WTN - The Ranch Hudson Valley | Highlight - The Botanist

📷 The Ranch

WHERE TO NEXT?

Dear Traveler,

The sunshine warms my face. The temperature is fresh. The daffodils are in bloom.

Spring has arrived!

Living in northern NH, this is a season we eagerly (desperately?) wait for after a long winter. I hope you are also experiencing the beauty of spring!

Today I’m sharing details about my solo trip 2 weekends ago – to The Ranch Hudson Valley. If you are looking to push the “reset” button (emotionally or physically) and dedicate four days to your wellbeing, coming home feeling stronger, lighter and healthier – The Ranch delivers. Read more below.

Last week’s most popular article was 12 hidden iPhone travel hacks you’ll wish you knew sooner (my favorite – using your calculator as a simple currency convertor).

This week’s inspirational articles include CNT’s best new restaurants in the world, luxury wellness resorts in Thailand and the most scenic hotel pools.

Also articles on Europe, San Miguel de Allende, Vietnam, Italy, Panama and Scandinavia.

The informational articles include a guide to the baffling world of duty-free shopping, a love story from an airport lounge, whether or not you need travel insurance and how to minimize jet lag.

Where to next for you?

Warmly,

Below:

Highlight – The Botanist
Where to Next? The Ranch Hudson Valley
Inspiration + Information

THE BOTANIST

Beautiful.

That is the first word that comes to mind as I peruse the dishes and cocktails coming out of the kitchen and bar at The Botanist in Vancouver.

I discovered this place while curating a list of restaurants for our clients’ upcoming trip to Alaska, Vancouver and Banff.

Their cocktails are described as sophisticated yet whimsical, and their dedication to pushing the creative edge of innovation has garnered them the rating of #2 bar in Canada and many other accolades.

The cocktail lab, which is glass fronted so you can watch the magic happen, features centrifuges and ice sculpting tools.

How often do you have an amuse-bouche cocktail before your main drink? You will at The Botanist.

Their drinks are complimented by inventive dishes including Duck Duck Goose, with bourbon fat washed with foie gras, sweet vermouth, pear, prune saline and bitters.

I typically recommend bars outside of hotels (except in Paris and a few other big cities where there are some I love), but in this case I’m making an exception. The Botanist is worth a visit.

Above:

Dungeness Crab Chawanmushi – sweet peas and fragrant ginger meet in a silky chawanmushi, a traditional Japanese savoury egg custard. Infused with umami-rich crab consommé.

Buttery Sablefish – the creamy, bold green mole is the star of the dish and a perfect compliment to the fish.

Above:

The Burrata Salad – beet snow, texture of beets, meringue, mustard greens, white balsamic.

The Sunny Side – vodka, mint, cucumber, sparkling wine, sudachi, kinome, lime.

📷 The Botanist

🌟 Stronger, lighter, healthier.

That’s how I felt when I came home from my weekend at The Ranch Hudson Valley.

Just 10 days before, I had sent a note to my contact at the Ranch asking if they had space for the weekend of Apr 19th. It was an perfect weekend for me to get away on a needed solo trip with lots of time outdoors.

I’d sent clients to their sister property, The Ranch Malibu, before and they’d loved it. This was my opportunity to experience a bit of Ranch magic closer to home.

The mornings were cool to start out, but the sun and our four hour hikes warmed us quickly. Following the advice of my Outward Bound guide daughter, Allison, “Be bold, start cold” was helpful in not being too overdressed.

I planned this solo trip to nurture myself and give me lots of time outdoors to think. But as with most things, there were strategic byproducts that came along with it.

The plant based food filled me up, nourished me and sent me home feeling lighter.
The community style meals – sitting at a table of 21 strangers allowed me to connect with smart, interesting people who I likely would never have met otherwise. I went home with many new connections and friends.
The daily stretching and massages soothed my calves and quads, sore from the hikes with big elevation gains.
The meditation and journalling class gave me time to pause and reflect – allowing me to be intentional about moving forward.
The time on hikes alternated between quality time getting to know other people and alone time where my thoughts drifted to memories of my dad and Tigger.
I learned I love many types of tea.

Why is The Ranch Hudson Valley so special?

Their unique approach prioritizes connecting with others.
Daily afternoon massages.
Options to add on Reiki, hypnotherapy, meditation, pilates.
Plant based food that a non-plant based eater would love!
Daily morning and evening stretches are rejuvenating.

Do as much or as little as you like:

Your choice of a morning 2 or 4 hour hike at an accelerated, moderate or relaxing pace.
Fill up the rest of your day with strength training classes, spinning, yoga or a swim in the indoor or outdoor pool.
Lounge in the infrared sauna, do a hot/cold plunge circuit or read a book on the outdoor terrace.
Swim some laps in the pool.
Play a game of Scrabble or Monopoly with your new friends.

‼️Don’t miss…. the morning and evening stretching class – a perfect way to start and end your day.

I’m grateful to have found just the right place at just the right time. Thank you to those of you I met at the Ranch and to the team who facilitates a wellness journey for people who come for all types of reasons.

See a some of my photos below.

The hiking…