Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts
Wildflower Farms, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, sits in the Hudson Valley, and it works as an escape from the city even in the dead of winter, maybe especially in winter.
Even in the cold, the meadows had that gold-toned winter look, cottages scattered across the property, and we took a few walks just to be out in the crisp air before heading back in. When we wanted to warm up, The Great Porch was the spot, the main open-air gathering space, fire going, easy to just sit there for a while.
We ate all our meals at Clay, the restaurant on property. I've been to enough Auberge hotels by now to have real expectations for the food, and Clay held up. Fireplace going, rustic without trying too hard, the kind of room that matches the rest of the property instead of feeling like a separate stop.
The menu follows the Hudson Valley seasons, local and organic, and you can tell. But the actual best part was the staff, they knew the menu well enough to walk us through each dish and actually recommend things, not just recite a script. It made the meals feel less like a hotel restaurant and more like people who cared about what they were serving.
One of the best parts of the stay was the wellness program with Jobi Manson, the naturalist behind Sēfari. Her whole approach is built around actually connecting with the natural world rather than just being near it, and we noticed that difference almost immediately.
She led us through a guided meditation along the Shawangunk Kill River, just listening and being there for a while, no real agenda beyond that. Jobi herself is a big part of why it worked, warmth and genuine investment in what she does, not something you can fake through a session like that.
Wildflower Farms isn't only about being outside, the rooms hold up their end too. Rustic-chic, comfortable, modern enough that you're not roughing it just because you're in the woods.
Merlette Cardigan, Loewe Top, Reformation Trousers, Stella McCartney Beanie
There's also a full-service spa on the property. But the standout was part of the Sēfari program with Jobi: a water and sound session in the indoor saltwater pool, warm water, music built into the experience itself. We floated while the sound bath played, and it was one of the more effective ways I've found to actually let go of tension rather than just being told to relax.
We also did the farm experience, up early to meet the chickens, feeding them grains and treats, and collecting our own eggs after. There's something genuinely grounding about doing something that basic with your hands, especially compared to everything else on a trip like this.
If you live in the city and need a real reset, Wildflower Farms is worth the drive up. Between Jobi's program and just being out in the Hudson Valley for a few days, it did what it was supposed to.
Thank you to Wildflower Farms and Auberge Resorts for having us upstate.
