Not Your Usual Winter Escape
Winter seems to have been dragging on endlessly here, leaving my family desperate for a bit of an escape from the monotony of the season. And so I planned a getaway, not (as one might expect) to the sandy beaches of Florida or the sunny Caribbean, but to the Poconos-based Skytop Lodge.
Escaping the cold by journeying to an even colder place may sound counter-intuitive, but at the time of booking, it felt brilliant. My “if you can’t fight it, join it” plan: embrace the pleasures of this no-end-in-sight season and recapture our delight in winter pursuits. Skytop’s beautiful surroundings, first class service and diverse array of activities sounded like the perfect way for us to find joy again; both in the season and in each other.
But as I piled endless pairs of warm socks and snow boots into suitcases, I began to wish we had saved this particular destination for a warmer month. Our bathing suits, packed for the indoor pool, were nearly lost in the sea of wool and nylon. “What made me think I’d want more cold?” I muttered as I added more sweaters to our already overflowing luggage.
Twenty four hours later, I laid sprawled on top of my daughter on an ice skating rink, laughing hysterically. As the ice soaked through my jeans, it was clear that my latest plan to keep warm through vigorous exercise had been foiled by our inability to remain upright. Fortunately, my original goal of reconnecting with my family seemed to be going much more according to plan.
Most family vacations feel like someone is along for the ride; either our kids are forced to sit through boring adult activities or we find ourselves gazing wistfully at fine restaurants from our McDonalds vantage point. None of that happened at Skytop Lodge. This resort does a better job than any I’ve seen of catering to families without losing the upscale charm which makes it so appealing to adults. The result was a true vacation for all of us; a rare treat, to be sure.
Over the course of our weekend visit, my husband and I enjoyed fine dining in the company of our children, both kids became passable ice skaters, my daughter honed her mini golf skills on the indoor course, and her brother developed a passion for Eggs Benedict. All four of us were still sick of winter. But we stood united in our certainty that this Skytop Lodge visit had been the standout highlight of the season.
Read Rebecca’s full review of Skytop Lodge here. More the visual type? Watch her video instead.
Skytop Lodge from TravelSavvyMom on Vimeo.
March 25th, 2009 | by Rebecca Tompkins 6 comments
1. Lisa Dausman on March 25th, 2009
That place looks fantastic!
2. Tenille on March 25th, 2009
Wow! How fun!
3. Kristy on March 25th, 2009
For someone who doesn’t get snow all that often, and in fact seeks it out for winter getaways, this place looks great. Too bad the weather didn’t cooperate, but it looks like the facility can rise above a lack of snow, for sure. What’s the closest airport? Any side trips worth taking in the area?
4. Rebecca Tompkins on March 25th, 2009
Kristy, Avoca Airport in Scranton/Wilkes Barre and Lehigh Valley International in Allentown are the closest airports at about an hour away. Newark and Philadelphia would be more like 2.
There’s some good skiing in the Poconos if you wanted to venture beyond Skytop’s entry level slope, but Skytop’s all inclusive packages and on site activities really make it more of a destination than a jumping off point. If I were planning a trip to the area, I’d probably fly in and out of Newark or Philly and combo a few days of city break on one end with some days at the Lodge.
5. Mary on March 25th, 2009
What a fabulous vacation this would be!
6. PENNY on March 30th, 2009
Thanks Rebecca! Skytop definitely looks like a place we can suggest to our whole family, grandparents included … and we can DRIVE there!
6 Responses to “Not Your Usual Winter Escape”