Travel 3 minutes 17 December 2024

Where To Write the Next Great American Novel This Winter

Relaxation and inspiration at America's snowy hotel hideaways.

When it’s time to put pen to paper, a writer needs three things: privacy, comfort, and something to do when they have writer’s block. The hotels below have it all.

Largely isolated in the most expansive, idyllic American landscapes, these are places for quiet contemplation and creativity when the snow starts to fall — and for snowshoeing, dog-sledding, and hot-tubbing when the cabin fever inevitably hits.


Canyon Ranch Lenox

Distinction: Two Keys
Location: Lenox, Massachusetts

In the Berkshires, a Massachusetts mountain region known for its snowy winters, Canyon Ranch Lenox transforms a former 19th-century Jesuit seminary into a wellness sanctuary. If the property’s trails are closed by blizzard, the spa has more than 90 services to choose from. 

Book Canyon Ranch Lenox with The MICHELIN Guide →


White Barn Inn

Distinction: One Key
Location: Kennebunk, Maine

On the Maine coastline, the White Barn Inn combines classic New England charm with indulgence. Guests can start their day with a personalized rooster coffee delivery and a breakfast that stars local maple syrup, before embarking on adventures like snowmobiling or dog sledding through Maine's snow-covered backcountry — all while wrapped in curated Barbour blankets.

Book White Barn Inn with The MICHELIN Guide →


The Lodge at St. Edward State Park

Distinction: One Key
Location: Kenmore, Washington

Nestled within a 326-acre forest just outside of Seattle, The Lodge at St. Edward State Park transforms a historic 1931 seminary into a remarkably sophisticated winter getaway. Guests can explore Nordic-inspired culinary adventures at Cedar + Elm — where Executive Chef Luke Kolpin crafts a five-course tasting menu that echoes his Noma pedigree — or discover quiet moments in the property's always-open library.

Book The Lodge at St. Edward State Park with The MICHELIN Guide →


Troutbeck

Distinction: Two Keys
Location: Amenia, New York

A living testament to American intellectual and cultural history, this sanctuary two hours outside New York City was once a gathering place for legendary writers, among them Hughes, Twain, Emerson, and Thoreau. During the winter months, the renovated estate offers chances to ski and hike through romantic snowy landscapes.

It’s a particularly dreamy place for families: seasonal experiences include cookie decorating, children's puppet theater and a paper mâché ornament making class led by a local artist.

Book Troutbeck with The MICHELIN Guide →


Twin Farms

Distinction: Two Keys
Location: Barnard, Vermont

Twin Farms is set in 300 acres of scenic, snow-draped Vermont wilderness. The quaint property was purchased by American novelist Sinclair Lewis as a gift to journalist Dorothy Thompson, who became his wife.

Carefully curated daily experiences capture the magic of Vermont winter, and guests can embark on horse-drawn carriage rides while bundled in warm blankets or join lantern-lit twilight walks through the snow. At night, sip whiskey or a warm drink by the crackling fire.

Book Twin Farms with The MICHELIN Guide →


Amangani

Distinction: Two Keys
Location: Jackson Hole, Wyoming

The legendary Aman brand makes its name on luxury. Here, above the breathtaking landscape of Jackson Hole, each room comes with a private fireplace and panoramic terrace. An expert team guides guests through winter activities like dog sledding or snowmobiling or to spa treatments and locally-sourced meals at its redwood-paneled restaurant.

Book Amangani with The MICHELIN Guide →


INNESS

Location: Accord, New York

In upstate New York, the gem of this sprawling 225-acre retreat is a 100% geothermal-powered wellness sanctuary that features five treatment rooms, a bathhouse with a steam and sauna, and an indoor tranquility pool complemented by outdoor hot and cold plunge pools. Guests can stay in farm houses or cabins and indulge in cross-country skiing, intimate moments by the fireside, and with food sourced straight from the hotel’s own farm.

Book INNESS with The MICHELIN Guide →


Sage Lodge

Distinction: Three Keys
Location: Yellowstone National Park, Montana

It’s all about balancing adventure with relaxation at Sage Lodge — a Three Key hotel that sits a stone’s throw away from Yellowstone National Park. Guests can opt for excursions like tracking wolves or snowshoeing through silent forests, but they can also indulge in moments of relaxation like opting to soak in natural hot springs with panoramic views of snow-capped mountains.

Book Sage Lodge with The MICHELIN Guide →


TOURISTS

Distinction: Two Keys
Location: North Adams, Massachusetts

This unconventional hotel in the Berkshires reimagines a traditional motor lodge with design principles inspired by the architecturally renowned Sea Ranch in California. Part-owned by Wilco’s John Stirratt, part of the hotel’s appeal is its next door neighbor, art museum and modernist mecca, MASS MoCA.

In winter, the warm, living-room feel of the TOURISTS lodge features artist performances, while throughout the day, guests enjoy wellness treatments, artisan workshops and portals into the Berkshires winter landscape with snowshoeing and guided walks with a local naturalist.

Book TOURISTS with The MICHELIN Guide →


Wildflower Farms

Distinction: One Key
Location: Gardiner, New York

An expansive 140 acres of the Hudson Valley, outside New York City, is dedicated to Wildflower Farms — a haven that blends luxury and adventure, serving as a basecamp for guests eager to spend time outdoors, whether that entails walking along the property’s three-mile walking trail or embarking on pro-led hikes along the Shawangunk Ridge.

Book Wildflower Farms with The MICHELIN Guide →


Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa

Location: Lenox, Massachusetts

In the tranquil landscapes of Lenox, Massachusetts, Miraval Berkshires spans 380 protected acres. The property's crown jewel is its historic Wyndhurst Mansion: a Gilded Age gem that anchors the resort's seven two-story cottages and 100 accommodations. Activities here range from immersive culinary workshops to hatchet throwing and transformative spa treatments.

Book Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa with The MICHELIN Guide →


Dunton Hot Springs

Distinction: Two Keys
Location: Dolores, Colorado

Dunton Hot Springs is in a class of its own. The “hotel,” if you can call it that, transforms an abandoned 1918 mining town into a sanctuary. Located in the wilderness of southwestern Colorado, guests stay in restored cabins in original log structures salvaged from across the state. It’s the kind of place where you’ll find an authentic, graffitied saloon standing alongside rainforest showers and heated floors. Not to mention: there are hot springs.

Book Dunton Hot Springs with The MICHELIN Guide →


Hero Image: Miraval Berkshires

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