Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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Blanty re Leave the cement jungle behind for this sumptuous getaway in the Berkshires. Surrounded by the Technicolor trees of October Mountain and Tyringham Valley, the Tudor-style inn boasts 21 rooms and a spa, and it's located a mere mile from author Edith Wharton's historic estate, The Mount. Visitors will find plenty of color while hiking nearby trails or relaxing outside with one of the 4,500 books from the inn's library. 16 Blantyre Road, Lenox, 413-637-3556; blantyre.com The Chanler at Cliff Walk Fall's vibrant foliage isn't confined to the mountains. At The Chanler, you can stroll along Newport's Cliff Walk and take in the coastline and autumn leaves in one dazzling view. Be sure Inn Living Color leaf-peep in style at these rarefied new england resorts. by mitchell evan nugent INTO THE WOODS Blantyre's general manager, Simon Dewar, is always a man with a Berkshires plan. You have 24 hours in the area. Go! Start with a picnic, then hike to Monument Mountain, then get a massage at the Potting Shed Spa before dinner with a tasting menu from chef Arnaud Cotar, paired with a beautiful Bordeaux. Do you recommend hiking or hot-air bal- looning? If you have a sense of adventure and romance, it has to be hot-air ballooning—with a glass of Champagne on landing, of course. What's the best spot for a nightcap? At our cauldron and the circle of stones where the staff builds a roaring fre. With a warm blanket and com- plimentary s'mores basket, it makes for a magical end to any fall day. What's your favorite room at Blantyre? The Blue Room in the main house. It has an old-world elegance that reminds me of stately homes back home in England. to sign up for the Fall in Love package, which includes lodging in one of the uniquely appointed guest rooms (some with sweeping views of the Cliff Walk and the Atlantic Ocean), a dinner at the restaurant Spiced Pear, and two tickets to one of the famed Newport mansions. 117 Memorial Blvd., Newport, RI, 401-847-1300; thechanler.com The Mayflower Grace Encircled by a 3,000 -acre nature preserve and nestled among gardens and sprawling hills, The Mayf lower Grace offers its patrons a relaxing setting with a 20,000 -square-foot spa, two restaurants, and activities like chocolate- making classes and apple picking. Thrill seekers will find opportunities for adventure hiking in the Litchfield Hills or hot-air ballooning above Lake Waramaug. 118 Woodbury Road, Rte. 47, Washington, CT, 860-868-9466; grace hotels.com/mayf lower Omni Mount Washington Resort For fall, the White Mountains really ought to be renamed the Psychedelic Mountains. The foliage is nothing less than electrifying. Take a Sunday drive along the Kancamagus Byway, or have the concierge at the Omni Mount Washington Hotel— the premier resort in the area—reserve you a spot on the three-hour zip-lining excursion through Bretton Woods. Or enjoy a ride on the Mount Washington Cog Railway, which takes you to the 6,288 -foot summit. 310 Mt. Washington Road, Bretton Woods, NH, 603-278-1000; omnihotels.com/ mtwashington Twin Farms At the luxe Twin Farms— an all-inclusive resort and spa offering activities like hiking, biking, and canoe- ing—unwind by the lake or relax in a furo, a Japanese soaking tub, overlooking the amazing landscape. Be sure to gather your own vegetables, grown on the property, and have the lodge's culinary team craft a customized meal for your enjoyment. 452 Royalton Tpk., Barnard, VT, 802-234- 9999; twinfarms.com Union Street Inn Cider-sip your way around the cobblestoned streets of Nantucket. Stay at the Union Street Inn, known for its four-poster beds and the only full breakfast menu offered on the island. And don't miss Restaurant Week, September 29 – October 5, with more than 30 eateries offering three-course meals at special rates. 7 Union St., Nantucket, 508-228-9222; unioninn.com White Barn Inn Brilliant mums and billow- ing trees are highlights at the White Barn Inn, a cozy, romantic 26 -room country estate. Visitors will relish the multicolored woodlands that blanket the 66 -acre property. Hop on a horse-drawn carriage ride through Kennebunkport or stroll through the inn's gardens, around the St. Anthony Franciscan Monastery, and along the Kennebunk River. 37 Beach Ave., Kennebunk, ME, 207-967-2321; white barninn.com BC The natural beauty of Twin Farms is matched by its extraordinary collection of art by the likes of Jasper Johns and David Hockney. 140 bostoncommon-magazine.com THE GUIDE Play