February 14, 2022
Babymoon Destinations
Written By: Lexi Coerver
Thanks to a global pandemic, we've all mastered the art of staying home. And with a new baby, there's gonna be more of that in the days to come. So, now is the time to go on that Babymoon! Or at least start planning a way to commemorate this meaningful time in your life before that bouncing bundle of joy changes things forever. In the best way.
Maybe it's a staycation. Maybe a bucket list adventure. Whatever your idea of indulgence is (with your healthcare provider's blessing, of course), DO IT! If you haven't even started planning, no problem. We've put together a list of some of our favorite places and properties to help you get your wheels turning. The packing...well, that's up to you.
Our Top Five - A (Stateside) Babymoon Guide
Travel has looked a lot different for everyone this past year and a half. And if you're about to be a first-time parent, buckle up...because travel is just one of many things that'll look different from here on out.
One day, in the not-too-distant future, you will long for the carefree days of leaving the house without packing all the newborn essentials. You'll fantasize about reconnecting with your partner and escaping to somewhere (anywhere) without having to create a PowerPoint presentation for whoever is watching your kids. Now is the time to enjoy these fleeting pre-baby days. Yes, we're talking Babymoon.
If it's two days or two weeks, the point is to make it a priority. Because it matters. Relax. Enjoy your pregnancy. Enjoy your partner. Enjoy doing whatever it is YOU want to do...with the blessing of your healthcare provider, of course.
Whether you are still looking to stay closer to home or you feel like getting a little more exotic, we've got you covered. Here's a list of some of our favorite places to recharge and reconnect before your duo becomes a trio.
MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa - Sonoma, California
Think you have to write off wine country just because vino is off your menu for a while? Think again. Once a family estate and vineyard, MacArthur Hotel & Spa has been reinvented and is what babymoon dreams are made of. A gorgeous pool & spa sanctuary, lush gardens, and winding footpaths create a dreamy park-like setting over this seven-plus-acre property. Parents-to-be can enjoy the hotel's farm-to-table restaurant, take in the area with a gentle hike, go on a scenic drive, or simply explore the beauty of Sonoma.
BONUS: The Spa at MacArthur's "50-minute Pregnancy Massage" is designed to relieve stress, improve sleep and pamper expectant mothers. Who said wine country is all about the wine?
Castle Hot Springs - Bradshaw Mountains (near Phoenix), Arizona
Castle Hot Springs, a desert oasis tucked in a canyon deep in Arizona's Bradshaw Mountains, is just an hour's drive from Phoenix and one of the most magical destinations on our list.
This adults-only, all-inclusive getaway offers everything from bocce and archery to e-mountain biking and farm tours. Our bet? You'll be just fine stargazing from your cabin (complete with a telescope) or taking a soak in the spa's healing thermal waters. Two of the three cascading pools are kept at a soothing 85 and 96 degrees, making them safe for mamma's-to-be. The property follows a "digital detox" ethos, so there is no TV or Wi-Fi in the rooms, but we hardly think you'll miss it as you curl up in luxury linens after steeping in your deep-soaking tub.
BONUS: Feel extra good while you indulge in the 5-star farm-to-table creations hand-selected from the Castle Hot Springs organic farm. When locals found it hard to find fresh produce during the pandemic, the farm at Castle Hot Springs began offering farm-fresh produce subscriptions. All profit was donated to the local St. Vincent de Paul.
Tourists - North Adams, Massachusetts
You probably aren't gonna find this one on many of the "babymoon lists" out there. But, it definitely should be for any adventurer, nature lover, or fan of the arts.
In the Berkshires city of North Adams, less than a three-hour drive from New York or Boston, you'll find Tourists. A sixties motor lodge reborn as a contemporary, hip retreat set on the banks of the Hoosic River. If the property's stunning architecture and textile-rich rooms, thoughtfully appointed by interior designer Julie Person, don't make you want to stay forever, the enchanting riverbank vistas will. Feeling inspired? An incredible 220-foot suspension bridge leads from the hotel to a 30-acre network of walking trails, meadows, and forest clearings perfect for a quiet little picnic with your sweetheart.
Maybe it's because this modern-day ode to the American motor lodge it's co-owned by Wilco bassist John Stirratt. Maybe it's because of the creative clientele that gathers nightly to enjoy cocktails (or mocktails!) in the heated saltwater pool. Whatever the case, this place just feels effortlessly cool. Which will serve as a solid reminder in the days ahead - amidst the burping and the diaper changing - that yes, you are still cool.
BONUS: Tourists isn't just a spectacular locale for enjoying the beauty of the Berkshires. It also is home to an incredible in-house restaurant, hosts on-site yoga, and is just three miles from the MASS MOCA and the Clark Art Institute. A true feast for mind, body, and soul.
"Maybe it's a staycation. Maybe a bucket list adventure. Whatever your idea of indulgence is (with your healthcare provider's blessing, of course),
DO IT!"
The Gasparilla Inn & Club - Boca Grande, Florida
Can't decide between a jaunt to the Caribbean or indulging in the comforts of some Southern Hospitality? Good news! You don't have to. The Gasparilla Inn & Club, nestled on the white sand beaches of the Gulf Of Mexico, is the perfect union of Old Florida grandeur and upscale Carribian kitsch.
Dubbed "the place for well-heeled bare feet," The Gasparilla Inn & Club has been a fan favorite for over 100 years. From the moment you arrive at the grand columned manor house, you'll feel like you've stepped into another era.
Cheerful interiors, white wicker furniture, and slowly rotating ceiling fans welcome guests as you check into one of the Inn's beautifully renovated rooms, cottages, or villas. Then, head outside to relax by one of the three pools, enjoy a leisurely lunch al fresco at the clubhouse, or lounge the day away in your reserved chaise on the Inn's private beach. Dreamy, right?
In fact, the entire litlte island of Boca Grande is pretty dreamy. Home to romantic old houses, blocks of mom-and-pop shops, a world-class golf course, and all the ice cream parlors a pregnant gal could ask for. While cars are permitted on the island, the preferred method of travel is by golf cart or bicycle, available for guests of The Inn. Before you know it, your baby woes will be floating away in the warm gulf breeze.
BONUS: Treat yourself to a treatment at the Touch of Gasparilla Spa for a 50-minute mother-to-be massage or any of the hundreds of services offered. Seriously, this southern gem has it ALL!
Commodore Perry Estate - Austin, Texas
Dreaming about a European retreat but not psyched about the long flight that goes along with international travel (if it's even an option!) Problem solved. The Commodore Perry Estate offers allll the European Villa vibes just ten minutes from downtown Austin.
One of the newest offerings from Auberge Resort Collection hospitality group, the private 10-acre delivers refined luxury to guests at every turn. Leave your terrace suite and sip mocktails by the super glam circular pool, get your palm read, or spread out under grand Oak trees while savoring a chef-prepared picnic.
If you can possibly motivate to leave the grounds, Austin itself has plenty to offer. Go shopping on nearby South Congress, take a refreshing dip in Barton Springs, or catch some live music almost any night of the week.
BONUS: Sit for a mini-portrait polaroid session within the Mansion's larger-than-life immersive floral landscape installations. A keepsake you can take home and hang in the nursery to be teleported back to a time when you and your partner were the only ones in the house up at 2 am.