GREAT AMERICA ADVENTURES
Once the pandemic has eased, those hungry for wide skies and open spaces should flock to the US. Spencer Hart reveals the best resorts
As housebound travellers wanderlust and daydream about their next adventure, escapism into the great outdoors is a top priority. When international travel resumes, we expect a desire for fresh air, wide-open spaces and active exploration will see off-the-beaten-track spots and alternative accommodation explode in popularity.
There’s certainly plenty of choice when it comes to hotel alternatives in the United States, and Visit The USA has highlighted the very best, with options that will immerse you in nature and the great outdoors.
First up on the list is Camp Sarika by Aman, Utah ( aman.com), a short drive or hike from Amangiri. With a restaurant, main pool, lounge and a pair of spa suites at its heart, Camp Sarika is a self-contained retreat unto itself. The camp is set amid an unearthly 600-acre landscape packed with towering mesas, slot canyons and rustcoloured sands. The tented Camp Sarika promises an intimate, back-to-the-wild experience in the heart of the desert, with five national parks and the Navajo Nation Reservation nearby.
Prefer a beach holiday? Opening early spring 2021, Autocamp, Cape Cod ( autocamp.com) is luxury accommodation sitting on a glorious Cape Cod beach. You will be able to vacation on the Cape while connecting with nature in custom Airstreams with spa-inspired bathrooms, modern suites with chic interiors or seasonal canvas luxury tents. There will be private patios and campfires for each Airstream, as well as a mid-century modern signature clubhouse, all set within the resort’s lush wooded grounds. Autocamp Cape Cod will be located five minutes from downtown Falmouth and Woods Hole, which offers daily ferries to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
If you prefer something a little more rustic, family-owned Forest Gully Farms ( airbnb.co.uk) offers overnight stays in charming underground Gully Huts located in rural Santa Fe, Tennessee. Guests are invited to connect to the land with the option to become a farmhand for a weekend or simply spending time hiking in nature to the nearby creek. You can even gather fresh eggs from the chickens or pick your own blueberries and blackberries in the mornings. In the evenings, relaxing by the firepit sharing stories and looking at the stars is a must.
If you’re looking for a true adventure though, how about living life like a cowboy on the plains of Montana at the Resort at Paws Up ( pawsup.com)? You can book one of the timber cabins on this 37,000 acre estate and working cattle ranch, but the spacious and secluded tents are the really special places to stay. You may choose from tents perched on a cliff edge, overlooking the swirling Blackfoot River, and Elk Creek surrounded by towering trees. Inside, interiors are Western-chic, with wooden bed frames, bold prints and copper freestanding baths – making for a luxurious camping getaway. Elsewhere, on a private section of the ranch, glamping tents have superb views. Wilderness workshops range from painting classes and big sky photography sessions, to fly fishing, hiking and horseback riding.