Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
Bedford Springs Resort
History: Dignitaries and presidents have bathed in these natural springs for over 200 years.
Travel time: Two hours
Accommodations: Traditional patterns and textures with an updated appeal. Many rooms include a porch or balcony with rocking chairs. All rooms include flat screen televisions, iPod docking stations, and wireless Internet.
Pampering: Tea and fresh baked cookies in the lobby every afternoon.The Eternal Springs spa offers a can’t-miss Bedford Bath Ritual.
Leaving the Room: Grab the walking sticks provided in each room and take a hike on the grounds to view eight natural springs. During the day, golf one of the oldest courses in the country or relax by the outdoor pool. AT night, sit and enjoy the open sky at the fire pit.
Signature Touch: One of the country’s first indoor pools, renovated with tiles original and filled with natural spring water
Bottom Line: Rates from $259 a night, 2138 Business Route 220, Bedford Pa., 15522, 814-623-8100
Bedford Springs Resort
Bedford Springs features an indoor heated spring water pool, one of the country's first
Lambertville House
Location: Lambertville, NJ
History: Traces back to the early 1800s with Presidents Jackson and Grant on their roster of guests.
Travel Time: Three and half hours.
Accommodations: Separate tiled lounge area (complete with huge, jetted tub) with doors opening to a veranda overlooking hotel courtyard; in-room fireplaces.
Pampering: Turn-down service, continental breakfast, and top-notch staff who will keep a bottle chilling until you’re ready to walk to the B.Y.O.B. restaurant.
Leaving the Room: Neighboring town New Hope is home to the New Hope School of landscape painting, also known as “Pennsylvania Impressionism.” Ergo, galleries galore, as well as shops filled with designer goods, unique books and jewelry, and mid-century modern furniture.
Signature Touch: Be sure to stop at Hamilton’s Grill Room, which has wonderful steaks, chops, and seafood.
Bottom Line: Rates from $300 a night, 32 Bridge Street, Lambertville N.J., 08350, 888-867-8859
Lambertville House
A luxury suite at Lambertville House
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
Location: Farmington, PA
History: Pittsburgh industrialist Willard R. Rockwell established a private game reserve in the Laurel Highlands on what is now Nemacolin Woodlands 3,000 acre resort.
Travel Time: Four hours.
Accomodations: “Club Level” is key-access only and features 24-hour butler service and lounge with breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails. Rooms are modeled after the Ritz in Paris – vaulted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and French doors opening onto wrought-iron balconies.
Pampering: The Woodlands Spa offers a three-step thermal mineral kur (an organic rhassoul clay wrap, a seawater bath with pressure-point pounding jets, and a full-body massage).
Leaving the Room: Shooting academy, golf, the Adventure Center, and Wildlife Academy, the Off-Road Driving Academy.
Signature Touch: Tea room, cigar bar, wine academy (Nemacolin has over 17,000 bottles) and tours of a $45 million dollar art collection.
Bottom Line: Rates from $300 a night, 1001 LaFayette Drive, Farmington, Pa., 15437, 800-422-2736
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
The indoor pool at the Woodlands Spa
Rittenhouse 1715
Location: Philadelphia, PA
History: Within walking distance of the best Philadelphia has to offer – from museums to cheesesteaks.
Travel Time: Three hours.
Accommodations: “Deluxe” offers fireplace, flat screen plasma television, bathroom stocked with Molton Brown amenities, and waterfall showerhead.
Pampering: Complimentary wine tastings in hotel drawing room. In the morning, don’t miss the lavish continental breakfast featuring muffins, pastries, and coffee.
Leaving the Room: Shop until you drop on Walnut Street (Ralph Lauren, Tiffany and Co., Burberry, Coach). Caprogiro (117 South 20th St.) has 27 flavors of gelato made fresh each morning. Sonny’s Famous Steaks (228 Market St.), slings authentic Philly cheesesteaks.
Signature Touch: Literally in the heart of the city; enjoy the indoor retreat-style comfort contrasted with the outside vibrancy of an urban landscape.
Bottom Line: Rates from $310 a night, 1715 Rittenhouse Square St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19103, 877-791-6500
Rittenhouse 1715
Though built in the early 1900s, all rooms at Rittenhouse 1715 have modern amenities such as plasma televisions
