Snowy Getaways
There are many great places to getaway for a night or more in Central New York. Off season rates offer great values. One of the places I wanted to check out this past summer was the new Harbor Hotel in Clayton but I never made it so it is on my “To Do List.” They are open all year and during the winter they have some great value-laden packages. Their Romance Getaway includes a one-night stay for two, rose petal turn-down, bottle of champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries plus breakfast. In February they have a Valentine Ice Bar Weekend with 20,000 pound of ice carved into functional bars and other sculptures with complimentary wine tasting and snacks. There will be ice carving demonstrations. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Wounded Warrior Project.
Even if you are not a snowmobiler, cross-country skier, snowshoer, or a winter hiker, Altmar’s Tailwater Lodge is a great place for celebrating winter. The trees laden with snow can be an awe inspiring site. Salmon River Falls is nearby and I’d love to see the falls when they are frozen or rimed with ice.
At Mirbeau in Skaneateles you can pretend you are in France since
the resort, from the gardens to their chateau-style accommodations, is designed to look like a painting by French Impressionist Claude Monet. Mirbeau has the coolest water spa in Central New York. For total relaxation sip wine in their Aqua Terrace, an outdoor pool area, with the fireplace ablaze. Inside their spa has a unique relaxation area with a stone fireplace and heated foot pool. They offer many weekday spa getaway packages that include accommodations, spa treatments, breakfast and even the gratuities are included. They also offer a variety of fitness programs.
Even though it is not very close, The Mohonk near New Paltz is a wonderful winter retreat. It is a classic Victorian getaway that looks like a castle on the Hudson. It is an all-inclusive with nightly rates that include breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea and a slew of complimentary activities. You can enjoy their indoor swimming pool, yoga and meditation classes, and guided nature walks plus their open-air ice skating pavilion, groomed trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Their spa offers a variety of treatments, an outdoor heated mineral pool, and a solarium for relaxation. One of the things I love about the Mohonk is that it is family-owned since 1869. Not many places can say that.
If you want to pretend that it isn’t winter then head to a casino
where you won’t know what season it is or even the time of the day. Turning Stone Casino has a variety of accommodations in different price categories from The Inn to their luxurious suites in The Lodge. Golfers can practice at their Golf Dome and test their skills at 38 different courses on
a virtual simulator including St. Andrew and Pebble Beach. There is always a variety of entertainment, excellent dining and their Skana Spa is the perfect place to renew and get rid of the winter blues. Another casino option is the one in Niagara Falls, The Seneca Niagara Casino has a great entertainment schedule from the music of Foreigner to Frank Sinatra, Jr. who I saw a couple years ago and thought he sounded just like his father. No need to languish during the winter there are many things to do without traveling too far.
