Weekend getaways are not just reserved for the languid months of summer.
As the days get shorter, the weather cooler and our schedules fuller, a vacation is perhaps more necessary than ever. Yet planning a trip takes work. The crucial question of where to stay can send you down endless rabbit holes – from combing through reviews to pondering if the cheap Airbnb you found is too good to be true.
To save you the headache, we are stepping in as your personal travel agents, asking our contributors to share their favorite accommodations from fall and winter’s past. Below are 11 stays that they would book again in a heartbeat, including woodsy escapes and luxurious spa getaways.
Choose your own adventure:
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For an outdoorsy, sustainable oasis
Limelight hotel in Boulder, Colorado$561 at Booking.com
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For a cabin retreat
Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge in Gold Beach, Oregon$563 at Cloudbeds
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For a minimalist, woodsy adventure
Eastwind Hotel: Windham, New York$467 at Eastwind-Windham
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For a charming weekend getaway
Frisco Inn on Galena Frisco Inn on Galena in Frisco, Colorado$431 at Frisco Inn on Galena
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For a mountainous escape
Viceroy hotel in Snowmass, Colorado$426 at Expedia
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For a luxurious wine lovers’ trip
Meadowood in Napa Valley, California$1,901 at Meadowood (three night minimum)
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For a balance of city and nature
Hilton DoubleTree by Hilton in Burlington, Vermont$595 at Hilton
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For a lively beach vacation
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino: Atlantic City, NJ$499 at Expedia
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For an adventurous escape
Slackline Moab in Moab, Utah$364 at Hilton
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For enjoying some peace and quiet
Boulder Brook hotel in Estes Park, Colorado$319 at Boulder Brook (two night minimum)
For an outdoorsy, sustainable oasis:
Limelight hotel in Boulder, Colorado
Limelight hotel in Boulder, Colorado
from $561
I visited Boulder, Colorado, for the first time earlier this year. Sure, I came for the hiking, cycling, and ample national parks, but I stayed for the amazing food scene and the excellent hospitality I received at the newly opened Limelight.
While it’s the largest all-electric hotel in the US, the eco-friendly design is not the only reason to book your stay. The rooms are spacious and I had a stunning view of the Flatirons from my window. The on-site restaurant is also lovely, offering an eclectic menu of local favorites and beautiful cocktails. Amenities include a heated rooftop pool, a fully equipped gym open 24/7, a game room, a complimentary two-hour Audi test drive experience and loads of outdoor space to soak up Boulder’s laid-back atmosphere. – Tobey Grumet Segal

Limelight hotel in Boulder, Colorado
from $561
For a minimalist, woodsy adventure:
Eastwind hotel in Windham, New York

Eastwind Hotel: Windham, New York
from $467
I hate hotels that are full of pomp and posh appointments. I don’t need anyone to snap to attention when I walk into the lobby and am perfectly happy to carry my own bags, thanks. I do, though, appreciate good design, quality materials, and solitude. Eastwind’s hotels definitely fit the bill for me.
The Windham location offers rooms and cabins, from a simple writer’s studio up to a full-on suite big enough to give you a little separation from your family. There’s a great, casual restaurant on the property and, while the Catskills location is perfect for an easy New York City weekend getaway, there’s another location near Lake Placid if you’d rather go further afield. Either makes for a great pick in foliage season. Oh, and they’re pet-friendly, too. – Tim Stevens

Eastwind Hotel: Windham, New York
from $467
For a charming weekend getaway:
Frisco Inn on Galena in Frisco, Colorado

Frisco Inn on Galena
Frisco Inn on Galena in Frisco, Colorado
from $431
The Frisco Inn is a quaint bed and breakfast off the town’s historic Main Street, equipped with relaxing hot tubs, spa services, outdoor dining and a game room. Its mountainous location is stunning in the fall, serving up views of glowing yellow aspens.
There’s a ton to do in Frisco, including shopping, hiking, mountain biking and kayaking. The hotel also offers guests complimentary bicycles in summer and snowshoes and a Frisco Nordic Center pass in the winter. – Paige Triola

Frisco Inn on Galena
Frisco Inn on Galena in Frisco, Colorado
from $431
For a mountainous escape:
Viceroy hotel in Snowmass, Colorado

Viceroy hotel in Snowmass, Colorado
from $426
This is one of the nicest hotels I have stayed at, with beautiful decor, friendly staff, great amenities and an excellent Latin restaurant. I visited last fall for the Snowmass Balloon Festival and had an unforgettable time. The room and bed were super comfortable and the hotel is in a walkable location, in the heart of Snowmass. Although we were a couple of weeks early for peak leaf-peeping, the area is renowned for its fall colors. – Paige Triola

Viceroy hotel in Snowmass, Colorado
from $426
For a cabin retreat:
Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge in Gold Beach, Oregon

Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge in Gold Beach, Oregon
$563
I spent a lovely and very quiet November weekend at the Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge in Gold Beach, Oregon, ensconced in a glass cabin tucked away on a hillside that overlooked the lawn, the Rogue River and the sauna. The weather was a little cool, so the majority of the outdoor activities I would have done, such as swimming or kayaking, were not on the table. This was not a problem! The lodge had a roaring fireplace and I also took advantage of the heated pool, where I sat and read for an hour or so. Each night, I had a fantastic dinner at the restaurant inside the lodge and excellent service from the staff throughout. – Megan Reynolds

Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge in Gold Beach, Oregon
$563
For a balance of city and nature:
DoubleTree by Hilton in Burlington, Vermont

Hilton
DoubleTree by Hilton in Burlington, Vermont
from $595
I spent the Fourth of July weekend in Burlington, Vermont, at DoubleTree by Hilton, and I’m already planning my next jaunt this fall. The royal treatment began with a signature fresh chocolate chip-walnut cookie at check-in and continued well into our stay.
There were the elements you could see: indoor waterfalls, my favorite luxe and eco-friendly Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries and an indoor gym. Then, there were the behind-the-scenes sustainable elements such as a 4,250-sq-ft rooftop solar system to power its new wing and Italian-designed energy-efficient heat pumps in each room.
The hotel’s prime position puts you near the city’s iconic waterfront, nature-lined trails ideal for bird watching and leaf peeping and an award-winning outdoor marketplace with no shortage of vintage shops and local artisans. – Marissa Miller

Hilton
DoubleTree by Hilton in Burlington, Vermont
from $595
For a lively beach vacation:
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino: Atlantic City, NJ
from $499
As a New Yorker, the Hard Rock hotel is my go-to escape from the city when I’m craving some music by the beach, like the Wu-Tang Forever Tour that my husband and I recently attended. Not only do we get to relax by the ocean, but there’s also a well-appointed pool and a choice of over 10 restaurants and bars. And if we’re feeling lucky, we may even stop at the casino for a few hands of blackjack before bed. There are also plenty of family-friendly activities nearby; ours always makes a beeline for the in-house Sugar Factory after a day riding the waves. Go figure. – Tobey Grumet Segal

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino: Atlantic City, NJ
from $499
For a luxurious wine lovers’ trip:
Meadowood in Napa Valley, California

Meadowood in Napa Valley, California
from $1,901
It’s a major splurge, but this 250-acre estate in St Helena is perhaps one of the most gorgeous escapes I have ever experienced in Napa Valley. It feels like a high-end camping compound, with multiple accommodation options among native trees and plants. I love the cottage rooms, which are essentially upscale cabins, each equipped with a king bed, mini bar, soaking tub and private patio, perfect for enjoying a quiet cup of coffee among the redwoods. They also have an incredible spa and an on-site wine education center.
After a devastating fire in 2020, the hotel has focused on sustainability, from planting drought-resistant vegetation to prioritizing local farms and suppliers, making the property surprisingly eco-friendly despite its overall luxurious vibe. –Bernadette Machard Gramont

Meadowood in Napa Valley, California
from $1,901
For an adventurous escape:
Slackline Moab in Moab, Utah

Slackline Moab in Moab, Utah
from $364
The Slackline hotel is geared toward the outdoorsy travelers that Moab, Utah, attracts. It feels like a comfortable basecamp for people who came to hike, ride, climb and explore, with its practical amenities such as in-room gear storage and an onsite gear shop. There are even “Van Life Posts” that provide access to the hotel’s pool, free wifi and vehicle chargers.
Fall is the ideal time to visit, with cooler temperatures that make hiking in nearby Arches national park, mountain biking across the sandstone mesas surrounding town, seeking out ancient rock carvings or exploring the desert much more enjoyable
The views of the La Sal Mountains are especially picturesque this time of year, when the aspen groves turn brilliant shades of yellow and gold. Spend the morning among sandstone arches and rock art, only to be surrounded by alpine scenery and fall color later that day. – Josh Patterson

Slackline Moab in Moab, Utah
from $364
For enjoying some peace and quiet:
Boulder Brook hotel in Estes Park, Colorado

Boulder Brook hotel in Estes Park, Colorado
from $319
