For your next trip, consider the Inn & Spa at Loretto Santa Fe, the Troutbeck in upstate New York, or the Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah.
By Karla Walsh
Many vacationers think the best trips start with the answer to one question: Where do you want to go? After all, to get out of town, you do need a destination.
But if you ask travel adviser Whitney Shindelar, who owns Undiscovered Sunsets in Adel, the most memorable excursions begin by asking two different questions: What’s the purpose of this trip? And what are you passionate about?
The answers, plus some basic details about budgets and timeframes, give Shindelar just enough information to zoom out on the world map — and then zoom in on your perfect match.
“I get really excited when people approach me with no locked-in ideas yet, and we get to go through the selection process together,” she said. “You’re far more likely to end up going somewhere you would have never come up with on your own, and you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a more memorable and enriching experience.”
Shindelar and I swear by this strategy for all of my vacations, including an upcoming trip to Spain that we chose together in the January issue of dsm. (Tag along on Instagram @dsmmagazine as I take a tapas tour, watch flamenco and brave “one of the world’s scariest hikes.”)
In the meantime, we thought it might be fun to play this Carmen Sandiego-style game with a few other locals who love to travel. First up: Liz Lidgett, who owns Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design and just announced a forthcoming book, “Art is For Everyone,” from Simon & Schuster.
Whitney Shindelar: What’s the inspiration behind this upcoming trip?
Liz Lidgett: To celebrate my birthday with my husband, Nick.
WS: When you visit a new destination, what types of experiences excite you most? What’s something you’ve been enjoying lately?
LL: My master’s degree is in public art, so when I travel, it’s often about checking something off of my artistic bucket list. Perhaps I saw it in a textbook during an art history class and want to experience it or see it in person.
WS: What’s your timeframe?
LL: My birthday is in late August. When we’re traveling without our two kids, we like to cap our trips at five days, max.
WS: Tell me more about your travel style. What does a typical day look like?
LL: Nick and I travel in a specific way: We adventure together in the morning, and then I relax and do some sort of spa experience in the afternoon while he goes 1,000-miles-per-hour to explore very specific museums, unique statues or opera houses. This is perfect, because we both get what we want out of each day. We come back together in the evening for dinner and maybe a show. Honestly, we don’t always need an activity, as long as we have each other and food. In terms of lodging, I love, love, love a fancy room — especially since this trip is a celebration.
Three options
Using these details and Lidgett’s budget as her compass, Shindelar offered the following three itineraries for Lidgett’s birthday adventure, each valued around $8,000 or less. Which one would you like to take? And which do you think Lidgett chose? Scroll down to the bottom of the newsletter to find out.
Organic and grounding: Albuquerque and Santa Fe
Picture mornings wandering through lavender fields at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm and exploring the public art — more than 1,000 works in all — scattered throughout Albuquerque, before a serene afternoon at a spa. After soaking up the beauty in Albuquerque for two days, drive an hour northeast to the Inn & Spa at Loretto Santa Fe. This will be your homebase as you check out some of the 100-some Canyon Road galleries, the mind-bending immersive art of Meow Wolf and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.
Historic and cozy: Hudson Valley
In upstate New York, check into the historic Troutbeck inn in Amenia, a country retreat since the 1700s. Today, the inn offers seriously good food, an epic wine list and a spa you’ll never want to leave. One day, you’ll roam the massive fields and incredible sculptures at the Storm King Art Center, then sample wines and hearty plates at Magnanini Winery. The next day, see the bold, playful installations at the 120-acre Art Omi, with a stop at Hudson Chatham Winery for another tasting. You’ll also have time to just slow down, maybe join a wellness class at the inn, curl up with a book in the library or poke into shops and galleries in the neighboring towns.
Exclusive and relaxing: Sundance
Utah’s Sundance Mountain Resort is Robert Redford’s lovingly crafted escape in Provo Canyon’s pristine forests and the slopes of Mount Timpanogos. This isn’t your typical resort. Here, the cabins built from pine and stone blend into the landscape, so each one feels less like a hotel than artist’s secluded studio. Each day offers a mix of creative spark and slower soulful moments, like sunrise yoga, a sound bath at an award-winning spa, or Art Studio workshops for painting, pottery or even making perfume. You can hike, ride the lift for sweeping views, and maybe watch a bird release or an outdoor theater show. When you’re ready to head north to the sweeping land artwork “Spiral Jetty,” be sure to extend your day trip just a bit to visit Golden Spike National Historical Park for some fascinating railroad history.
Now, if you’re feeling inspired to chart new territory, Shindelar suggests contacting her six to eight months before you’d like to travel. She’ll ask you about the purpose for your trip, as well as your interests, timeframe and budget, and then she’ll take it from there. Planning fees typically range from $750 to $1,200 for a one- to two-week trip. Visit undiscoveredsunsets.com to kick things off.
