
Everything at the Lodge at Woodloch is inspired by nature. It’s hard not to be when you’re situated on 75 acres of woodlands with a 15-acre private lake and natural cranberry bog surrounded by blueberries, flora and fauna. With expansive windows that spread across the entire backside of the lodge, verdant views are there for the taking at any point. “John and I so believe in window views and connectedness to the outdoors,” says Ginny Lopis of the husband and wife team that owns the resort. “We really tried to bring the outdoors in, in a sophisticated way,” she says. It kind of has a California-lodge-meets-the-Adirondacks style, adds John.
While the feeling is definitely refined, it’s also intimate, with details like a rotating, nature-inspired art exhibit in the main hall. The Lopis’ offer the personal attention one might expect from a small B&B as they make their rounds during dinner to greet their guests, and John joins in singing harmony with the live entertainment. They’re often found around the fire ring outside, chatting with guests relaxing after dinner over a glass of wine. The Lodge at Woodloch is all about casual comfort. Don’t be surprised if you see people walking around in their spa robes; we were warned, and a few hours later we joined in on the relaxed energy throughout the lodge as we made our way to the spa’s aqua garden in our robes.
RELAX & REJUVENATE
The magnifi cent aqua garden area, mostly
made of locally-mined limestone from Scranton, is
completely surrounded by fl oor-to-ceiling windows that connect to the outdoors from all angles. Therapeutic soaking pools with four- and eight-foot waterfalls offer a relaxing hydro-massage. Outside, a heated deck for year-round use leads to a horizon-edge whirlpool perched among the trees.
Relaxation opportunities abound throughout with unlimited access to the spa. There’s the quiet coed whisper lounge with a cozy fireplace, a tea bar of global and organic selections, an outdoor wood-land porch, and rocking chairs and gliders. Both the men’s and women’s sides of the spa have their own luxurious fireplace lounges as well, plus a whirlpool, sauna and steam room—all connected to nature with their views and design.
Your schedule can be as lacking or as full as you like of inclusive activities and access to the luxury spa.
The sauna is particularly peaceful with its opaque bamboo treatment on glass that lets in leaf-shaped pieces of the outdoors while still offering privacy. Copper sinks, which are naturally antibacterial, and luxurious couches that look out onto the woodlands make pedicures at the spa extra special. Other design details like river rock shower floors and natural colors and elements used in updated ways give a soft, contemporary look. A fitness room full of state-of-the-art equipment plus multiple studios for yoga, dance, aerobics, Tai Chi, Qigong and more complete the spa space.
Your schedule can be full of as many activities as you care to partake in. One of the only additional charges to your stay, except for boutique purchases and wine or spirits with your complimentary meals, are the choice of spa treatments which span the spectrum. We enjoyed a detoxifying natural sage gommage that started with
an application of algae extracts to remineralize, detoxify and balance. A dusting of sage leaves further exfoliated the skin after dry brushing prepared it for the warm seaweed rebalancing serum.
A rotating offering of seminars and guest speakers on various areas of wellness can be enriching, as can educational cooking demos by the onsite dietitian and creative discovery art classes. And, of course, the outdoor adventures are endless.
NUTRITIONAL NOURISHMENT
Tree, the resort’s restaurant, gets its name from the feeling of being perched in the tree tops as you overlook the lake and grounds from the wall of windows. Not your typical spa cuisine, the flavors at Tree are so rich and vibrant, you hardly know it’s so healthy. All meals are included in the price of your stay, so there’s no need to leave the woodland oasis and disturb the calm you’ve created for yourself there.
After a morning yoga session of sun salutions, a stroll around the grounds or kayaking on the private 15-acre lake, breakfast at Tree nourishes the body for the rest of the day of relaxing and rejuvenating. Fresh smoothies and a buffet-style offering of homemade granola, yogurt, fresh fruit, salmon and tasty baked goods are rounded out by eggs scrambled with fresh vegetables, pancakes with a delectable cherry walnut compote, and even bacon (turkey or nitrate-free, of course). The menu also offers specials like poached eggs Florentine and individualized omelettes.
Lunch is like a trip around the world with an array of fresh specialty salads bursting with flavor.
Set to the ambient sounds of global music, lunch is like a trip around the world with an array of fresh specialty salads bursting with flavor. Curried lentils with red onion raita, cucumber sesame salad, couscous and bell peppers with toasted cumin, and red wheat berries with toasted almonds and a maple vinaigrette are all selections from the soup and salad buffet. An entrée of three pan-seared scallops served atop a vibrant trio of pureed beets, carrots and parsnips and fi nished with a lemon basil emulsion was as pleasing visually as it was to the palate. But my companion, who thought he was ordering a man’s meal—a grilled bison burger with carmelized onions and root vegetable chips—wound up learning a quick lesson in healthy eating habits when his mini burger arrived. Since you can eat bigger portions of healthier foods, he lucked out when I needed his help with my more than fulfi lling scallops and hearty root vegetables. Mini raspberry crèmes for dessert left us longing for more, so we indulged.
For dinner, mussels in a hearty tomato broth followed by entrees of Asian five spice chicken with a coconut sauce and bright bok choy and Buffalo tenderloin with roasted potatoes and haricots vert swere all thoroughly pleasurable. A chocolate pecan tart and duo of fresh sorbets offered a sweet finale to a flavorful, healthful
meal and the perfect ending to a nourishing day for the body and mind.
PLAN YOUR WELLNESS RETREAT: The Lodge at Woodloch A Destination Spa 109 Riverbirch Lane Hawley, PA 570-685-8500 www.thelodgeatwoodloch.com
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The cuisine at Tree is so rich and vibrant, you hardly know it’s so healthy.
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The spa’s aqua gardens offer a year-round heated deck and horizon-edge whirlpool perched in the trees.
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Cooking classes offered at the Lodge at Woodloch offer tasty, healthy alternatives
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Connect with nature from the indoors with windows spanning the entire lodge or outdoors with activities and lounging.
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Entering the lodge, surrounded by serenity
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Catch up with a good read, cozy by one of the many fireplaces
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Kayak the 15-acre private lake.
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The décor indoors is inspired by nature in a refined approach.