Garden Inspired Getaways: Where Nature Meets Luxury Travel
Author: Victor Block
Published: 2025/03/31
Publication Type: Informative
Topic: Disability Travel Information - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: Discover stunning garden-focused hotels and resorts offering accessible, sustainable, and immersive experiences for nature and food lovers alike.
Why it matters: This article explores unique gardens and resorts across the United States, highlighting their accessibility features, cultural significance, and culinary offerings. From the Japanese Garden in Portland to the sustainable farm at Pendry Natirar in New Jersey, these destinations provide inclusive experiences for travelers, including those with disabilities. The piece emphasizes the sensory appeal of gardens - whether through floral beauty or edible bounty - and showcases how they cater to diverse needs, such as ADA-compliant accommodations and hands-on gardening workshops. It’s particularly useful for seniors, disabled individuals, and anyone seeking enriching travel experiences that combine nature, culture, and gastronomy - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
A historic mansion in New Jersey, which once was a private home for Moroccan royalty, today is a luxurious hotel. People visiting two sites in Portland, Oregon might imagine that they have been transported to Asia. Guests at a deluxe resort in Tennessee awaken to watch the sun rise over the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Main Item
The charms of these disparate attractions would be reason enough to entice visitors to find their way to those destinations. In addition, they share another inviting appeal. Each provides the setting for a garden which in some cases offers examples of Mother Nature's magnificent beauty, and in others her magnanimous edible bounty.
With spring upon us and summer fast approaching, gardeners - along with those who appreciate what they grow - are welcoming the time of year when they till the soil, plant seeds and then enjoy the flowers, fruit and vegetables of their labors. Whatever their preference, floral or food, the growing season is upon us.
Whether you're a gardener or not, this also is the period when people may simply enjoy the beauty of floral displays, and taste-tempting treats of edibles, near where they live or as they travel. Visiting a garden can provide a dramatic feast for the eyes or, in some cases, the stomach.
Given the ideal layout for growing both flowers and edible crops, most gardens are welcoming to those with a disability.
For example, the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon offers accommodations for accessible and inclusive visits, including American Sign Language interpretation upon request. Its Cultural Village, upper Flat Garden, Pavilion are accessible for patrons with mobility restrictions and all restrooms have accessible stalls.
The Stanford Inn in California has some ADA-compliant accommodations, TTY/TDD devices are available and the restaurant is accessible.
That notable estate in New Jersey referenced above has been transformed into the Pendry Natirar hotel and spa. It includes a 10-acre sustainable farm which supplies its restaurants with fresh produce and herbs, including just-gathered free-range eggs and honey collected from the on-site apiary. A 3,200-plus bottle wine cellar provides libations to accompany the food.
Close to 10 percent of the population of Portland, Oregon is of Asian descent so it's not surprising that two gardens in the city represent their countries of origin. The Japanese Garden is believed to be the most authentic one if its kind outside of Japan. Its five distinct areas include a bonsai terrace, sand and stone garden, and strolling pond area.
Those who check out the Lan Su Chinese Garden could think that they have been transported to that country. The colorful landscape encompasses covered walkways, open colonnades and graceful bridges.
It may seem unlikely that an unincorporated community with a resident population of only about 300 would be home to a resort included on the 2025 Condé Nast Traveler List of Best Hotels in the World. Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee offers a combination of luxury, culinary excellence, wellness and outdoor adventure.
That state is known for its bumper crop of wild blackberries. Among the varieties that flourish in its bramble patches are Black Satin, known for large, juicy berries with a slightly tart flavor; thornless Chester, a boon for those who prefer hassle-free picking, and Darrow, whose versatile attributes make it suitable for fresh eating and use as jams and jellies.
Not surprisingly, varieties of that crop are available for sale at the aptly named Blackberry Farm. Housed in a turn-of-the-century barn located in the center of the farmstead, its James Beard Award-winning restaurant offers menu choices rooted in local Appalachian ingredients, including produce harvested just a few feet from the front door.
Certified organic gardens that flourish at the Standford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino California turn up on tables at its vegan restaurant, and are among reasons the property has been ranked among the 10 best eco-friendly hotels in the United States. Guests may take a biointensive gardening class which focuses upon maximizing crop yield in a minimum space.
Lessons available at Castle Hot Springs in Morristown, Arizona include hands-on gardening workshops and in-the-field tastings. That garden hotel is a Sonoran Desert oasis, with natural springs which irrigate more than 150 varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers. Guests who enjoy accompanying their food with a potent potable may sign up for mixology classes that integrate just-picked herbs into refreshing cocktails.
Another hands-on experience is available at The Weston, perched in the heart of Vermont's Green Mountains. The small luxurious guest house has been described as "a bucolic retreat" and "luxurious home away from home," where "farm-to-table actually lives up to the hype." Overnight visitors may join the innkeeper in picking vegetables grown without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.
Whether flowers are your forte or you have a fondness for fruits and veggies, this is the time to check out gardens, farms and other places where your favorites flourish.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: Gardens have long been spaces of reflection, relaxation, and sustenance, and this article reminds us how deeply they can enhance travel experiences. Whether you're admiring the artistry of a Japanese rock garden, savoring fresh-picked produce, or learning the nuances of organic farming, these destinations connect guests with nature in meaningful ways. At a time when many seek sustainable and enriching getaways, these hotels and resorts offer more than just luxury - they provide a true taste of the land and its abundance - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Victor Block has been a travel journalist for many years, and has written for major newspapers, magazines and travel websites and served as an editor of Fodor's Travel Guides. He is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the North American Travel Journalists Association. Victor is a regular contributor of reviews to the Disabled World travel section. Visit Victors's biography for further insights into his background and expertise.