Mirbeau Inn and Spa

Surrounded by a dozen acres of parkland and a dense stand of 100-foot high spruce trees, the Mirbeau Inn and Spa is just a short distance from glacial Skaneateles Lake, one of the country's cleanest and most picturesque bodies of fresh water. The resort's secluded location, French country architecture, and Monet-inspired gardens make it a popular destination for romantic getaways and tranquil interludes.

The six buildings of the Mirbeau Inn and Spa house 34 guest rooms, sixteen of which are located in four cozy cottages. Another 18 rooms occupy two residential floors above the spa. All units come with fireplaces in the sitting area, either one king or two queen beds, oversized bathrooms, walk-in showers, soaking tubs, and double sinks. First-floor lodgings feature private patios.

Two noteworthy aspects of the Mirbeau are its 14,000-square-foot luxury spa and its gourmet dining room. The former offers massages, body wraps, and facial treatments, an aerobic exercise and weight room, a motion and dance studio, steam baths, saunas, a nail salon, and a retail gift shop. The latter serves estate cuisine, using indigenous ingredients, from farm fresh eggs and heirloom produce to trout from nearby lakes and locally raised poultry, lamb, pork, and venison.

The Mirbeau Inn and Spa is located in central New York State's Finger Lakes Region, roughly 20 miles southwest of Syracuse and about 60 miles to the southeast of Rochester. The address is 851 West Genesee Street Road, Skaneateles, New York 13152-9303.