By Contributor,Laurie Werner,Scott Suchman

Copyright forbes

The setting of The Ranch in Sloatsburg, New York, built by J.P. Morgan as a wedding gift for his daughter.
The Ranch Hudson Valley

Heading into the countryside in the fall to observe the colors of the changing leaves is a classic weekend getaway. But there are other reasons to head into the countryside at this time of year. (And, really, at any time of year.) It’s not just the scenery, there’s also a goal.

A Three Day Reset in New York’s Hudson Valley

One of the prime activities in The Ranch Hudson Valley’s program is hiking trails in the over 40,000 acres on property and surrounding it.
The Ranch Hudson Valley

The Ranch Hudson Valley in Sloatsburg, New York, the outpost of the famous Malibu fitness bootcamp that opened last year, would be enough for a restful reset just from its setting: a 200 acre lakefront estate built by J.P Morgan in 1904 as a wedding gift for his daughter. These acres are not the only ones available to guests either: there are 4,000 more in the adjacent Ringwood State Park and 44,000 others a short drive away in Harriman State Park. But this fitness resort an hour north of New York City is not just about lounging in serene surroundings. Seven-night stays are preferred for a complete immersion in their program but there is also a three night program, Thursday to Sunday, that distills the core elements for a physical and mental reset.

A bedroom at The Ranch.
Ellen McDermott

The daily activities include hiking in those park trails, morning stretch, afternoon fitness, strength training, restorative yoga, meditation and massage. There’s also a 5,000 square foot solarium with a year round pool, infrared sauna, hot and cold plunges, IV therapy and energy healing. Meals are plant-based but appealing even to non-vegetarians with dishes such as basil crusted zucchini ravioli with pomodoro sauce and curried cauliflower bowls, dishes designed to provide a balance of protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats to fuel guests through their activities and return them to their regular routines in energized form.

Culture And Dining in Easton, Maryland

The restored 18th century Washington Street Pub reopened in July amid the Colonial and Victorian buildings in Easton, Maryland
PHOTO BY SCOTT SUCHMAN

Maryland’s Eastern Shore is a haven for boaters skimming across the Chesapeake Bay and its inlet rivers in the summer months and early fall. But when the weather turns somewhat cooler, there are activities on land to draw visitors there, particularly in the three hundred year old town of Easton where the company Bluepoint Hospitality Group continues to add restaurants, shops and cultural showcases to the town’s quaint streets.

Fried chicken at the Washington Street Pub.
PHOTO BY SCOTT SUCHMAN

The company, led by owner Paul Prager, the founder of Beowulf Energy and a devotee of this town and region, began restoring the Colonial and Victorian buildings downtown that were ravaged by the 2008 recession and opening restaurants that appealed to his and his family’s elevated taste. The latest, The Wardroom, reimagined as a mecca for Italian varietals with 400 bottles on hand and contemporary Italian cuisine opens in early October; The Washington Street Pub which dates from 1710 reopened after restoration in July and is once again a gathering place for locals while dining on selections from the raw bar, fried chicken, crabcakes, their special Pub Chips and the Sunday Roast with prime rib.

Oysters at Bas Rouge.
SCOTT SUCHMAN

The new additions add to a list that also includes Bas Rouge for European fine dining, Sunflowers & Greens for salads with artisan ingredients, Bonheur for pies and housemade ice cream, Roma Alla Pala for authentic Roman pizza and The Stewart for single malt scotch and an eclectic menu ranging from salmon and tuna sashimi, Hawaiian mochiko chicken and NY strip steaks.

The Ebenezer Theater, site of concerts, films and lectures in Easton.
Sam McElroy

Prager also renovated the Ebenezer Theater as part of the Prager Family Center for the Arts presenting concerts including one by Grammy nominated pianist Artist-in-Residence, Gabriela Montero, films, lectures and art installations. And in between the restaurants, there are shops worth browsing: Flying Cloud Fine Arts Posters for one of a kind, vintage masterpieces and Benjamin for crystal, porcelain and silver. Apart from this company’s stores, a string of art galleries and unique clothing boutiques such as Dragonfly Boutique, La De Da and Levity of Easton dot Goldsborough and North Harrison Streets for browsing.

A few miles out of town, The Oaks, recently renovated in a plush, residential style has charm and a riverfront setting but because of their extensive wedding business, rooms are generally available during the week; weekends aren’t available until just before Thanksgiving. The premiere hotel in the area, the also riverfront Inn at Perry Cabin, a few miles west in St. Michaels, also has genteel, traditional décor and is available on weekends; a three day weekend itinerary titled Visit Like a Wedding Crasher alludes to the resort’s role as the setting of that film.

Experiencing Summer Hotspots Without The Crowds-Nantucket

The charm of Nantucket Village

First timers to Nantucket in the summer will have to weave their way around the crowds to explore the cobblestone streets of the main town, the wharves that were bustling in the 19th century when the island was the whaling capital of the world, the beaches and lighthouses. In the fall, though, you don’t have to fight your way through a mob disembarking from the ferries and you can walk the beaches with few others around, hike the trails at Sanford Farm or stargaze at the Loines Observatory.

A suite at Greydon House.
Douglas Friedman

Basing at Greydon House, either in one of the 20 Roman and Williams designed rooms and suites in the former sea captain’s house, one of the two separate houses, 52 Union and The Bungalow, or the three bedroom Cisco Surf Suites, all in the center of town, allows easy access to the shops and restaurants there. Among the options: breakfast or lunch at Born and Bread or Gyp~Sea Cafe; lobster rolls or steamers at Sayle’s Seafood, dinners of Hawaiian tuna poke, Manila clams with xo sauce or Peking inspired whole roasted duck at The Nautilus; breakfast or dinner at Black Eyed Susan’s or Venetian small plates for dinner at Greydon House’s Via Mare.

Dinner selections at Via Mare.
Daniel Schwartz

And The Hamptons

The two bedroom Main House at the front of The Roundtree, Amagansett’s property.
The Roundtree, Amagansett

The beaches aren’t crowded and it isn’t bumper to bumper on Route 27. Adding to the overall laid back tone of fall in this popular East End enclave is a stay at The Roundtree, Amagansett an intimate inn on Main Street in this town between East Hampton and Montauk. Accommodations include eight guest rooms in a restored 100 year old barn, five cottages, a two-bedroom Main House and three-bedroom Beach House a five minute drive from the main hotel that was formerly the home of famed playwright Neil Simon. The two acre spread was formerly a farm and is bordered by two others which ups the bucolic charm; one, Amber Waves, has a farm shop and tables for sampling their prepared sandwiches and salads a short walk down the street.

A room with double beds at The Roundtree, Amagansett.
The Roundtree, Amagansett

Guests can borrow a bicycle for the short ride or be dropped off by the hotel car to one of the nearby beaches, have an in room massage or private yoga session and play a golf game at Montauk Downs State Park Golf Course where Roundtree guests have priority reservations. At night, it’s a few minute walk down the street for a concert at the long running concert venue Stephen Talkhouse. (When Metallica played there this summer, going there to hear it wasn’t necessary, though, since the music was heard all the way down the street.) The Hamptons outpost of Il Buco, Il Buco al Mare is a few steps away along with other restaurants including Fini Pizza; the many restaurants in East Hampton and the iconic Lobster Roll aka LUNCH on Montauk Highway are short drives away.

The backyard of The Roundtree, Amagansett
The Roundtree, Amagansett

Due to the recent addition of Balinese chef Dewa Wijaya as Personal Chef in Residence, though, and the extension of lunch and dinner service most days of the week, there is more reason to just stay on the grounds. The chef will offer specific dishes such as Poached Lobster with sea vegetables, avocado, cucumber, radish salad and ginger dressing and Braised Short Ribs in a rich curry sauce with grilled eggplant and coconut rice but it’s not a set menu; he’ll cook guests’ choices even those outside of his usual menus with 24 hour notice.

A selection of chef Dewa Wijaya’s offerings.
The Roundtree, Amagansett

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