Escape to the Great Outdoors in Style!

Fill your lungs with country air, ride horsebak through a lush valley, spy on starfish, or hike into the desert—and still return to a good meal, fresh sheets, and a hot shower. Our accommodations are handpicked according to four criteria—wilderness setting, serenity, seclusion, and environmental awareness—then divided into categories that describe the experience:

Family Hideout: Discover the great outdoors at full-service resorts and kid-friendly guest ranches with wholesome meals and organized activities like gold panning, lake swimming, and wildlife viewing.

Romantic Retreat: Explore a nearby nature reserve, enjoy rock-climbing class together, take an afternoon snooze by the lake. End your day in secluded adult-oriented accommodations with bubbles and bubbly in an outdoor tub.

Laid-back Adventure: Take it easy in a log lodge or lakefront hotel where activity staff can recommend river-rafting sites and gentle hikes. Return to a soothing back and hot meal.

Rustic Escape: Immerse yourself in nature while staying in a no-frills cottage or cabin. Fire farm-stand vegetables on the grill outside and make your own coffee, just the way you like it.

Luxurious Resort: Indulge yourself at lavish lodgings nestled in the mountains, miles from civilization. Enjoy breakfast on the terrace and a hotstone massage with a stunning river view.

Tranquil Outpost: Saunter along winding trails past glassy mountain lakes and herds of buffalo. Return to a hot tub and hearty meal in your cozy lodge tucked away in the woods

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From the Trade Paperback edition.