Honest Abe would approve: Equinox has maintained its dignity through a recent facelift.
Photo: Equinox Resort & Spa

by Ondine Cohane

The winter after my mother and I moved to the United States, one of the first places we visited outside of New York City was Manchester, Vermont. The whole town was covered in perfect layers of snow; we skied at nearby Stratton mountain and drank hot chocolate in front of the fire. Growing up, I didn't stay at hotels very much (I am more than making up for that now), but on this trip I had the treat of snuggling in at the Equinox Resort. I remember its cozy, but historic aura: the hotel opened in 1769 and hosted the Lincolns on their holidays as well as some of the founding fathers.

Recently I received word of Equinox's $20 million makeover by New York-based interior designer Geoffrey Bradfield, bringing the property back on my radar. I haven't made it up there yet, but apparently in addition to a complete overhaul of the rooms, the resort now has a Chop House restaurant (there are five restaurants on-site) and a 13,000 square foot spa with an indoor swimming pool. The photos of the place look lovely--modern, airy, and full of light--but Bradfield and his team kept the sense of scale that the architecture demands. The open-air fire pit looks like a cozy place to enjoy a drink after-hours without freezing.

With winter almost here, it is the perfect time for skiing, but if you plan a trip to Equinox some other season you can also go fly fishing, hiking, or golfing at the 18-hole course designed by Walter Travis and Rees Jones. There's even a falconry school. A recent $999 deal I spotted online includes three nights at the hotel with $999 in credit to use at the spa; Equinox usually has some sort of great package deal. And only a four-hour drive from both New York and Boston, it's the perfect long weekend getaway.

Recession Special: Stylish International House in New Orleans has a "three nights for the price of two" holiday special running until the end of the month.

Further reading:
* Equinox Resort & Spa Web site
* Word of Mouth: The buzz worldwide