Nemacolin: Luxury Accommodations for Families
Our drive from Baltimore to Farmington, Pennsylvania was a scenic and peaceful one. The three hours seemed to fly by as we cruised through dynamite-blown passageways of the Allegheny mountains into the Laurel Highlands. As our car’s engine revved into the next gear to make the steep climb, I couldn’t help but wonder how the early settlers made it through elevations of wilderness on their trek westward. Once we arrive at Nemacolin Woodland Resort, we figure out our own “why”.
Pulling up to the Chateau, one of six accommodation options at Nemacolin, we were immediately impressed. Valet were ready and waiting with carts and a smile. The Chateau’s lobby reminded me of the Ritz in London, though it was inspired by the one in Paris. Regardless of the country, it is grand – from the chandeliers to the artwork to the furnishings. I couldn’t wait to see what my room looked like.
Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed. Our bell man showed us around the suite, explaining how to use everything. He wasn’t explicit in his explanation of how the mini bar, jar of cashews and gummy bears worked – just saying “Here are your snacks, refreshments, and cordials, and here is the key.” Later on my oldest had his eyes fixated on the gummy bears, one arm length short of opening it until my husband checked a price list to see $9 price tag staring back. Disappointed, my eight-year old got a lesson in math and comparative pricing that day.
Our room was spacious – the crystal chandelier and coffered ceiling adding even more depth to the space. Our family of four never felt cramped in the room. My four year old had enough square footage to build up speed, running from one end to the next, while my oldest had ample hiding spaces for his Lego men.
All in all, aside from a fridge to store things, the room had everything we needed. What excited me most was the bathroom’s double vanity! A small detail but it’s always a plus when I get a little space to myself. 🙂
This is Nemacolin Woodland Resorts
I first heard about Nemacolin Woodland Resorts in Farmington, PA a few years ago from a friend whose husband went to the resort for a business trip. She intrigued my interest when she ranted and raved about how gorgeous and luxurious the rooms were, how awesome of a spa experience she had, and all the things they had on site for families to do.
As soon as I got a chance to get in front of my computer, I looked them up and fell in love. A three hour drive from the Baltimore area, I figured I’d make my way up to the area at some point. Fast forward a few years and I’m travel-writing about luxury destinations for families in the Mid-Atlantic area. Guess who makes it to the top of my list?
Now, I don’t get overly excited about too many things but when I do, it becomes an obsession – to the point where if someone didn’t know me and was listening to me, or reading what I wrote, they’d think I was trying to sell them something. I’m picky and very discriminatory about goods and services, as any consumer should be, but I give it up that I may be more particular than most.
What I can say about Nemacolin, doing my best not to sound like a sales agent or ambassador of theirs (which by the way, I’m not) is that I LOVE THIS PLACE! Case in point, the Woodlands Spa was so peaceful and serene, I had the hardest time leaving on Sunday. I had this pool all to myself:
It can be hard to separate the lines between reporter and consumer when on assignment, though I honestly try. However, Nemacolin challenged me on so many levels to remain neutral and experience their resort from a reviewer’s eye. It didn’t help that my husband and boys accompanied me and were enjoying themselves immensely. Seeing a smile on their face, hearing no complaints, and laughing at their bewilderment every time we stumbled upon something short of amazing, blurred the lines even more.
There’s so much to talk about in regards to this resort because honestly, there’s so much to do there. So much so that I’m going to break up my coverage of Nemacolin into different posts. At this point, I’m already at 300+ words and don’t want to overwhelm you.
I tried to take in as much as I could in my 36 hours on the property with family in tow, but it just wasn’t enough time. That being said, this first post in the Nemacolin series is a simple snapshot of the resort and my overall thumbs up.
Each picture you’ve seen within represents the subject matter of more detailed follow-up posts: “Accommodations”, “Skiing at Nemacolin”, “The Spa”, “Wine and Cigars”, “Other Things To Do.” Please leave me a comment if you’ve ever visited the resort or been somewhere similar. I’d love to hear about your experiences.
Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Today our family sat down to read a children’s book that spoke about the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the role that even young children played in the struggle for Civil Rights. My son and husband alternated reading this story about two little girls who would sing for Dr. King. Then we watched the History Channel to get a more three-dimensional account of his life and his journey. We sat on the couch as a family, listened and paid homage to the spirit of a man who did so much so that we could have a fair chance in the United States.
If you ever have the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. or Baltimore, you must make it a point to travel to the Tidal Basin and visit the Memorial for Dr. King. I doubt you will leave that space unmoved. Accompanied by my mother, sister, and nephews, we visited the memorial last summer. Even under the oppression of the humidity and the crowd, my soul felt uplifted and in the presence of greatness. It was as if the spirit of Dr. King and all the soldiers that fought the good fight were there peering at us., just as we were looking at this stone likeness of him.
Exercise Outdoors While on Vacation and See More
On this January day, I did something a little different. I left my iPod at home and went for a run. Now normally, I’d tell you that I can’t run without my music, but that’s not exactly the case. It’s that I choose not to run without my music because running doesn’t excite me. I just like the fringe benefits.
Not having my music changed my running experience completely. I wasn’t tied up in DJ Khalil’s “All I do is win” mantra or Kanye West’s blubbering. I was alone with my thoughts, my breathing, my rhythm, my surroundings. I brainstormed and reminisced.
I thought about the enjoyment I got from running in the Cayman Islands last summer. Determined not to miss a day of training before my upcoming triathlon, I ran through the neighborhood outside the resort. It gave me a totally different feel for the island. For one, I gratefully realized how flat it was.
Second, I noticed that there were no sidewalks to run on. The streets seemed never-ending, forcing me to play self-motivating mental games. “Just make it to the end of the road, just make it to the end of the road”, I gasped to myself through the Caymanian heat.
The free-roaming chickens and the bastardly-looking iguanas made for good distractions. I tracked them with my eyes as I passed them making sure they wouldn’t attack. They were un-phased by both me and the humidity, clucking and slithering on with their little lives.
Locals passed by, either walking or running, and at those moments I felt like one of them. I didn’t feel like a tourist, I didn’t feel like an outsider. We were all doing the same thing.
Exercising outdoors in another country can give you a different perspective of a place. You see more, you smell more, you hear more, you taste more. I had a chance to take in the architectural details of the homes and imagine myself living there. I didn’t notice any of those things when we were driving around in the rental, which, I might say, is akin to me running with the “noise” of my music when I’m at home – just trying to get from A to Z but missing all the beauty of the details in between.
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