USA: Mayflower Inn & Spa, Washington, CT

A Grand New England Estate, Reimagined

Set on 58 acres of rolling Litchfield County hillside, the Mayflower Inn & Spa carries the quiet gravity of a property that has been many things over more than a century. Built in 1894 as a boys' boarding school and later reimagined as a private residence, the estate today wears its history lightly, its stone walls and old-growth trees framing a stay that feels both storied and thoroughly current. Interiors by designer Celerie Kemble lean into that dual identity, mixing tailored New England formality with a lighter, more playful hand, so that library nooks and fireplace-lit sitting rooms sit comfortably alongside sun-washed garden views.

The pace here is unhurried by design. Mornings might start with a walk through the property's gardens and woodland trails, afternoons drift toward the spa or the pool, and evenings settle into candlelit dinners built around ingredients pulled from the region's farms. It is a property that rewards slowing down, less about a single marquee amenity than the accumulation of small, well-considered details, from the crackle of a fire in a common room to the sense that Washington itself, one of Connecticut's prettiest small towns, is just beyond the property line waiting to be explored.

Life at Mayflower Inn

• 35 rooms and suites, including 28 guestrooms and 7 suites, each individually designed by Celerie Kemble

• The Garden Room, helmed by chef Jose Ramirez-Ruiz, alongside the more casual Tap Room for relaxed dining

• A spa operated in partnership with THE WELL, with both indoor and outdoor pools

• 58 acres of gardens, woodland trails, and manicured grounds to explore on foot

• Forbes Five-Star recognition under the Auberge Resorts Collection

Why Mayflower Inn, Why Washington, CT

• A historic 1894 estate with a genuine, layered past, from boarding school to private residence to Forbes Five-Star retreat

• Roughly two hours from New York City, making it an easy weekend escape without feeling like a quick trip

• A design sensibility, courtesy of Celerie Kemble, that balances New England tradition with a lighter, more modern touch

• Access to one of Litchfield County's most charming small towns, with antiquing, galleries, and country roads right outside the gate

Ideal For: Couples and adults seeking a refined, restorative countryside escape within easy reach of New York City.

Gold Coast Travel Perks

Unlock Fora amenities when you book with Gold Coast Travel:

• Complimentary daily breakfast

• $100 resort credit

• Early check-in / late check-out, subject to availability

• Upgrade at check-in, subject to availability

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