While relaxing vacations certainly have their virtues — think pina coladas on a white sand beach, or a deep tissue massage at a desert spa — many people prefer a daily dose of action and adventure on their vacations.
No, I’m not talking about golf, or tennis or long walks on the beach. I'm talking about real activities and adventure —perhaps even a little danger.
For travelers who want to get out and explore while staying at a 5-star hotel, here are some hotels that offer great accommodations and a lot more.
SEE ALSO: The 5 best hotel gyms in the world
Primland – Meadows of Dan, VA
Activities: Hiking, Biking, Fishing, Hunting, Kayaking, Off Road Adventures, Sporting Clays, Tree Climbing, Star Gazing
Open since 2009, this secluded resort has quickly become one of the must-visit locations for an outdoor getaway on the East Coast. Sure, guests have the opportunity to engage in typical outdoor activities like guided nature hikes and bird watching tours, but Primland also offers sporting clays, geocaching, mountain bikes and stargazing (there is a state-of-the-art observatory situated in a silo at the main lodge). If those activities aren’t enough to keep you busy, there is always fly-fishing, swimming or tree climbing (ropes required). We challenge you to find all of that in a B & B! The range of offerings doesn’t stop when you move indoors and have to decide where to lay your head at night. The lodge is comprised of 26 rooms and suites, each offering a unique floor plan and features. From the smallest Piedmont rooms – still measuring over 500-square-feet – to the two-story Pinnacles suite, to the most recently-added tree houses, all rooms boast hardwood floors, Frette linens, Culti bath products and fully automated Lutron shade and lighting systems which control the blinds and dim the lights at the mere touch of a button. If you need more space, there are three two-bedroom fairway cottages and 11 mountain homes all available for overnight, weekend and week-long stays.
Post Ranch Inn – Big Sur, CA
Activities: Hiking, Biking, Surfing, Whale Watching, Yoga
Constructed in 1992, the Post Ranch Inn offers rustic but elegant accommodations. Guests have a choice of 40 rooms in stand-alone houses, all with indoor or outdoor spa tubs, wood-burning fireplaces, leather furniture, wooden ceilings, king-size beds and majestic views of the surf or mountains. The Cliff Houses, Peak Houses and Pacific Suites on the south end of the property feature reclaimed lumber, floor-to-ceiling windows and in the case of the Peak Houses, cantilevered terraces. Many of the lodgings feel very private. It’s as if you have the sprawling land all to yourself. The ranch’s commitment to preserving the area’s environment—using natural and earth-friendly building materials, reducing wattage lighting, protecting rare and endangered species—ensures that said environment isn’t damaged for the sake of luxury.
The Post Ranch Inn never pressures you into participating in activities but offers several choices throughout the day. Guides lead guests on nature walks through the redwood and oak forest during the day and during the evening, the hotel’s resident astronomer teaches guests about the cosmos; the electronic telescope lets you see the night sky in all its brilliant glory.
Easily distinguished as one of the nation’s scenic wonders, the Big Sur coastline is comprised of 90 miles of narrow winding roadway that reaches out to ocean bluffs and down to wooded canyons to offer some of the world’s most dramatic coastal scenery.
Big Sur offers a wide range of hiking trails for all levels of hikers. Pull on your boots and hike deep into the tree-lined canyons of beautiful redwoods thought to be seen only in postcards.
You won’t find a city here, rather a drop-out state of mind with hidden beaches, rock-pounding surf, wildlife-filled wild-land and funky stops. Of course, there are faster ways to travel the same distance, but I defy you to discover a more adventurous and ruggedly gorgeous route that is authentic California at its best.
January-March is one of the best times to visit Big Sur. The mesmerizing migration of the winter gray whale is in full motion along this stretch of the Pacific; and the temperatures stay moderate all day.
The Little Nell – Aspen, CO
Activities: Skiing, Hiking, Biking, Fishing, White Water Rafting, Rock Climbing, Jeep Tours
Aspen’s Little Nell has an enviable ski-in/ski-out location at the base of Aspen Mountain, while drivers will also shuttle skiers to nearby Snowmass Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. The 92 spacious rooms opt for a masculine, clean look in creams, browns and blues, with walnut details designed by Holly Hunt.
Folks in Colorado will often tell you that “they came for the winter, but stayed for the summer” with its long days, hot but dry temperatures, and perfectly blue skies except for the briefest afternoon thunder showers. Aspen already has a crowded line up of cultural events, but the Little Nell’s Summer and Winter Adventures make your stay all the more exciting.
Executive Chef Matt Zubrod oversees element 47, the hotel’s five-star restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as Ajax Tavern, which sits slope side with a sun-soaked patio—the place to go for burgers and their signature truffle fries after a day of skiing or mountain biking. Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy oversees the hotel’s 20,000-bottle wine cellar and team of 39 sommeliers on staff and counting.
The health center features three treatment rooms and en-suite massages are available. The pool sits in the courtyard at the heart of the hotel and, in the summer, features the only living wall in Aspen as its backdrop.
If you can’t find enough to do while staying at The Little Nell, you’re not trying very hard.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider