Get Away From It All At A Luxe Retreat With Outdoor Activities Galore

How can a Type A traveler, like myself, satisfy their need for a multitude of outdoor activities — and the more, the better? The desire to be enwrapped in nature? The craving for luxurious accommodations and fine wines? The need to feel perfectly safe in these days of the pandemic? A stay at one property immediately comes to mind. The Preserve Sporting Club and Residences in Rhode Island, a mere three-hour drive from New York City, offers myriad types of accommodations for all sorts of travelers, including those, like myself, who prefer contemporary digs with a mountain resort feel. And, it successfully indulges those who just can’t sit still. 

This 3,500-acre, undulating property couldn’t be more bucolic: It’s lush with white pines, beech, spruce, red oak, black birch, Japanese maple and many other species. Large expanses, especially along the wetlands and streams, are coated with cinnamon ferns. (It wouldn’t be unusual to find deer resting in this verdant setting.) Raspberry and blueberry bushes can be found, some near the 18-hole, par three executive golf course. And, sprinkled through the property are reminders of the area’s Ice Age past, including massive bolders and stone outcroppings. 

The Preserve has certainly come a long way since its defunct golf and country club and, more recently, sport club past. No surprise, considering it’s recently been completely renovated, redesigned and reimagined, thanks to new management: the Ocean House is renowned as being the premier, luxe resort collection in New England.

Accommodations:

Within Laurel Ridge, the pine wood paneled, two- or three-story Mayfly cottages appeal to those who have an affinity for an open plan interior. With its modern mountain sensibility, the rustic blends with the elegant. Inside, guests are greeted by a pine trimmed cathedral ceiling where an ornate deer antler chandelier hangs. All the details are stylish and contemporary, whether it’s the double granite fireplace, the custom end table fashioned from an oak log found on property, or the kitchen featuring Italian-sourced marble counters.

The luxury continues into the bedrooms, where you’ll find your initial emblazoned on the pillow cases, and Matouk linen, 500 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets that have been milled in Italy. 

The main bathroom is a gem, with a radiant heat ceramic tile floor, and an Italian-designed teak floored shower unit with multi-head body jets along with a rainshower. Even better: the shower stall can be turned into a sauna. The freestanding bathtub that has jacuzzi jets comes with a touch screen to program a water light show in the tub or overhead in the shower. 

It’s easy to spend endless hours on the patio that’s complete with custom teak furniture. Overlooking one of the many ponds, it’s a perfect spot to enjoy a picnic lunch.

Another accommodation is the one-room Treehouse for those who want to indulge in their childhood fantasies. You’ll cross a platform drawbridge to access this charming retreat snuggled in the treetops. Two other bridges take you to an outdoor jacuzzi and a fire pit, both located on the side of a mountain. 

In the fall, the Hilltop Lodge, a hotel-type accommodation, is expected to open. This four-story structure will have one- and two-bedroom suites with gas fireplaces and a patio that offers sweeping views from its 230-foot-high perch. 

Spa:

    When the OH! Spa opens in November, it will feature a farm-to-table menu of treatments that will change seasonally. For example, you can expect an apricot scrub in the spring and peppermint in winter. The hot stone massage relies on native beach stones. Couples will want to book a treatment together and then luxuriate in a couple’s jacuzzi and steam room

Activities:

The Mayfly is just a short walk from the resort pool as well as numerous sports activities, such as crochet, bocce ball, volleyball, and tennis played on either grass or clay courts.

Hiking — Whether you book one of The Preserve’s hiking guides or you decide to walk a nature trail or hike a rugged path on your own, you’ll likely trek past ponds, waterfalls, and woodland with the possibility of spying box turtles, raccoons or rabbits, and maybe even spotting various bird species, such as cerulean warblers and American woodpeckers.

Mountain Biking — Whether you’re a novice or hard-core mountain biker, The Preserve has a trail for you. The landscape is sliced by over 50 miles of mostly off-road trails. And the terrain ranges from level to challenging climbs and descents. 

Fishing — Fly fishing fans will find 10 ponds stocked with trout (including rainbow and brown) and smallmouth bass. Gear is available on property and, should you want, fly fishing instruction. 

Golf — The Robert McNeil-designed course is noted for several challenging holes. These include Hole 7 with its smallish green. This hole is well protected, though deceptively so. Another is Hole 13 where you have to carry a pond, and a rock outcropping is set to the right of the green. 

The pastoral landscape is also home to 100 miles of equestrian trails. 

Culinary Experiences:

All the menus revolve around farm- or sea-to-table cuisine. Not only are some herbs and vegetables grown on property, but the chef also has established relationships with farmers, fishermen, and cheesemongers, something that assures the freshness of the ingredients. 

In this pandemic era, picnics are more desirable than ever. And at The Preserve, your multi-course picnic lunch (which can include wine) can be delivered anywhere on the property, including on your patio, beside the resort pool or near the croquet lawn. Or it can be packed into a backpack if you plan to bike, hike or fish. 

A modern day cowboy cookout held on Friday evenings harkens to what one might find at a sport club. At this casual, outdoor dining event, the steaks and seafood are cooked on an open fire. 

The petite Hobbit Houses are for those who prefer a private dining experience. Built into the mountainside, these rugged stone structures easily conjure a Lord of the Rings vibe. With a circular wooden doorway, a decor relying on seasonal wildflowers and tree branches, and a stone interior bedecked with lanterns and candles, it doesn’t get any more fanciful. This venue can be reserved for dinner with a private chef who will grill the food to order. For example, you can have a bourbon pairing with your meal that can include bourbon BBQ steak or salmon grilled on the fire pit. And the cobbler is baked in a Dutch oven with, what else, but a bourbon caramel sauce. 

Drinks:

Oenophiles will have no trouble finding a vintage that satisfies their palate. The Preserve stocks almost 2,000 different varieties, with a focus on wines from California and France. And, for those desiring to up their wine IQ, classes are offered daily and can include these topics: wines of Italy, food and wine pairing like a pro, and how to blind taste wine. 

There’s no lack of bourbons here. Among the varieties that can be enjoyed:

Award-winning Kings County Empire Rye that’s distilled in Brooklyn, New York

Coveted Pappy Van Winkle, a Kentucky craft bourbon that relies on a treasured family wheated recipe

    Aptly named, Jefferson’s Ocean, which is aged at sea, something that gives it a highly complex flavor profile.

For a refreshing cocktail, the RosYAY! fits the bill. It’s made with Triennes rose wine, Tito’s vodka, Prosecco and hibiscus.