The Mane Attraction

HAP Weekly

The Mane Attraction

The ultimate "horse girl" escapes, low-key bachelorettes, and why Jackson Hole's hotel scene deserves your attention.

Our Top Reads This Week

HAP WEEKLY

5 Horse-Loving Boutique Hotels for an Unforgettable Equestrian Escape

By Stacey Leasca

In early September, our friends at Glamour declared that we’re once again in Horse Girl Fall. As a lifelong rider, I applaud the effort to look the part. But if you want to take it a step further, skip the costume and saddle up for real at a horse-loving boutique hotel.

For the ultimate in cowboy chic, head right to western Montana and check into Alpine Falls Ranch, an 11-room retreat outside Superior. “Alpine Falls Ranch offers something increasingly rare: a highly personal riding experience amid more than 800 acres of Montana ranchland,” said Jason Pittman, the ranch’s manager. Beginners don’t need to sit this one out, either. “First-time or apprehensive riders can begin with instruction in the arena on specially trained beginner horses,” Jason said. And riders who can’t bear to leave their own horse behind don’t have to, since the ranch will put it up for the duration of the visit.

Or horse lovers can head south to Argentina’s Pampas for La Bamba de Areco, a 1800s ranch estate two hours from Buenos Aires that’s been lovingly brought back to life, with every one of its 10 rooms honoring a famous horse by name. Polo is a way of life here, according to Caroline Labbé, a private travel advisor at Labbé Travel. “The estancia has its own polo team and fields, where guests can watch training sessions and matches during the season,” Caroline said. At Alpine Falls, riders of every level are welcome. And non-riders get their own reward: a seat at a traditional Argentine asado.

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At Kay El Bar Guest Ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona, guests can enjoy both horsemanship and history, as the ranch is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “We offer daily riding in a spectacular Sonoran Desert setting, in slot canyons, up rocky cliffs and along the seasonal Hassayampa River,” said Russell True, managing partner of True Ranch Collection. His advice for first-timers is to be upfront about their experience. “Make sure the ranch has an accurate picture of your riding experience and confidence,” Russell said. Plan around the calendar, too, since the ranch only operates in the cooler months, from early October to early May.

In Morocco, the Bennani-Smires family runs Selman Marrakech, a palace-style hotel near the Atlas Mountains designed by French decorator Jacques Garcia. Its prized Arabian horses are the star attraction, and Caroline said guests don’t need to ride to fall for them. “We enjoyed a private presentation of the Arabian horses accompanied by a traditional Moroccan feast,” she said of her own stay. And riders who want to get out of the stables can book a trail ride beyond the city.

And finally, there’s Coworth Park in Ascot, England, a Georgian country house hotel on the edge of Windsor Great Park, with Ascot Racecourse just down the road. Its stables house dozens of horses, and riders can choose between a dressage arena, a showjumping course, and a pair of polo fields for lessons. It’s also an ideal spot for multigenerational trips, since kids as young as 4 can saddle up. So go ahead and invest in those knee-high riding boots. Just make sure to get a chic little helmet, too.

HAP WEEKLY

The “Relaxorette”—3 Wellness-First Getaways to Escape Wedding Fatigue

By Ruby Gregg

According to my Instagram feed, everyone is getting married.
The endless flood of wedding content feels a little suffocating, and bachelorettes seem to have taken the biggest hit, turning into performances with dress codes and hefty price tags for bar tabs and decor. There is, however, an antidote: The Relaxorette.

If you’re not chronically online and haven’t heard about the phenomenon, it’s a trip built around slowing down and actually spending quality time with your friends, minus the Nashville pedal taverns and matching outfits. For brides who envision a bachelorette of wellness experiences, mountain fireplaces, and hotel suites that can sleep your entire party so the catching up never ends, these three boutique stays will help you kiss outdated “traditions” goodbye.

A weekend of peace and needed sauna-ing awaits you at Scribner's Catskill Lodge. The mountain lodge folds beautifully into the surrounding mountains, centering the hotel around wellness, nature, and quality time. The custom-built Harbor sauna seats up to 12 guests (perfect for a group of bridesmaids), and private yoga, mindfulness, and sound experiences are available on request. As for accommodations, the property’s Round Suites, with gas fireplaces, private decks, and outdoor Japanese soaking tubs, will comfortably accommodate your bridal group and support a truly restorative weekend—one that won’t end without sunset s’mores.

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The Ranch, Malibu, a higher-end option, is for the group that wants to leave feeling better than when they arrived. With locations in the Hudson Valley and Malibu, The Ranch is a structured retreat where wellness, nature, and nourishment come first. With the Santa Monica Mountains as a backdrop, you’ll spend the day hiking, doing yoga, and enjoying family-style meals designed to spark conversation and distract you from everything you left behind at home.

If all else fails, take your group to sunshine and salt water. El Mangroove on Costa Rica’s Papagayo Peninsula is everything you’re looking for. The property sits in a quiet bay rather than on an open surf beach, so you won’t be greeted by crowds. El Magroove is a low-pressure trip with a “do what you want” energy when it comes to activities. Spend your afternoon at the spa, paddleboard around the bay, or just rot by the pool. The only thing on your itinerary is dinner and a laugh with your favorite people.

HAP WEEKLY

Jackson Hole’s Boutique Hotel Scene Is Reaching New Heights

By Lindsay Cohn

Over the last couple of years, Jackson Hole's hospitality scene has seen a chic ascent, shifting from ski-in, ski-out lodges and rustic ranches to a broader mix of design-led in-town boutiques, more accessible lifestyle hotels, and even exclusive private clubs with residences. This shift proves that Jackson Hole's hotels are more than just a place to crash after a day swooshing down the slopes, hiking, or spotting wildlife in Grand Teton National Park.

Hoback Club, Jackson Hole's first and only ski-in, ski-out ultra-luxury private club and residences, opened in January 2026. In May, Hotel Jackson debuted the Retreat at Hotel Jackson, comprising nine new luxury suites, a gorgeous spa, and a rooftop restaurant.

Faraway, with a presence in East Coast summer escapes like Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and Sag Harbor, recently expanded westward with the Faraway Jackson, which completely transformed the old Snake River Lodge with a major dose of contemporary cowboy maximalism in late June.

Trailborn Jackson Hole, which also opened in June, took over the former Snow King Resort. Its revamped interiors, spa, restaurants and bars, and outdoor programming target a younger demographic, including families, who want a resort feel on a more wallet-friendly budget. It was originally founded by former U.S. Olympians Hans and Nancy Johnstone and reimagined by owner Erik Warner.

Alpine House reopened following an extensive alpine-chic renovation by Brooklyn-based Elizabeth Roberts Architects in July. In 2026, Hotel Terra Jackson Hole also completed a $6.98 million multi-phase renovation of its 132 guest rooms and suites, corridors, and wellness facilities.

Hotel Spotlight

The Boutique Hotel We're Obsessed With—Hoshinoya Bali

Hoshinoya Bali is built into the hillside above the Pakerisan River, east of Ubud. Instead of standalone plunge pools, its 30 thatched villas connect directly to three winding pool canals that mimic the island's traditional irrigation network. Inside, the rooms feature hand-carved Balinese wood panels behind the beds and floor-to-ceiling glass.

Beyond the villas, timber gazebos jut out over the edge of the river valley, functioning as open-air lounges set directly into the jungle canopy. The property includes a riverside spa, a restaurant serving Japanese-Balinese fusion tasting menus, and daily cultural sessions like morning yoga and temple offerings, all run with the quiet, service-first structure of a Japanese ryokan.

Editor's Note

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Brandon Berkson, Hotels Above Par