The Pocono mountain area is roughly an hour and a half from north NJ/ NYC. I went there as a kid but haven’t been back since. Michael and I were looking to get away for a weekend and we’ve been to most of the cities around here – Philly, DC, Boston, etc. We haven’t been to the Poconos together – unless you are really into nature, it often gets overlooked when choosing a quick weekend trip. I wanted to completely get away from the craziness of the holidays and beginning of the year so was looking for a wintery lodge to just relax in. After some research, we found Magnolia Streamside Resort which was exactly an hour and 23 minutes from Montclair and thought it was perfect. A lot of the lodges we looked at were super commercialized and geared towards skiers, which we are not. Magnolia Streamside Resort is a small resort with full private cottages, some fit 2-4 people while others fit 6-8. We booked the Laurel Cottage since it was just the two of us staying there.

What to do

We got to the Poconos around 1 pm and went to Camelback Mountain for snow tubing which is $40 per person. If you plan to go Snow Tubing or do almost anything at Camelback, book a time slot online in advance because they sell out of time slots especially on the weekends.

Where to Stay

After Camelback, we headed to Magnolia Streamside Resort which was less than a half hour from Camelback. It is important to note, if you are “city folk” like us, and not familiar with driving through backroads, get there when it is light out. The roads around there are completely pitch black, winding, and secluded.

When we got there, we quickly checked in and the kind owner Inna brought us to our cottage with essential oils in hand for the diffuser in our cottage. We were welcomed into our private cottage and Inna showed us around. The hospitality here was amazing, it felt like you were being welcomed into someone’s home to stay with them.  In the Laurel cottage, the decor is rustic with older, homey vibes, but there are some modern pops. This cottage sleeps four – two could fit on the pull out couch and two in the bedroom. The living room was large and stocked with board games. There is a fireplace right in the living room which I was excited for. The cottage has a full kitchen stove, fridge and freezer so you should bring food to cook for the weekend. Otherwise, you can order out like we did.

When we got settled in, Mike and I both joked and said “now what”?! We are so used to going, going, going and being overstimulated that at sometimes I feel like I don’t even know how to relax and take the time to recharge. There are intentionally no TVs in the cottages, but there is WiFi if you need it. Inna suggested not connecting to the WiFi and just enjoying yourselves, so I took her advice. We decided to start building the fire together which took more time for us newbies than I’m willing to admit. After that, we ordered in dinner and had some wine by the fire. Then we decided to play board games which I haven’t played in years. I’m not too into games but I’m glad we did it, it was a lot of fun. It doesn’t seem like we did much or it was anything special, but I had an amazing night. Deciding to be in the moment without technology, even for a night made me able to appreciate our time together. If we had a TV, we probably would have just watched that and called it a night. Instead, we hung out and played board games which we haven’t played since we were kids. It was a simple night but probably something we wouldn’t have done on our own at home.

I had the best nights rest at Magnolia Streamside Resort that I’ve had in awhile. The bed was super comfy and we were surrounded by just silence and the sound of the stream. No sirens or screaming or beeping like there is at home. It was incredibly peaceful.

The next morning I woke up and had a cup of coffee by the fire place. Although it was cold, I cracked the window to get a better sound of the stream which was literally right outside our cottage. Our deck was covered in snow but in the summer, people have meals out on the deck next to the stream. After breakfast, we went around and walked the property which is truly beautiful. There are six cottages, the stream, a chicken coop for fresh eggs, and a pond for fishing. You are completely surrounded nature in the woods which felt so serene.

I had a truly beautiful experience at Magnolia Streamside Resort. I didn’t check my phone most of the time there and that was the whole purpose. Magnolia encourages you to connect to nature, yourself, and the people you are with. Sounds of the stream, energy of tall pine trees and fresh mountain air balanced my mind and recharged my body. The tranquility and serenity that was found here was unmatched and refreshing. If you’re coming in a group, with a partner, or alone, this resort is perfect to enjoy all year around.

After leaving Magnolia Streamside Resort, we decided to continue our weekend of relaxing by having a spa day at The Lodge at Woodloch Spa. We wanted to do a couples massage and after doing research that spa seemed like one of the best in the area. The spa is a bit pricey but the reviews said it was worth it. We drove about 30 minutes to get to the lodge. When we got there, the first thing I noticed is how caring and attentive the staff was, each and every guest is shown around the spa one on one with a spa employee. I appreciate that, because at other spas they either have a map somewhere or just let you figure things out on your own.

Our couples massage was booked for 1 pm so we had a little while to enjoy the spa before hand. They have both male and female only sections and then some co-ed sections. The Lodge at Woodloch is a bright, beautiful spa with saunas, pools, hot tubs and a variety of lounges. To name only a few- they have a co-ed Whisper Lounge, Aqua Garden’s Hydromassage WaterWalls and activity pool with floor to ceiling windows surrounded by nature. The spa offers a selection of expert body treatments, massages, facials, and salon services.

We spent a lot of time by the hydro massage water falls, which is honestly enough if you don’t have a massage booked. It was 17 degrees outside but they have an infinity jacuzzi overlooking the winter woods which I felt the strong need to try and I am so glad I did. Although it was freezing out, the jacuzzi is so warm you don’t even feel the cold while sitting in it, it was amazing. After that it was time for our 75 minute full body couples massage. It was incredibly soothing and just what we needed!

We had a wonderful relaxing weekend in the Poconos. If you haven’t been there in a while give them another try, I’m glad I did!

xoxo,

Finding Francesca