Troutbeck

Troutbeck didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to style itself a creative retreat — it’s been walking the walk for well over a century, having welcomed Mark Twain, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau, and many others along the way. And while this estate, in Amenia, two hours from Manhattan, has seen some changes over the years — Benton Cottage dates back to 1760, while the 17th-century Manor House was rebuilt in 1919 — it’s perhaps most remarkable for its continuity.

Rather than let the place become a museum piece, the new owners opted for a very thorough renovation. But it’s the rare renovation that preserves the historical character while bringing the experience entirely up to date. It’s a fine line to walk, but this is a talented team — its husband-and-wife owners brought in the mother of the groom, Alexandra Champalimaud, to handle the design work, and the result is a hospitality masterpiece.

Rooms vary in architectural style, depending on whether they’re in the manor house, the old lodge, or a contemporary annex, but many of them are more modern than you’d think. All are luxurious — this part of the Hudson Valley has long been an upscale escape — but for all their plushness they don’t sacrifice personality or character. The valley’s legendary agricultural tradition provides the raw material for Troutbeck’s farm-to-table restaurant, and the estate offers no end of space for lounging, from the bar to the pool to the library and gardens. And the location places the blossoming cultural life of the Hudson Valley — as well as a first-rate restaurant scene — right at your feet.