Krissa Rossbund

Sarah Ann Knier knows what she likes. She confidently invests in furnishings that are destined to endure. When she relocated from New York City to Richmond, Virginia, in 2011 with her husband, Whit, and their son, a curated collection was already in place. The years that followed welcomed additions of varying kinds: two more children, several decorative acquisitions, and a move to a different house in the same neighborhood, where the foundation of their interiors remained strong.

Pass through the main gate of Tuxedo Park, New York, and it’s easy to get swept up in history. Roads bordered by rustic stone walls twist their way to Gilded Age estates, where grand homes in a cornucopia of architectural styles nestle among century-old trees. It’s hard to imagine an address more rooted in formality and more well-mannered than Tuxedo Park.

It’s always a mystery what lies behind a door. But at the Golden Door resort, the legendary wellness retreat tucked against the hills of San Marcos, California, about 30 minutes north of San Diego, what awaits is far more than luxury—it’s transformation. The retreat lends wellness in all its forms. Days begin before sunrise with invigorating hikes through the surrounding hills.