10 Luxury Hotels That Bring the Outdoors In

Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach

Just steps from the beach, the brand new Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach in Hawaii boasts interiors designed to connect guests with the ocean waves just outside the door. Relax in a calming lobby that displays a 280,000-gallon saltwater oceanarium filled with marine life and replica coral reef formations. Vibrant pocket gardens bring the island’s tropical foliage indoors, brilliantly complementing custom furnishings like a limestone reception desk and modern light fixtures that evoke an elegant island aesthetic.

Fairmont Austin

As a hotel in a park — adjacent to both Waller Creek and Palm Park — it was decided early on by interior design firm, Warren Sheets Design, that the brand new Fairmont Austin in Texas would have a park within the hotel. Towering oak trees and lush greenery grace common areas, while guest rooms radiate a sense of openness thanks to high ceilings and sleek lines. Natural hues, like meridian blue, pure white, copper and beige, evoke the colors and warmth of parks in Austin.

Field Guide

Set in the heart of Stowe, Vermont, the 30-room Field Guide uses natural tones throughout the property, blending rustic, woodsy elements with playful, modern touches, like faux-fur pillows, paper maché animal heads and metallic tree-stump coffee tables. Exposed wood beams original to the property and in-room fireplaces, as well as bird wallpaper, antlers and trail-map art, help guests connect with nature outside their door, even when snuggling up in front of a roaring fire after a day on the ski slopes.

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is set mid-mountain at Northstar California Resort, allowing for effortless ski-in, ski-out convenience. Given its location amongst the trees, it seemed only natural to design this luxury mountain resort around a tree theme, evoking a feeling among guests that they are "under the protection of a canopy of trees." The 55-foot tall granite fireplace in the center of the hotel represents a large tree trunk. Wooden beams extend out as if to represent tree branches.

Bardessono Hotel & Spa

Nestled in the heart of Napa Valley, the 62-room Bardessono Hotel & Spa seamlessly blends modern luxury with eco-conscious sustainability throughout its interior and exterior design. The lobby is made of upcycled materials sourced from salvaged wood, including Monterey Cypress and California Bay Laurel trees. Guest rooms and public areas boast concrete floor tiles sourced from Sonoma Stone while bath and dressing room floors are made of reclaimed California Orchard Walnut. A certified organic garden provides inspiration and ingredients for the on-site bar and restaurant.

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

At Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, you may never leave the property, but you’ll feel as though you’ve been outside thanks to nine acres of indoor gardens featuring cascading waterfalls, serpentine walkways and more than 50,000 tropical plants. Climb aboard the Delta Riverboat for a scenic 15-minute ride along an indoor river that flows through the hotel. Make a stop at the Garden Conservatory to delight in the colorful blooms and lush greenery. Stay for two different musical fountain shows that run on the hour every evening in the Delta Atrium.

Twin Farms

At the all-inclusive Twin Farms in Vermont, delightful cottages and suites made of natural elements, like glass, stone and cedar, greet guests upon arrival. Birch logs line the ceilings, while picture windows and floor-to-ceiling fieldstone fireplaces enable all the senses to become stimulated by nature, even while indoors. Rustic artwork, farm-to-table meals and an array of outdoor activities — from fly fishing to snowshoeing to canoeing — serve to further enhance the well-being of guests through nature. Twin Farms truly defines rustic elegance.

Tenaya Lodge

Set against giant sequoia trees and mere minutes from the south gate of Yosemite National Park, you’ll find sophisticated dining, luxurious spa treatments and rustic mountain ambiance at Tenaya Lodge. As you enter the sprawling lobby, you’ll immediately be drawn in by its reflection of the High Sierras. The massive stone fireplace, antler chandeliers, deer-head taxidermy and traditional alpine decor collectively evoke a feeling of a cabin deep in the woods (a really big one), which is fitting given its proximity to one of our most-visited national parks.

Cheyenne Mountain Resort

At Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, guests are welcomed into the main lodge by a fireplace made from Pikes Peak granite, soaring wood-beamed ceilings and soothing natural light brought in by floor-to-ceiling windows. Given the wide-open views of Colorado’s Front Range, guests may want to reserve a table at Mountain View Restaurant for each meal of their stay. It’s hard not to stare out the huge picture windows to enjoy sweeping views of the mountains. Guests retire to rooms boasting artwork inspired by Colorado’s majestic landscape and private balconies that enable them to fully enjoy the fresh mountain air.