logo
This upstate New York stunner was just named one of the best resorts in the world

This upstate New York stunner was just named one of the best resorts in the world

Time Out11-07-2025
If your idea of luxury includes stargazing from a hot tub, sipping biodynamic wine in a field of wildflowers and maybe petting a goat or two, then pack your bags for Gardiner. Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection, has just been named one of the best resorts in the world in Travel + Leisure's 2025 World's Best Awards, snagging the No. 6 spot in the Continental U.S. rankings.
Set on 140 serene acres in New York's Hudson Valley, this chic countryside escape is just 90 minutes from New York City, but it feels a million miles away. Guests trade subway noise for birdsong and swap crowded sidewalks for hiking trails, fly fishing and farm-to-fork feasting. The 65 freestanding cabins—yes, cabins—are designed with modern rustic flair (think velvet, plaid and floor-to-ceiling glass) and scattered across wildflower-strewn meadows for peak peace and privacy.
It's not just good looks earning this spot worldwide buzz. Wildflower Farms is also a working farm, where guests can try their hand at bee-keeping, harvesting herbs or simply bask in the pastoral vibes while sipping cocktails crafted from garden-grown botanicals. The on-site restaurant, Clay, sources much of its produce directly from the property and elevates Hudson Valley terroir to something utterly sublime. (Pro tip: Spring for the chef's tasting menu and ask about the global wine pairings.)
Of course, being part of the Auberge Resorts Collection means the service is next-level, the spa is Instagram bait and yes—there's a Michelin Key to prove it. But unlike some buttoned-up luxury spots, Wildflower Farms keeps things refreshingly grounded. It's luxury with dirt under its nails, in the best way possible.
With its newest accolade, Wildflower Farms joins the ranks of heavy-hitters like Primland in Virginia and The Inn at Mattei's Tavern in California. But there's something distinctly New York about this retreat—polished but a little wild, stylish without trying too hard.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Primark's 90p summer holiday essential will help you pass every hand luggage liquid check without even buying miniatures
Primark's 90p summer holiday essential will help you pass every hand luggage liquid check without even buying miniatures

The Sun

time2 hours ago

  • The Sun

Primark's 90p summer holiday essential will help you pass every hand luggage liquid check without even buying miniatures

PACKING for a holiday is not an easy task, especially for us women. Many of us want to save money by only using carry-on luggage, but it can cause a crisis for many of us. 3 3 Not only do we have to squeeze in multiple outfits, there's also the issue of trying to fit all of your toiletries in. And if you are just using carry-on luggage the task will be even harder thanks to the liquid limit being just 1 litre. Each product has to be 100ml or less and to make matters worse, it has to fit in one of those tiny plastic bags the airport provides, and limit it to one bag per passenger. That leaves many of us having to choose which of our daily essentials make the cut, from leaving your favourite shampoo at home to ditching your foundation for the week. Too many times we have been caught out by the liquid limitations and had to throw away a face cream or shower gel before making it through security. Fortunately, Primark has offered a solution to ensure all of your toiletries fit. The budget-friendly retailer is offering a pack of four silicone travel jars for just £4.50. Each jar costs just 90p and means you won't have to leave your favourite beauty buys behind or fork out for miniature editions. The jars come in four different sizes, meaning you can use the smaller one for foundation and the bigger one for body cream. The silicone material also makes them bendable so they can be squeezed into the plastic bag with no problems. Primark launches new range of cabin bags on wheels - they're approved by all budget airlines & there's matching carry-ons too It also means that these jars can easily be washed and cleaned out in preparation for your next holiday. PRIMANIA It's not the only holiday buy Primark shoppers are going wild for. The bargain retail giant has super-sized the floral trend with its oversized hibiscus print co-ord. The cropped mesh top is priced at just £8 while the matching midi skirt will only set you back £12. And fashion fans have insisted the cowl neck cut and loud print are a throwback to the 90s, while the lightweight material is perfect for the sunshine. Both pieces are available in sizes XXS to XL and come in black or pink with a red floral pattern. And fashionistas have already been going wild for it, as one gushed: "Lovely for a night out." "I need one for hols", wrote a second. Holiday packing tips Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday. 1. Write a list Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase. Or for complete ease, try Google's AI app - Gemini - which will create a list for you and help you not over pack. 2. Involve your kids Jemma said: 'My girls are getting older, they're 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say 'this is what you need' and they follow the list. 'And then I give them a rucksack each - and say to them 'you can have whatever you want in there as long as it's not liquid', and they can take that on the plane. And that's their 'home away from home' items.' 3. Try a hack or two She said: "I think they all work, but for different reasons - and you've just got to pick the right one for your trip. "Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you're trying to get a lot of items into your case, it's a space saver. 'Packing cubes are great - for example, I'm going on holiday with my three kids and we're all using the same suitcase for our clothes. "These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked. "I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we've arrived." 4. Decant beauty products Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets - which are much lighter and smaller. Or, if you'll be popping to the shops when you're abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive. 5. Get organised before you come home Jemma said: 'When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes. 'Also pack it in some form of order - so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person. "Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don't leave it."

Planes, trains and more missteps from Labour
Planes, trains and more missteps from Labour

The Guardian

time3 hours ago

  • The Guardian

Planes, trains and more missteps from Labour

Polly Toynbee rightly advocates greener rail travel over the greater environmental damage caused by airliners (Pushing airport expansion while rail travel languishes – so much for Labour's green agenda, 5 August). Alas, the same government that has authorised a massive expansion of Heathrow airport has also just pulled the plug on completing the electrification of the Midland Main Line from London to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield. By my reckoning, this is the third time the scheme has been abandoned partway through. It will ensure that four diesel trains an hour will be plying the route for the foreseeable future, adding to air quality issues and consuming more fossil fuels. The overhead wiring for the electric trains currently ends in the middle of nowhere a few miles south of Leicester. New trains being built for the route are bi-mode – that is, equally capable of operating on diesel or electric power. It's all a huge waste – and more proof that, when it comes to investing in the north, the money always runs WhitehouseSilkstone Common, South Yorkshire Polly Toynbee is correct to assert the advantages of rail versus flying, especially for domestic journeys. She does not mention the big drawback of the current UK rail system – unreliability. I live in Aberdeenshire and have family in Birmingham and London. I have given up on using the train to visit family because on many occasions my train has not reached its destination because of cancellations of connections or driver shortages. I now reluctantly fly to Birmingham and London from Aberdeen. I will return to rail (my preferred option) when I can be sure of reaching my Nick WilliamsAuchenblae, Aberdeenshire Living as I do adjacent to the flight path to Manchester airport, I would of course welcome any reduction in non-essential air travel. But more Eurostar journeys are of little relevance to anyone living outside the south-east because of the cost and time involved in getting to St Pancras. But here's an idea. Now we have an integrated rail network, why not adapt the Interrail idea of allowing the cost of the journey to and from the home station to St Pancras to be covered by the standard Eurostar fare? That would incentivise the use of rail travel to Europe for all of those who currently fly because there is no practical ReardonCheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester Polly Toynbee is so right in her analysis of the case against the Heathrow third runway. If our only hope of stopping them is Boris Johnson indeed lying down in front of those bulldozers, we are Squires St Andrews, Fife International Airlines Group, the owner of British Airways, is implying that the cost of a third runway at Heathrow will be so expensive that it can't be done without public subsidy (Heathrow's third runway 'is going to be empty' if it means high fees, says BA owner, 1 August). As air travel comes bottom in the hierarchy of sustainable transport to meet our climate obligations, and the last thing Londoners need is more plane noise and air pollution, I can't think of a single reason for rescuing this venture, particularly as so many other parts of the UK are in urgent need of investment in better rail Rathbone MSSenedd member for Cardiff Central Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.

‘Travel inspires my food': how a globetrotting influencer brings the flavours of the world home
‘Travel inspires my food': how a globetrotting influencer brings the flavours of the world home

The Guardian

time4 hours ago

  • The Guardian

‘Travel inspires my food': how a globetrotting influencer brings the flavours of the world home

I travel for food. It's usually the first reason I'd want to go to a destination – maybe I've seen a dish, some cuisine or produce that I'm intrigued by. It inspires me to research the place and build up an itinerary based on what I want to eat. For example, I've got some family in Hong Kong, so I often go on trips there. I love wonton noodles and I'll plan a whole day around trying different noodles all across Hong Kong. What to eat is everything. My background is Cantonese and I've always interpreted love and the reason for living through my stomach. I grew up in a Chinese takeaway in a tiny village on the south coast of England. My parents worked super long hours, six days a week. On their day off, they always made sure that we had a family meal out to try different cuisines. My curiosity comes from learning about food with them at an early age, being inquisitive about different cultures. I'm so grateful to them for that. My parents aren't the type to ever verbally express love, so that was their way of making sure we knew we were loved and felt taken care of. Everyone can communicate through cooking – there might be common ingredients or techniques that connect us and transcend language barriers. Food is a beautiful way of being able to travel from the comfort of your home. Travel is such a privilege and one not everybody has. Being introduced to different flavours and seasonings helps you feel transported to a place without having to physically be there. When I find myself in between holidays, my groceries become my travel plans. I add slow-roasted peppers or 'nduja to take me to southern Europe. Or maybe some chimichurri if I want to pop over to Argentina. It's a way to introduce your taste buds to the flavour palette of that cuisine or region, using bits you can find on Ocado. If I'm feeling particularly adventurous (or ravenous) I might combine regions, and travel the world in one sitting. An around-the-world tapas, if you will. Ocado has a huge variety of globally inspired products so it's my go-to shopping destination when I fancy a culinary adventure. It really is a dream travel buddy. I went on a girls' trip to Okinawa in Japan with my mum and my two sisters a year and a half ago. I had some of the best-tasting vegetables I've ever eaten. Okinawan food culture is similar to Cantonese – very minimal seasoning. Every dish was delightfully light but also so full of flavour, and that goes for their barbecued and grilled food too, which I love. The meat is just so fresh and they pair really beautiful fruits with meat. Like taking bitter gourd, a really bitter kind of melon, and then combining it with fatty slices of pork belly seared on the barbecue. Delicious! There's a massive barbecue culture in both Japan and Korea. The focus is on the quality of the beef and pork. Take Japanese wagyu – the fat and marbling gives it a unique, tender texture and flavour. Over in Korea, you have incredible marinades, which can be a lot sweeter and stickier than what we might typically have at British barbecues. For my holiday at home tapas, I would use spicy Korean chilli paste (gochujang) to marinate skewers of pork belly with cherry tomatoes and courgette. I use such a wide range of ingredients that gathering what I need for recipes can be time consuming, but with the range at Ocado I can pretty much find anything I need and add it alongside all my usual groceries. As you can tell, when I'm taking a culinary adventure to either Japan or Korea, I very much have a grilling on my mind … M&S Collection Master Grill 2 wagyu burgersM&S Korean style dipM&S Collection slow-cooked Korean style BBQ rib rack by Tom KerridgeLittle Moons vegan passionfruit & mango mochi ice-creamOcado organic British cherry tomatoes on the vine Ocado organic British courgettesOcado British pork belly slicesCJ Taeyangcho red pepper gochujang paste Another of my favourite countries for food memories is Greece. I just got back from an island-hopping holiday where I got engaged (in Santorini!) so it's a very special place for me. A lot of my love for Mediterranean and southern European food is in the sun-soaked ingredients, like olive oil and olives, that are so integral to the cuisines of the various cultures. Think sweet, slow-roasted tomatoes with a glass of sparkling wine or a local crisp white wine with seafood. In southern Europe and the Med, you have time to properly relax over sundowner drinks and small, snacky plates of whatever's fresh that day. You can feel the attitude towards life in how they enjoy the food and drink. I'm reminded of Mallorca, Malta, Lisbon, Faro: all places where it's about enjoying a slower pace of life … M&S olive & antipasti sharing platterM&S semi-dried tomatoes & Italian mozzarellaDaylesford Chateau Leoube sparkling Provence rosé Whenever I speak to any of my friends who have been to South Africa, they always talk about three things: safari, the quality of the meats and the quality of the wines. The way peri peri, the spicy chilli sauce, is incorporated into South African cuisine is fascinating – the flavours are used generously across South African grills and barbecues. I researched the history behind the sauce and discovered that peri peri has travelled the world. There's inspiration from Angola and Mozambique – those spices and bold flavours. Here in the UK, peri peri is associated with a cheeky Nando's. Sometimes we can take a dish for granted and we don't think about the journey it's made across centuries to land on our plate. But when you learn about it, it's fascinating. I pair peri peri sauce with the cool creaminess of Ocado's onion and garlic dip – try slathering on a burger bun, you won't be disappointed … Ocado onion & garlic dipOcado large seeded burger bunsOcado peri peri chicken grills Whenever I think of Latin America, I think of the vibrancy, the bold flavours – fresh, spicy and steamy. All of the countries are so different from one another, but they share a focus on fresh flavours. They create the most incredible marinades and seasonings using chilli peppers and limes to make it citrusy and bright. It's a region I would love to see more of – to go to Argentina and Brazil and try all the meats and chimichurri. In Mexico I embarrassed myself – I thought that you simply downed a tequila shot. But I was humbled and learned that's just what Brits do. You're actually meant to savour it and sip it. When I want to bring the Latin American vibe to my kitchen, Ocado has everything I need, from tequila to tortilla chips. I thought of making an elderflower margarita as a nice way of combining the flavours of Britain and Mexico … Casamigos Reposado tequilaSt Germain French elderflower liqueurChimilove mild chimichurriGran Luchito lightly salted tortilla chipsM&S Grill 4 king prawn skewers with nduja marinade Life Delivered. Shop now at Ocado

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store