Thanksgiving is a week away and families across the US are finalizing plans to commune around their designated dinner table.  Most gatherings will be in the dining rooms of a parent, aunt, brother, sister, etc., etc., but some groups will choose to get out of familiar holiday surroundings and take unique trips.  There are several options in Thanksgiving travel packages, including luxurious retreats.

One holiday escape can be found at the Dunton Hot Springs Resort, across the mountain from Telluride in the Colorado Rockies.  Their Thanksgiving Food & Wine Package includes four nights in one of the resort's authentic restored mining cabins, a traditional Thanksgiving feast, day trip to Sutcliffe Vineyards, complimentary bottle of wine, and a spa treatment of your choice. 

Like countless others, I'll be gathered around my dining table filled with turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings; but the experience at Dunton Hot Springs certainly offers something unique for the crowd looking for the less customary.

In my early 20s I discovered something that would help shape the next decade of my life: whiskey.  Not in a negative way, mind you, but an educational way.  I am fascinated by the distilling process and all else that goes into the creation of a fine whiskey.  The occasional drink of the finished product only serves as a celebratory culmination of the entire process.

Recently, White & Mackay, owner of The Dalmore brand, announced a limited release of a rare Scotch whiskey much older than my love affair with the hooch.  The Dalmore 50yo was first distilled 140 years ago and offers a rare taste of an era gone by.  Also rare is the whiskey's availability, with only 191 hand-blown Portuguese decanters being created, each individually numbered and accompanied by a handwritten and signed letter from The Dalmore's creator.  A £5,000 bottle could be the centerpiece in the collection of any whiskey connoisseur.

While several luxury homes listed on LuxuryPortfolio.com could be considered works of art in their own right, there is a singularly special property that was home to an icon of American painting.  This home located in the historic village of Galisteo, New Mexico served as the studio and retreat of famed artist Agnes Martin. 

Ms. Martin studied art at Columbia University in New York and later at University of New Mexico.  Her work emphasizes subtle color, lines and grids that often show the touch of the artist's hand with intended imperfections.  She created the adobe studio and rammed-earth home in the 1980s and lived and worked there for a decade.  The home has been updated and renovated, yet it still retains the original aesthetic and remains a representation of Agnes Martin's unique artistic style.

The property is listed by Santa Fe Realty Partners; more details and photos can be found here.

The way my kitchen is set up, I have to uncomfortably crane my neck while cooking in order to see the TV.  A petty quibble for sure, but one that could be corrected with a stylish VELA LCD TV Rangehood from ILIVE.  My eyes could easily travel from the steaming vegetables or pots of pasta up to the 10-inch flat LCD monitor built into right into the range hood.

The VELA is the creation of Italian designer Marco Valerio Agretti and combines form and function.  Not only sleek and contemporary, the range hood is powerful enough to remove the most intense cooking fumes.  It is a great addition to the modern kitchen that is the heart of the home.

A historically majestic Dutch gable sits atop the former Rowena Memorial School, which educated students in and around Palenville, New York for 70 years beginning at the dawn of the 20th century.  Built in 1899, fascinating history is also seen in the solid stones and clock located above the entrance.

Over 100 years after its construction the Rowena Memorial School no longer hosts knowledge-seeking students, however it is still a place for amazing discovery. The school has been restored and transformed into a landmark combination of two bedroom residence, studio, and office space unlike any other.  School rooms that occupied the first floor are now ideal office spaces.  Retractable chalkboard walls remain part of the original woodwork. 

See additional photos and learn more about this momentous building here.  It is currently listed at $1,470,000 by Westwood Metes & Bounds Realty.

Luxury Swiss watchmaker Raymond Weil is well-known for its fabulous timepieces.  A recent introduction into their impressive collection was the Cuore Caldo Split-Seconds Chronograph, which allows the timing of two different time intervals.  Limited to 500 pieces, the watch also features 18 carat pink gold in and surrounding the striking black dial, 31 rubies and a vulcanized strap to go along with impressive technical specs.

Weil has also incorporated its product line expansion into the release of this extraordinary watch.  The 500 purchasers of the Cuore Caldo will also receive a box set including a pair of gold-plate, steel and carbon fibre cufflinks, as well as a brass/carbon fibre ballpoint pen.  These fine accessories mirror the style of the Cuore Caldo and continue the tradition of fine Raymond Weil craftsmanship.

The Nomad Cook by Pyrolave looks like something you might see pushed through the halls of the Starship Enterprise in a Star Trek rerun.  Though futuristic in design and performance, one does not have to travel to the final frontier to obtain a Nomad Cook of their own.  The innovative mobile cooking unit has an instantaneous induction source below the lava stone surface (I think that means it gets hot quickly through fancier means than your average stove).  The unit is easy to use and clean, and is perfect for outdoor entertaining or indoor gatherings during the upcoming winter months.  With its sleek design and color options, Nomad Cook is a great addition to any decor, while also being highly functional.  As stated on their website, it gives you "the freedom to cook whenever and wherever you want."  And also to do it in style.

Not so long ago, being environmentally conscious seemed to be synonymous with minimalism.   With technological advances, a concentration on sustainable materials, and a greater desire of consumers to become eco-friendly, "going green" no longer has to mean huge sacrifice.  In fact, those used to the finer things in life are now demanding the finest things in green living to incorporate into their luxury lifestyle, pointing towards society's growing environmental awareness.

Modern luxury homes are at the forefront of the green movement.  One such example is a spectacular home in Boulder, Colorado dubbed "The Next West Home." The groundbreaking Boulder luxury home is the first LEED platinum, Net Zero Carbon residence in America.  Utilizing the latest green technologies, the home features hybrid solar, geo-exchange heating and cooling, a direct plumbing system, closed cell foam super insulation and LED lighting.  Sustainable materials used in construction include FSC harvested wood, low and no VOC paints and 100-year-old recycled brick.

The home beautifully combines its sustainability with a commitment to quality and luxury.  The top-of-the-line kitchen appliances are Energy Star rated, custom wood doors and floors are crafted from FSC certified American walnut, and the heated garage is pre-wired for an electric/rechargeable car.

This landmark property shows what can be accomplished when luxury comes together with an emphasis on green building and renewable energy sources.  It is currently listed at $3,400,000 by Colorado Landmark, Realtors.

There's a chill in the Chicago air and all around are signs of season change.  Browning leaves are tumbling to the ground and windows that had remained open the previous month are now sealed.  The cold of the tile floor in my bathroom penetrating the bottom of my feet this morning served as a reminder to break out the slippers and consider a change to the currently packed away warmer bed sheets.

Maybe if my bed were covered with Charlotte Thomas Bespoke sheets, the thought of changing bedding would never enter my mind.  The luxurious 'Bespoke' collection is handmade with 22 carat gold thread woven into the fabric.  Thousand-count Egyptian wool makes the sheets singular in their elegant feel and look.  Each order is made for the individual customer and can take 12 weeks to complete while the rare fabrics are collected.  The time it takes is certainly worth it, as the careful craftsmanship leads to luxury bedding that will be treasured in any climate at any time of year.

In 1825 Paul Coalson purchased 750 acres of land in Georgia for one dollar an acre.  This began a long and interesting history for the property, which is now the historic Coalson Plantation & Inn located in Thomasville, Georgia. 

It is believed that Coalson built the original main house- which remains the core of the inn today.  After serving as a cotton plantation during the Civil War, the property was transformed into a hunting resort by new owner Howard Melville Hanna, a shipping-oil-steel magnate.  The property stayed in the Hanna family for years which saw the additions of the Pool House and The Showboat Theater, where the first private screening of the classic film Gone with the Wind was held.

Today, the Coalson Plantation & Inn offers luxury that recalls the elegance of a past era.  Among the 33 rooms are truly unique accommodations including the Melrose Suite - the former bedroom of Howard Melville Hanna, the regal Winnstead Suite, and the romantic Hibernia Cottage.  Blended with the charms of the past are the amenities of today, with an indoor pool, tennis courts and fitness center.  Mr. Coalson's $750 has certainly been stretched into a priceless luxury experience.

Now, that expereince offered by the luxury property is on the market. Currenly listed at $9,875,000 by Harry Norman Realtors, the Coalson Plantation & Inn is a truly unique and special piece of luxury real estate.