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Indecisive fall weather can often squander the best-laid work-out plans. For many of us—especially those living in mountain towns—October and November offer the perfect opportunity to sneak away to warmer weather before the snow falls. Even those living on the beach might feel wanderlust come fall, ready for a change of scenery and a new challenge. With little more than a bikini, a bike or a surfboard and the latest essentials from SQN, you can enjoy a weekend or a week at these five active destinations. These are the kind of getaways that upon return, leave you feeling better than when you left.
1. Olas Verdes in Nosara, Costa Rica
There’s no shortage of greenwashed hotels with juice bars and healing centers in the wellness Mecca of Nosara, Costa Rica. But Olas Verdes rises above as the world’s first LEED Certified surf hotel. From its in-house, locally owned surf school (renting eco-friendly Firewire boards) to the on-property restaurant owned by two local women serving Costa Rican dishes using produce from their onsite garden and nearby farm, to the 17-suite property’s passive solar design and rainwater harvesting systems, Olas Verdes offers one of the most sustainable vacations in paradise. Out front, Playa Guiones, a four-mile development free stretch of beach (a runner’s dream), catches swell year‐round, creating some of the most reliable surf in the world. While the kids swim in the saltwater pool, practice yoga on Olas Verdes’ private yoga deck or the nearby renowned Nosara Yoga Institute. And complimentary beach cruisers are the only mode of transportation you’ll need to explore the dirt roads of Nosara. olasverdeshotel.com
2. Gateway Canyons in Gateway, Colorado
Nestled in the red rock palisades of Western Colorado within the small town of Gateway, Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa has been recognized as the #1 “Best Resort in the West” by Travel + Leisure and the No. 1 “Top Resort in Colorado” and No. 3 “Top Resort in the United States” by Condé Nast Traveler. Built by the founder of the Discovery Channel, the resort oasis offers lifelong learning programs and adventures within an inspiring natural environment. Whether trail running along red rock trails, enjoying a spa treatment, dining under a chandelier of brilliant stars, hunting for dinosaur fossils with the resident curator of curiosity, or cycling the scenic rural byways of the American West or lounging by the scenic pool, Gateway Canyons offers something for every type of traveler. gatewaycanyons.com
3. Hotel Domestique in Travelers Rest, South Carolina
Surrounded by acres of undulating vineyards and scenic rural roads, the European-inspired Hotel Domestique offers a taste of Provence in charming South Carolina. Inspired by the world travels, tastes and active lifestyle of professional cyclist George Hincapie, Hotel Domestique is part countryside auberge, part modern boutique hotel. The luxurious accommodations offer views from the four-poster beds of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and in fall, some of the East’s best foliage. The property lures those looking for a quiet escape, and active travelers who can access world-class cycling, golf, fishing and hiking. The resort’s Restaurant 17 draws foodies from nearby Asheville and Greenville for its Mediterranean cuisine using uber-local ingredients. hoteldomestique.com
4. Cycling California Wine Country in Healdsburg, California
Best-in the business Backroads offers a three-day, two-night cycling trip through California Wine Country that takes cyclists through three picturesque valleys, tasting local vintages along the way. Pedaling from Alexander Valley to Dry Creek along the Russian River, you’ll take in views of oak-speckled hills and impeccably manicured vineyards. You’ll spin from alfresco lunches to gourmet dinners to perfect night’s sleep a hip, eco-friendly hotel praised by the New York Times for its living roof and solar heated pool. Kick off the weekend with a Backroads picnic in the majestic old-growth forest of Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve, taste the best pinot noirs in the Russian River Valley, climb Chalk Hill into Alexander Valley, often compared to France's Bordeaux region, and ride through grapevine lined hills, apple orchards and oak woods in Dry Creek Valley, acclaimed for its zinfandels. backroads.com
5. Rancho Pescadero in Baja, Mexico
Near Todos Santos, Rancho Pescadero offers the simple, modern style and sophisticated luxury that’s harder to find an hour south in Cabo San Lucas. The sunset hued, 28-suite resort occupies 15 acres beneath the Sierra Laguna mountain range on a pristine, secluded beach. Praised for its friendly staff, delicious locally sourced food and handcrafted cocktails, and a renowned spa with oceanfront treatment rooms and a traditional Temezcal sauna, Rancho Pescadero satisfies the discerning beach bum. Surfers will find their own paradise, with world-famous breaks like beginner friendly Cerritos Beach and more challenging San Pedrito only 10 minutes away. Yoga, fishing and farm-to-table cooking classes keep visitors busy, or sleep in and enjoy coffee and fruit delivered to your room each morning. ranchopescadero.com
