GOSFORD PARK ESCAPE

St. Clerans Manor House, Ireland

If you've never played the "You be Heathcliff, and I'll be Catherine" game, this is your chance. About 12 miles east of Galway, the St. Clerans Manor House is an 18th-century, 45-acre estate complete with all the fixings: a full staff (including butler, maids, and chef), massive hallways, regal bedrooms, a grand piano, crystal chandeliers, fishing, golfing, horseback-riding, clay pigeon–shooting, and rolling grounds that explode into lush greens in the Irish summer. It's the kind of baronial country estate where Mr. Rochester, Mr. Knightley, or Mr. Darcy would have sent the petticoats flying. To continue on the theme, you could have your supper serenaded by a local string quartet. But better yet, give the staff the weekend off (keep the chef), stroll through the grounds, get trapped in the rain (this is Ireland), and come back to warm yourselves up in front of the fire.

St. Clerans Manor House
Tel: 800 387 2726
Manor from $3,677