The 4-Hour Rule: Warrensburg

Stipulated: the perfect travel time for a three-day weekend getaway is four hours. More, and you waste your vacation. Less, and you’re still near home. Hence our series, The Four-Hour Rule, dedicated to revealing the best destinations that are far away, yet still close to home.

This week, we’re heading up north to newfound hideaway The Brampton, where the skiing, transport, eats and spirits are all taken care of. All you need to worry about is bringing a good attitude.

GO
BOOK by Cadillac, the on-demand subscription service, comes in mighty handy for getting out of Dodge. They’re delivered to your door, which comes in handy during Friday rush hour. And the ability to choose the 2017 XT5 with drift-killing AWD will certainly work in your favor where we’re going.

SLEEP
The Brampton is your new home away from home. Tucked away on 10 acres of secluded woodlands, it’s the adult sleepaway camp we’ve been waiting for. You’re in store for a 3,000-square-foot traditional cabin complete with two fireplaces, a gratis beer and wine bar, pool table, wifi and a screened-in hot tub for gazing out on snow-crusted pines. Also included: an on-site private chef providing top-notch, locally sourced, family-style fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and an on-site manager for all transport and logistical needs. To boot, should you not care to trek up to the mountain yourself, they offer a shuttle service to-and-from Manhattan.

EAT
Any and all gustatory needs will be met by the Brampton’s in-house chef, so you’re well-advised to just sit back and relax. But should you feel the need to venture, the riverside Grist Mill, romantic Friend’s Lake Inn or stately Sagamore are all a stone’s throw away.

DO
If it’s adventure you’re seeking, Gore Mountain is your bet. Just a 15-minute drive from the cabin, it had the freshest of fresh powder when we visited. If a more leisurely experience is what you had in mind, there’s loads of snowshoeing and hiking to be had right out the door of the Brampton. And if relaxation is what you’re after, you’ll find it’s a fine place to do nothing at all.

Brampton photos courtesy of  Ethan Covey