Places to Actually Disconnect: Nature Trips Worth Your Money
Photo courtesy of Awasi Patagonia
The internet is full of "digital detox" retreats that cost $10k to sit in silence and luxury lodges so remote you'll lose service—but also your mind from boredom. Real disconnection isn't about going off-grid for the sake of it. It's about finding places where nature actually demands your attention, where the landscape is compelling enough that you forget to check your phone. Below are destinations that deliver on that promise—from budget-friendly base camps to luxury properties where the setting does the heavy lifting. No performative unplugging required.
Boise, Idaho - The Sparrow Hotel
Boise gets overlooked, which works in your favor. The city sits at the edge of high desert and foothills with the Boise River cutting through downtown. You're 20 minutes from serious hiking in the Boise Foothills, an hour from hot springs, and two hours from Sun Valley. The Greenbelt—a 25-mile paved trail along the river—runs through the city and connects parks, breweries, and the Basque Block, one of the largest Basque communities outside Spain.
The Sparrow opened in 2022 and immediately became the design reference point for the city. Condé Nast Traveler readers ranked it #1 in the Southwest & West Region and #42 globally in 2025—recognition that's actually earned. The 62 rooms feel residential, not hotel generic, with custom furniture, local art, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The restaurant, Owyhee, sources from Idaho farms and doesn't make a performance out of it—just solid food that tastes like the region. The rooftop bar overlooks the foothills and stays open late. Staff know the trails, the breweries, and where to eat beyond the obvious spots. This is the rare hotel that works as both a base camp for outdoor adventure and a reason to visit the city itself.
Photo courtesy of Fogo Island Inn
Newfoundland, Canada - Fogo Island Inn
Fogo Island sits off the northeast coast of Newfoundland, one of the most remote inhabited places in North America. The landscape is dramatic—rocky coastlines, icebergs drifting past in spring and early summer, whales breaching offshore, and a treeless terrain shaped by wind and Atlantic weather. The island has 11 communities, most built around fishing, and the culture here is distinct even within Newfoundland.
Fogo Island Inn is architecture that respects the landscape instead of competing with it—angular, modern, and built on stilts to minimize environmental impact. The 29 rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows framing the North Atlantic, wood-burning stoves, and handmade furniture crafted by local artisans. The inn employs locals and supports traditional crafts—community integration that's genuine, not a marketing angle. Every stay funds the Shorefast Foundation's work preserving outport culture. The restaurant serves Newfoundland ingredients—cod tongues, partridgeberries, sea urchin—prepared with respect for tradition and technique. You're here to hike coastal trails, watch icebergs, visit artist studios, and disconnect from everything else. This is what luxury looks like when it's earned by location and experience, not marble lobbies.
Photo courtesy of Pimalai Resort And Spa
Patagonia, Chile - Tierra Patagonia
Torres del Paine National Park is one of the world's most dramatic landscapes—granite peaks, electric-blue glaciers, turquoise lakes, and guanacos grazing across windswept plains. The park sits in Chilean Patagonia near the Argentine border, and weather here is famously unpredictable—four seasons in a day isn't a cliché, it's reality.
Tierra Patagonia sits on the shore of Lago Sarmiento with direct park access and views of the Paine Massif. The hotel's angular design mirrors the surrounding mountains and minimizes visual impact on the landscape. All 40 rooms face the lake and mountains with floor-to-ceiling windows that make the most of the setting. The property operates all-inclusive with guided excursions built into your stay—glacier hikes, puma tracking, kayaking, horseback riding—led by guides who know the terrain and adjust to weather and wildlife activity. Meals focus on Patagonian ingredients—lamb, king crab, calafate berries—and the bar stocks Chilean wines and pisco. The spa uses local herbs and offers massages after long days hiking. Sustainable operations are built into the property's DNA, not added as an afterthought. You're here for the park, and Tierra Patagonia delivers access without compromise on comfort.
Photo courtesy of ULUM Moab
Moab, Utah - ULUM Moab
Moab is the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks—red rock landscapes that look engineered by someone with a surrealist streak. Delicate Arch, Mesa Arch, and the thousands of other formations scattered across the parks justify the crowds. Beyond the parks, Moab offers world-class mountain biking on slickrock trails, scenic drives through desert canyons, and night skies with zero light pollution. The town itself is small, tourist-driven, and gets packed during peak season.
ULUM Moab sits on the edge of town with direct views of red rock formations and quick access to both parks. The design is stripped-back in the best way—no TV, no distractions, just floor-to-ceiling windows framing the landscape. The 40 suites have private patios, soaking tubs, and interiors that emphasize natural materials and clean lines. The property focuses on the essentials: comfortable beds, thoughtful architecture, and proximity to the parks. The restaurant leans into local ingredients without making a performance of it—Utah-raised lamb, foraged herbs, produce from nearby farms. There's a small spa and a pool with canyon views. Staff know the trails, the timing to avoid crowds, and which viewpoints deliver at sunset. This is desert minimalism that works because the setting does the heavy lifting.
Scottish Highlands - Scottish Highland Lodge
The Scottish Highlands deliver everything the brochures promise—lochs, mountains, whisky, and weather that shifts hourly. The region stretches across northern Scotland with landscapes ranging from coastal cliffs to inland glens and peaks over 4,000 feet. You're here for hiking, wildlife (red deer, golden eagles, possibly otters), whisky distillery tours, and solitude.
Scottish Highland Lodge offers access to this without the twee Highland fantasy—no tartan overload, no forced bagpipe ambiance. The lodge sits in a traditional stone building with views across the landscape and interiors that balance historic character with modern comfort. Rooms are simple and warm with good beds and heating that works when the temperature drops. The lodge offers access to private estates and local guides who know the land and share it without scripts. Meals emphasize Scottish ingredients—venison, salmon, foraged mushrooms, root vegetables—prepared well without fuss. Coastal foraging trips, whisky estate visits, and hiking routes are arranged based on your interests and fitness level. The staff know the landscape intimately and adjust plans based on weather. You're here for lochs, mountains, and solitude. The lodge delivers on all three without unnecessary embellishment.
Photo courtesy of White Exclusive Suites & Villas
Azores, Portugal - White Exclusive Suites & Villas
The Azores are nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic, roughly 1,000 miles west of Lisbon. São Miguel—the largest island—has crater lakes, hot springs, tea plantations, and coastline dramatic enough to justify the flight. The islands are Europe's best-kept secret for outdoor adventure: whale watching (20+ species migrate through), canyoning in volcanic gorges, diving with manta rays, and hiking trails that cut through hydrangeas and volcanic rock. The weather is unpredictable—pack layers.
White Exclusive Suites & Villas sits on São Miguel's coast with ocean or countryside views depending on your room. The property has 24 suites and villas with contemporary design, private terraces, and kitchenettes if you want them. It's affordable luxury that focuses on experience over excess—no marble everything, just smart design and genuine hospitality. The pool overlooks the Atlantic, the spa offers treatments using Azorean botanicals, and the restaurant serves local fish, beef from island-raised cattle, and pineapple grown in greenhouses nearby. The property arranges canyoning, diving, and hiking without the hard sell—they just connect you with good guides. You're close to Ponta Delgada but far enough to feel removed. Portugal's islands without the Algarve crowds.
Kenmore, Washington - The Lodge at St. Edward Park
St. Edward State Park sits on Lake Washington's eastern shore, 15 miles from downtown Seattle. The park protects 326 acres of old-growth forest with hiking trails, lake access, and a shoreline that feels removed despite the proximity to the city. The Lodge occupies a former Catholic seminary built in 1931—red brick, Gothic Revival architecture, and bones that couldn't be replicated today. The renovation kept the historic character while adding 84 guest rooms with contemporary design that respects the building's past. Rooms blend modern comfort with original details—exposed brick, arched windows, and views of either the forest or the lake. The restaurant sources from Pacific Northwest farms and fisheries with a menu that changes seasonally. There's a small spa, a pool, and direct trail access into the park. You can kayak the lake, hike the forest, or just disconnect in a setting that feels wilderness-adjacent while staying close to the city. This works as both a Seattle base with nature access and a destination in itself. Real PNW forest without flying to the Olympic Peninsula.
Tasmania, Australia - The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart
Tasmania is Australia's most underrated destination—dramatic wilderness, pristine coastline, exceptional food and wine, and none of the crowds hitting the mainland. Hobart, the capital, sits on the Derwent River with Mount Wellington looming behind the city. The waterfront has 19th-century sandstone warehouses converted into restaurants, galleries, and the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)—Tasmania's polarizing contemporary art museum that's worth the visit. Use Hobart as your base for exploring the island: Cradle Mountain and the Overland Track for serious hiking, Freycinet Peninsula for beaches and granite peaks, Port Arthur for convict history, and the Tasman Peninsula for dramatic coastal cliffs.
The Tasman sits on Hobart's waterfront in a restored 1840s building with 152 rooms. The design nods to Tasmania's history without being kitschy—exposed brick, high ceilings, and interiors that balance heritage with contemporary luxury. Rooms have river or city views with comfortable beds and bathrooms that work. The restaurant showcases Tasmanian produce and wine—oysters, abalone, cool-climate wines, grass-fed beef. There's a spa and a rooftop bar overlooking the harbor. Staff know the island and can arrange day trips, multi-day hikes, and winery visits.
Banff, Alberta - Fairmont Banff Springs
Banff National Park is the Canadian Rockies' most accessible wilderness—turquoise lakes, glacier-fed rivers, peaks over 10,000 feet, and wildlife (elk, bears, bighorn sheep) visible from the road. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are the Instagram icons, but they earned the attention. Johnston Canyon, the Banff Gondola, and Cave and Basin National Historic Site round out the must-sees. The town of Banff sits in the middle of the park with restaurants, gear shops, and tourist infrastructure.
Fairmont Banff Springs opened in 1888 as a railway hotel and still dominates the landscape—castle-like architecture that's iconic for a reason. The property has 764 rooms ranging from standard to suites; pay for the mountain view upgrade. Multiple restaurants cover casual to fine dining, a full-service spa uses Canadian botanicals, and there's a golf course if that's your thing. The pool is historic and worth seeing even if you don't swim. Despite the size, service remains strong, and staff know the park intimately—trails, timing, and how to avoid crowds. You're minutes from Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Johnston Canyon, and every major park attraction. A Parks Canada pass is required for entry and worth every dollar.
Photo courtesy of La Fortuna
La Fortuna, Costa Rica - Nayara Tented Camp
Arenal Volcano—Costa Rica's most active volcano until 2010—dominates the landscape around La Fortuna. The cone-shaped peak is visible from most of the town and surrounding properties, and the region's volcanic activity feeds natural hot springs scattered throughout the area. Beyond the volcano, the region offers rainforest hikes, waterfall rappelling, white-water rafting, and wildlife viewing—sloths, toucans, howler monkeys, and poison dart frogs are commonly spotted.
Nayara Tented Camp sits inside the resort's private reserve with direct rainforest access and Arenal views. The 25 tented suites have canvas walls, but don't mistake this for camping—real beds, private plunge pools fed by natural hot springs, open-air showers that work because of the climate, and interiors that balance luxury with the setting. The camp offers all-inclusive packages if you want meals and activities bundled. Guided hikes take you through primary rainforest with naturalist guides who know where to spot wildlife. The property has a spa, multiple restaurants serving Costa Rican and international cuisine, and pools fed by volcanic hot springs. This is rainforest immersion with luxury that doesn't apologize for comfort. You're here to disconnect, watch wildlife, and soak in hot springs while surrounded by primary forest.
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