The Evolution of Luxury: From Lounging to Learning

Luxury travel used to center on indulgence and relaxation; poolside cocktails, lavish spa treatments, and meticulously presented set-piece dinners-but today, we’re seeking something deeper, that connects us closer with the people and places we visit.

A new generation of rural properties—ranging from working ranches to some of the most luxurious escapes in the country—embody this shift, inviting guests to engage with their surroundings rather than simply having them served up from a distance.

Whether lending a hand in the production of high-alpine goat’s cheese, meeting the trusted Lagotto truffle dogs or foraging for edible herbs, these experiences go beyond getting your hands dirty—they offer a chance to touch, taste, and truly learn.

Learn the Art of Truffle Hunting | Blackberry Farm

Blackberry Farm is an idyllic retreat sitting at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains in Walland, Tennessee. It’s also an active farmstead, home to a flock of Friesian, Lacaune and Assaf sheep, heritage chickens, gaggles of turkey, Lagotto truffle dogs, and two resident donkeys named Sally and Daphne who make it their business to protect the flock–not to mention a garden, bee colony, larder and creamery. 

Blackberry Farm prides itself on its sustainable agriculture practices–all of which guests are encouraged to join when visiting. Choose from assisting the cheesemakers as they produce sheep’s milk from the farm’s predominately East Friesian flock, visiting the Preservation Kitchen to learn about small-batch preserves like pickled okra and smoked onion jam, hunt for truffles alongside the property’s trusted Lagotto truffle dogs, visiting the farm animals as they wander the farm’s vast pastures, explore the many herbs, vegetables and flowers in the garden, and sit down with farming experts to learn a thing or two about topics ranging from beekeeping to mushroom foraging to Appalachian tradition of seed saving.

This farm experience is best paired with: 11 Best American Road Trips

Learn the Craft of American Homesteading | TA Ranch

Set on an authentic 8,000-acre, multi-generational cattle ranch with historic buildings dating back to the 1880s, TA Ranch offers a rich homestead experience. With homesteading operations revolving around sustainability and self-reliance in the resource barren landscape of North-Eastern Wyoming, travelers can immerse themselves in the life of a true homesteader, getting your hands dirty and doing the day-to-day work that needs to be done to keep the ranch in motion.

The Madsen family and ranch staff guide visitors through physical demonstrations and work sessions—everything from bee pollination to caring for chickens, ducks, and goats, moving waterlines and cattle management —bringing modern homesteading to life.

This farm experience is best paired with: Yellowstone and Grand Teton Luxury Road Trip

Learn Regenerative Farming Techniques | The Lodge at Blue Sky

Gracie’s Farm at the Lodge at Blue Sky is a one-acre regenerative farm that grows over 100 varieties of crops—from tomatoes and leafy greens to medicinal herbs and edible flowers—using sustainable, no-till methods. This is farm-to-table ethos living in action; honey from the bee colony is used at Yuta, wildflowers are incorporated into spa treatments, freshly sourced produce is incorporated into Blue Sky’s menus, and food donations are taken to the People’s Health Clinic in Park City.

For those seeking a deeper connection to the land, guests at the Lodge at Blue Sky can get involved directly with the farm—gathering fresh eggs for the chef to scramble up for breakfast, foraging walks that explore wild edibles around the farm, beekeeping demos and honey tastings from the farm’s hives, herb drying or flower pressing workshops using fresh-cut ingredients, getting to know the many animals on site, touring the farm and garden grounds, and accompanying the knowledgeable team of FarmHers on their daily farm tasks. 

This farm experience is best paired with: The Red Rock and Canyon Country of Arizona and Utah

Become a Cheesemaker’s Apprentice for the Day | Brush Creek Ranch

At the heart of Brush Creek Ranch lies a thriving regenerative agricultural ecosystem: three expansive greenhouses growing over 80 seasonal crop varieties no matter the season, a cutting-edge hydroponic system, and the Medicine Bow Creamery—Wyoming’s only Grade-A goat dairy—home to a herd of Alpine, Nubian and Nigerian goats.

Here, visitors can immerse themselves in this high-alpine farming approach—meeting the goat herd, getting involved with the cheese-aging process, and learning regenerative creamery practices from passionate experts. Culinary enthusiasts can dive deeper with intro cheesemaking classes that cover everything from milking to aging, or even become an apprentice for the day learning alongside experts, getting a hands-on look at sustainable food systems at the ranch.

This farm experience is best paired with: Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota Luxury Road Trip

If you’re ready to start planning your journey—we’re here to make it happen.

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