Research shows that Americans work more than people in any country in the industrialized world. We also take fewer vacations and work longer days. These factors combine to provide for a perfect stress storm. In the best of times taking care of our daughters and managing the magazine leaves me frazzled—being the Publisher of Bridgewater Lifestyle has been an amazing experience, but not without its fair share of stressors. Top it off with a pandemic that threw my entire life out of routine, and I was in desperate need of a break. I realized my friend Marla Gaglione, a busy attorney with seven-year-old triplets was feeling equally depleted and we embarked on a mission to plan a relaxing yet fun weekend away.
After an amazing family vacation to Woodloch Resort a few years ago, I was interested in returning to try The Lodge at Woodloch. With all of the current limitations on travel, an adult-only spa resort less than two hours away from Bridgewater felt like the perfect choice. Nestled in the Pocono Mountains, The Lodge is one of the finest all-inclusive luxury destination spa resorts in the country. We are lucky it is so close to us!
After getting our children off to school on a Friday morning in the fall, Marla and I embarked on our adventure. Not wanting to miss out on one of our included meals, upon arrival we headed straight to TREE Restaurant and Bar for lunch. Elevated amongst the treetops with glimpses of the glistening private lake, the restaurant offers a diverse menu that is anything but the ordinary spa cuisine. With a focus on starting with only the best ingredients, the chef hand selects naturally-raised meats, fish, and organic, locally grown vegetables.
The level of serenity at The Lodge is unlike anything I have ever experienced before. When entering the restaurant I noticed a sign stating that this was a cellphone free zone. My weekend at The Lodge was the perfect excuse to go on a digital detox. While I could feel my cellphone buzzing in my pocket, I reminded myself that I wanted to soak in everything The Lodge had to offer, and that included being present for the experience. While I will admit to checking my phone once back in my room at night, these were the longest stretches of time I’ve gone in years being “checked out."
After lunch, Marla and I headed to our first fitness class, TRX. The Lodge has so much to offer including complete spa programs, treatments, outdoor adventures, fitness activities, over 35 class options per day, swimming and more. To accommodate for social distancing and safety, Marla and I were asked to pre-select all of our classes and spa treatments prior to our trip. This assured that no activity was overfilled.
Since relaxing is not in my DNA, I wanted to be sure to make the most of my trip. TRX was just the beginning, over the next two days we participated in a boot camp, mountain biking, botanical hiking, Tenkara fishing, archery, water aerobics and water painting class. In the evenings we sat bundled up in Adirondak chairs by the lakeside fire pit while roasting marshmallows and listening to live music. Over our 2.5 day stay, I managed to log over 40,000 steps on my Apple Watch, which certainly helped to combat the nutritious yet indulgent meal choices I made—I’m not going away for an incredible weekend like this to watch every calorie.
While I’m not one to stop and sit for long, Marla had a different vision for this weekend away. She didn’t have to twist my arm too hard to get me to agree to schedule some downtime to get a massage. Upon entering the spa we were each given a personal locker to use for the duration of our stay with our own cozy robe and slippers. The Lodge is definitely a sanctuary for the senses. Whether relaxing in the co-ed Whisper Lounge, enjoying the Aqua Garden's Hydromassage WaterWalls or activity pool with floor to ceiling windows surrounded by nature, even within the spa area you can choose to be as active or relaxed as you wish. The spa offers a unique selection of expert body treatments, massages, facials, and salon services designed to create heightened levels of relaxation and well-being.
I treated myself to the Deep-Tissue Massage. Feeling the beginning of a migraine coming on, Marla decided to splurge on the Healing Hemp Extract upgrade. With this massage, they integrate CBD oil into your treatment, which helps to support overall wellness while easing muscular tension, reducing inflammation, and calming the nervous system. In Marla’s case, it also helped to ward off her migraine and kept her feeling zen the rest of the day.
By Sunday afternoon the reality hit us that it would soon be time to return to the real world. Before our departure, Marla and I decided to squeeze in one last trip to the outdoor horizon-edge whirlpool. While sitting in the steaming whirlpool overlooking the gorgeous backdrop we started planning our way back for another trip. Perhaps next time with our significant others or a larger group of friends? After an extraordinary weekend, I will leave you with this thought. This holiday season skip the chachkies and instead invest in the gift of time together. This extraordinary respite for mind, body and spirit along with the memories made will truly be the gift that keeps on giving.
