Kiwi Curated
Getaways Near Major Cities
by Joy PecknoldStaying at the best eco hotels is one way to travel more sustainably and exploring closer to home is another. All within a few hours by train or car of some of the world’s major cities, these seven hotels make carbon offsetting and trip planning way easier.
Getaways Near Major Cities
If Santa Barbara County is good enough for Oprah (she owns a home here), then it’s certainly good enough for everybody else, and one of the coolest places to stay in this cute coastal cute is Hotel Californian. Two hours from Los Angeles, the hotel’s downtown location is just a block from both the Amtrak Station and the beach, which makes for a walk-everywhere weekend. Onsite, enjoy their two celebrated restaurants, Moroccan-inspired spa and rooftop pool.
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A four hour-drive from NYC or two from Boston (better yet, take the train), the charming town of Manchester, Vermont, provides all the fixings for a proper getaway, including breweries, galleries and outdoor activities galore. The quintessential place to stay is the Equinox Golf Resort and Spa. The historical hotel offers all kinds of adventures, including falconry, four-wheel driving and fly-fishing.
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The Pemberley vibes that Heckfield Place gives off are legit. Just 90 minutes outside London, the hotel’s Hampshire surrounds are the former stomping grounds of Jane Austen. Born in nearby Steventon, Austen moved around the county over the course of her life. While there are plenty of nooks that evoke Regency era life, the property is also delightfully modern with its own organic farm, screening room and spa.
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A three-hour drive and ferry ride or a 30-minute harbour-to-harbour seaplane takes Vancouverites to Victoria, a quieter Brit influenced city on Vancouver Island’s southernmost tip. Much of its main attractions are within walking distance, and the Fairmont Empress which overlooks the downtown waterfront is simultaneously well-situated and gorgeously grand. Get a taste of old England at the hotel’s very proper and popular afternoon tea.
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Two hours from Toronto by train or car, Niagara-on-the-Lake is an easy getaway for those interested in the Shaw Festival or the most powerful falls in North America. Oh-so-quaint Harbour House is just blocks away from the lakeside, main shops and Fort George National Historic Site. Wineries in the area are also a draw, but guests who’d rather hunker down can enjoy the hotel’s daily wine and cheese tasting by the fire in their library.
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Halfway between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, in a tiny fishing village, Pousada Picinguaba is an escape to a simpler way of life. There’s no televisions or in-room phones, and instead of air-con, there’s hammocks set up to catch sea breezes and a hillside pool with views of the bay. When guests crave adventure, there’s the historic town of Paraty a 30-minute drive away or the hotel’s private schooner for island hopping.
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When ocean views are an everyday occurrence, where does one go for a change of scenery? For Sydneysiders, we’d suggest the Greater Blue Mountains. On its own 7,000-acre conservancy two and half hours from Sydney, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley feels like its own small country. Each guest has their own villa with a private pool, fireplace and veranda. Explore the vast terrain and see wildlife on foot, horseback or driving tour.
BOOK NOWIf Santa Barbara County is good enough for Oprah (she owns a home here), then it’s certainly good enough for everybody else, and one of the coolest places to stay in this cute coastal cute is Hotel Californian. Two hours from Los Angeles, the hotel’s downtown location is just a block from both the Amtrak Station and the beach, which makes for a walk-everywhere weekend. Onsite, enjoy their two celebrated restaurants, Moroccan-inspired spa and rooftop pool.
BOOK NOWA four hour-drive from NYC or two from Boston (better yet, take the train), the charming town of Manchester, Vermont, provides all the fixings for a proper getaway, including breweries, galleries and outdoor activities galore. The quintessential place to stay is the Equinox Golf Resort and Spa. The historical hotel offers all kinds of adventures, including falconry, four-wheel driving and fly-fishing.
BOOK NOWThe Pemberley vibes that Heckfield Place gives off are legit. Just 90 minutes outside London, the hotel’s Hampshire surrounds are the former stomping grounds of Jane Austen. Born in nearby Steventon, Austen moved around the county over the course of her life. While there are plenty of nooks that evoke Regency era life, the property is also delightfully modern with its own organic farm, screening room and spa.
BOOK NOWA three-hour drive and ferry ride or a 30-minute harbour-to-harbour seaplane takes Vancouverites to Victoria, a quieter Brit influenced city on Vancouver Island’s southernmost tip. Much of its main attractions are within walking distance, and the Fairmont Empress which overlooks the downtown waterfront is simultaneously well-situated and gorgeously grand. Get a taste of old England at the hotel’s very proper and popular afternoon tea.
BOOK NOWTwo hours from Toronto by train or car, Niagara-on-the-Lake is an easy getaway for those interested in the Shaw Festival or the most powerful falls in North America. Oh-so-quaint Harbour House is just blocks away from the lakeside, main shops and Fort George National Historic Site. Wineries in the area are also a draw, but guests who’d rather hunker down can enjoy the hotel’s daily wine and cheese tasting by the fire in their library.
BOOK NOWHalfway between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, in a tiny fishing village, Pousada Picinguaba is an escape to a simpler way of life. There’s no televisions or in-room phones, and instead of air-con, there’s hammocks set up to catch sea breezes and a hillside pool with views of the bay. When guests crave adventure, there’s the historic town of Paraty a 30-minute drive away or the hotel’s private schooner for island hopping.
BOOK NOWWhen ocean views are an everyday occurrence, where does one go for a change of scenery? For Sydneysiders, we’d suggest the Greater Blue Mountains. On its own 7,000-acre conservancy two and half hours from Sydney, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley feels like its own small country. Each guest has their own villa with a private pool, fireplace and veranda. Explore the vast terrain and see wildlife on foot, horseback or driving tour.
BOOK NOW