set a new trend when it opened in 1909 by offering such then-innovative amenities as an ice-cooled refrigerator, individually adjusted heating and a telephone in each room. History comes alive at another lodging, which has been owned and operated by the same family since the mid-19th century. The third traces its birth to the 1700s, when the property on which it stands was part of a land grant from King George III.
In addition to their shared past, these luxurious retreats lay claim to another common characteristic. Each has a close connection with the culture and customs of its location.
The Otesaga, Cooperstown, New York
My stay at The Otesaga resort hotel in Cooperstown, New York was part of an immersion in that destination. The luxurious property, which is perched at the edge of Otsego Lake, got its name from the Iroquois word for “place of meetings.” The name of the lake itself was derived from Native American for “place of the rock.”
That refers to a large boulder on the shoreline which marks a spot where American Indians gathered in pre-European times. Historians tell us that members of the Mohawk and Onieda nations set up seasonal hunting and fishing camps around the lake.
The hotel transports guests back to a time of elegance and gracious hospitality. I was greeted by an imposing front portico and broad veranda overlooking the 700-foot waterfront vista. High-ceilinged guest rooms feature elaborate chandeliers and oversized windows provide stunning views of the lake.
Rooms display copies of original paintings that hang in the nearby Fenimore Art Museum, which occupies land once owned by the renowned novelist James Fenimore Cooper. His best-known works are historical novels of the frontier which combine pioneer and Native American lore against a backdrop of the region’s magnificent scenery. (For more information log onto otesaga.com.)
Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, New York
In 1869, a man named Albert Smiley purchased a modest 10-room inn to serve as a vacation haven family members and friends. Since then, it has grown like Topsy, evolving into a storybook Victorian castle which emanates rustic charm and Old-World flavor.
Five generations of the Smiley family have been involved in operating the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York. On virtually every wall, around every turn are reminders of the past, including photographs of family members along with U.S. presidents, world leaders and other dignitaries who have stayed there.
Listed as a National Historic Landmark, the ritzy retreat combines high-end style with a deep immersion in Mother Nature. I strolled along some of the 85 miles of hiking trails that meander throughout the grounds, and checked out an additional 40,000 acres set aside in a preserve.
Along with a lengthy list of both indoor and outdoor activities expected at a first-class resort, some – like horse-drawn carriage rides, story-telling and ballroom dancing – have their roots in the past. The Barn Museum houses a collection of 19th-century carriages, antique cars, old farm and kitchen implements and more.
Other hints of bygone days await discovery nearby. They include the Val-Kill cottage, where Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt entertained friends, official state visitors and others; the Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, and the 54-room Beaux-Arts mansion formerly owned by the tycoon Frederick William Vanderbilt, which is surrounded by more than 200 acres of manicured lawns, formal gardens and woodlands. (mohonk.com)
The Primland Hotel, Meadows of Dan, Virginia
Mohonk Mountain House is the new kid on the block compared with the Primland Resort, which is located near the colorfully named village of Meadows of Dan, Virginia. Following a land grant in the 1700s, the area was settled by European immigrants. Eventually the site it now occupies was set aside as a private hunting enclave, then was purchased to house a luxury retreat.
The developers of Primland created a lavish location while respecting the natural beauty of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains and offering experiences that reflect the local lifestyle. The resort’s exposed wood beams, stone fireplaces and other structural touches create a sense of connection with the setting. In this environment, sightings of wildlife are common and those interested in reliving its past as a hunting preserve may track deer, quail and other wild game. An added feature is a fully equipped observatory which provides close-up and personal encounters with planets and stars.
Other activities recall chapters of the location’s past. Artifacts representing the Cheraw Indigenous people are on display. Storytellers recount and recall sagas of moonshiners who once plied their illicit trade in the region. Bluegrass musical presentations evoke the genre of sounds that had their roots in the 1940s.
While the locations, ambience and histories of these inviting havens differ, each one offers a strong connection with both the past and their location. Guests share and enjoy the inviting amenities of the properties along with their strong sense of history. (aubergeresorts.com/primland).
Victor Block retains the travel bug after gallivanting throughout the United States and to more than 75 other countries worldwide and writing about what he sees, does, and learns. He believes travel is the best possible education and claims he still has much to learn. He loves to explore new destinations and cultures, and his stories about them have won many writing awards.
