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When Adriana Mnuchin and her daughter, Lisa Hedley, began to design the Mayflower Spa in Washington, Connecticut, a few years ago, they traveled the world looking for inspiration. But in the end, they decided to create a destination spa that would center on and celebrate the surrounding landscape. And celebrate it it does, from the floor-to-ceiling windows that blur the lines between the cosseting interior and the countryside to the market-driven menu that makes the most of seasonal produce from nearby farms.

That the spa has been an enormous success since it opened in 2006 is no surprise, given the Mnuchin family’s track record with the spa’s mother ship, the Mayflower Inn. When Adriana and her husband, Robert Mnuchin, first bought the property and began a meticulous renovation of the main house in 1990, neither of them had a background in the hotel industry. He was a recently retired Goldman Sachs executive, she the founder of Cashmere Cashmere. With fine taste and a personal touch, they transformed it into a thirty-room New England classic, full of hand-chosen antiques and oriental rugs. Today, it’s a delightful combination of impeccable details—manicured lawns, formal gardens, canopied feather beds—and warmth.

The 20,000-square-foot spa shares the fifty-eight-acre grounds, but is set a short walk from the inn and feels nicely separated. From the outside, it has the same aesthetic, but the inside is a revelation. The heart of the place is the Garden Room, with an entire wall of fourteen-foot-high windows overlooking pine trees and Blue Heron Pond. Everywhere there is beauty and balance. The walls are painted the palest eggshell blue, with plush white armchairs, ice blue chenille blankets, shimmering mercury glass and exquisite art, most notably a giant De Kooning on the wall. It is so serene and welcoming, you could imagine never leaving. Equally lovely are the sunny yoga and pilates studio, the eight treatment rooms, two steam rooms, the hammam-like “thermal sanctuary” and the heated indoor pool, which is surrounded by paned windows.

Destination spa goers sign up for stays of three to five days, paying a flat fee that covers rooms, meals, unlimited spa treatments and activities, and highly personalized service. (Guests of the inn may not use the spa facilities during the week; instead, they receive treatments at the main house.) Before you arrive, someone from the spa contacts you to review your specific goals and preferences and to customize your schedule. I was pregnant at the time of my recent visit and not especially fit, but curiosity led me to sign up for back-to-back activities. As my stay approached, I began to worry that I’d overcommitted myself and would end up the exhausted straggler adrift in a group of toned, energetic women. Luckily, I could not have been more wrong.

One of the marvelous things about the Mayflower is that it serves so few people at a time (a maximum of twenty guests) that classes feel semi-private and are tailored to the level of the participants. The brisk 7 a.m. walk along a riverbank, afternoon yoga, and fly-fishing lesson on the pond left me feeling invigorated, and my massage and facial were sublime. The staff is exceptionally attentive and refreshingly unpreachy. After long, thoughtful conversations with nutritionist Cheryl Zielke, chef Steve Mannino and spa director Helen Brown, I came away with really smart, helpful, doable advice for nudging my lifestyle in a healthier direction. I departed relaxed, inspired and determined to return. The spa may be beautiful inside and out, but the real gift is that it leaves guests feeling that way too. From $4,800 for a three-day destination spa package; two night getaways with à la carte treatments from $1,750.

Who Should Go: Most groups are women-only; however, there are some couples weeks. You don’t need to be in great shape, although those who are will find plenty of stimulation. While I was there, one woman (on her seventh visit) took a very solitary, spiritual approach, devoting her time to meditation and treatments, while a fun, high-energy couple from Atlanta spent their days sampling all sorts of outdoor group activities. The bespoke service and intimate atmosphere makes the Mayflower a wonderful option for mother/daughter bonding or a girlfriends’ getaway.

Getting There: The small town of Washington, full of maple-shaded lanes and white clapboard houses, is a two-hour drive north of New York City.

When to Go: I went in summer, which was divine, with the garden in full bloom and dinner served on the terrace. Warm weather sports include kayaking, biking, archery and hiking. In the winter, there’s snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. I would love to go back in the fall when the leaves are at their peak.

Activities: The classes are superb, ranging from yoga, pilates, ballet and body sculpting to more distinctive choices like Funk and Fun, a cardio-dance fusion mix. Next time, I vow to try Pumped Up Playground, a workout that’s set to music and full of games you haven’t played since you were a kid, like double-dutch. Treatments include facials, scrubs, acupuncture and massages, as well as more spiritual experiences like meditation, chakra balancing, guided imaging and “soul-enhancing rituals” in the thermal sanctuary.

Accommodations: The suites in the Allerton building, adjacent to the spa, are spacious and luxurious, with over-the-top furnishings and amenities, including Frette linens, flat-screen TVs and WiFi. Mine had a four poster draped in silk, a fireplace, a bookshelf stocked with Nancy Mitford and Penelope Lively, a bathroom with double marble sinks, an enormous soaking tub and a steam shower. An especially nice touch was the customized MP3 player that I found on my pillow with soothing music to put me to sleep.

Spa Cuisine: I was concerned that, being pregnant, I would feel deprived trying to subsist on spa fare. But after a breakfast of toasted quinoa granola, raspberries, an egg-white omelet, pomegranate juice and coffee, I was a convert. I filled up happily on delicious dishes that were full of fresh produce, lean protein and such healthy ingredients as flaxseed. Breakfast and dinner are served in a special dining room in the inn, with a terrace overlooking the garden. Lunch is a buffet at the blue loggia in the spa. You may dine alone or with the group, as you wish. Be sure to try the salad with truffle vinaigrette.