Appreciate the great outdoors at Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa, which is set on 2,200 acres in the Allegheny Mountains. Washingtonian readers can receive a free room upgrade. Photo courtesy of Omni Hotels
Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you want to stay close to home and explore Washington, get away to a luxury resort or a B&B, or go cycling, we’ve got great deals just for Washingtonian readers.
CAMP OUT IN LUXURY
Where: Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa, 2138 Business Route 220, Bedford, Pa.; 814-623-8100
What’s special: The resort, set on more than 2,200 acres in the Allegheny Mountains, has served as a meeting place for numerous US Presidents and dignitaries over the past 200 years. Stroll the halls and see many artifacts and memorabilia that reveal the resort’s rich history. Guests can enjoy a wide range of family activities on- and off-site, including the Anderson Explorers Kids’ Day Camp, hiking, biking, fishing, geocaching, and scavenger hunts. The outdoor aquatic complex includes an expansive sun deck, an oversize Jacuzzi, and private cabanas. Guests can also play tennis, golf on a championship course, take a dip in the heated indoor spring-fed swimming pool, and relax at the luxurious spa with its menu of treatments.
The deal: The Family Glamping Getaway—“glamping” is short for “glamorous camping”—offers lots of luxuries and creature comforts without the hassles of traditional camping. The package includes deluxe overnight accommodations, breakfast for up to two adults and two children, a choice of two hours of geocaching or two hours of fishing at Red Oak Lake (pole and worms included ), and a s’mores kit to roast at the fire pit. Also included is an REI Camp Dome Tent that you can set up on the resort’s front lawn or in your room or simply take home after your getaway. Package rates start at $409 a night on weekdays and $439 on weekends, a 30 percent savings. Washingtonian readers also receive a free room upgrade, depending on availability.
When: Valid now through Labor Day weekend, September 6, 2011.
A BIT OF CULTURE
Where: The Westchester House Bed and Breakfast Inn, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; 888-302-1717
What’s special: Located on a tree-lined, residential street in the heart of historic downtown Saratoga Springs, Westchester House boasts an elaborately carved fireplace and a whimsical roofline. The meticulously restored Victorian B&B houses seven guest rooms, each with plush beds topped with luxury linens, as well as elegant antique furnishings and free wi-fi. Guests can walk to restaurants, boutique shops, art galleries, and nightlife. Scenic hiking and biking trails are nearby as well as fishing, kayaking, golf, and hot-air balloon tours. Westchester House is also close to the famous Saratoga Race Course, Roosevelt Baths & Spa, Saratoga Battlefield, and the state-of-the-art Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the summer home of the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra. In summer, the center hosts concerts, modern dance, ballet, jazz, opera, and cabaret. This season, the New York City Ballet showcases Peter Martins’s The Magic Flute, beloved ballets choreographed by George Balanchine, and Jerome Robbins’s tribute to Fred Astaire. After a day of enjoying Saratoga’s culture, sights, and outdoor fun, guests can relax on the inn’s large wraparound porch and in its vibrant gardens.
The deal: The Saratoga Springs Culture Lovers’ Getaway features a four-day, three-night stay with two tickets (orchestra seating) to the New York City Ballet, performing July 4 through 17 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, a ten-minute drive from the inn. Also included are dinner for two at one of Saratoga Springs’ downtown restaurants, two passes to the National Museum of Dance, two passes to the National Museum of Racing, breakfast each morning at the inn, and afternoon beverages. Opera buffs can substitute the ballet performance with two tickets to Opera Saratoga (through July 10). The ballet package is priced from $270 plus tax per person Monday through Wednesday and from $290 Thursday through Sunday. The Opera package starts at $285 a person plus tax Monday through Wednesday, $300 Thursday through Sunday. All packages are based on double occupancy.
When: Valid through July, 2011.
RUGGED AND ROMANTIC
Where: Savage River Lodge,1600 Mount Aetna Rd., Frostburg, Md.; 301-689-3200.
What’s special: This rustic but elegant lodge is on 43 acres of private property amid more than 700 acres of Western Maryland’s Savage River State Forest. With its 18 two-story log cabins, it’s a romantic escape in the rugged outdoors. In the morning, you’ll find muffins and juice at your doorstep. You can spend the day hiking in the state forest or biking along the Great Allegheny Passage, not far from the lodge. The rail trail offers 135 miles for hiking and biking between Cumberland, Maryland, and Duquesne, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. The nearly level trail travels along winding rivers and shaded valleys and near charming towns. You can end the day with an in-cabin massage.
The deal: The Washingtonian deal includes a one-night stay for two people any Sunday through Thursday, two free bike rentals (a $20-a-person value), complimentary round-trip biking shuttle service from the lodge to the rail trail (a $20-a-person value), and two souvenir water bottles (worth $5 each). The total cost, $220, is about a 30-percent savings.
When: Valid for stays through August 31, 2011 (except July 4 weekend).
A CAPITAL VISIT
Where: Liaison Capitol Hill, 415 New Jersey Ave., NW; 202-638-1616
What’s special: Whether you’re looking for a place for company to stay or you want to spend a weekend in DC, the chic and sophisticated Liaison Capitol Hill is perfect. It’s close to everything Washington—the Capitol, Union Station, monuments, and museums. And when the summer sun gets hot, you can head to the hotel’s rooftop pool to cool off. The claim to fame of its restaurant, Art and Soul, is that owner Art Smith was Oprah Winfrey’s personal chef. Smith buys from local farmers and vendors and presents fresh and modern cuisine with a Southern accent.
The deal: The Dive In, Chill Out package includes accommodations, breakfast for two at Art and Soul, yoga classes on the roof, and a Sun Yourself kit with sunscreen, lip balm, and bottled water. Mention The Washingtonian to also receive free cocktails for two at the Rooftop Bar. Prices start at $169 a night for two, a 40-percent savings. Use code SUMPKH.
When: Valid through September 4, 2011.
CYCLING THE HUDSON VALLEY
Where: Great Freedom Adventures; 877-545-1864
What’s special: Great Freedom tours include more than just time bicycling rural backroads. Jeanne Rummel, the outfitter’s founder and owner, has found—and incorporated into itineraries—the best artisanal cheesemaking farms, microbreweries, sunset sails, hiking trails, iconic homesteads, mansions, gardens, and more. She has also selected
very nice upscale lodging.
The deal: Great Freedom Adventures is offering $500 off per person for one, two, or three people booking together for a six-day/five-night trip; $600 off per person for four or five booking together; and $700 off per person for six or more; Washingtonian readers must book by August 31. The price before the discount is $2,350 for six days/five nights. On the Hudson Valley trip, guests enjoy dinner at the renowned Culinary Institute of America; take a hike at Poets’ Walk, Washington Irving’s inspiration for Rip Van Winkle; visit a vineyard for a winetasting; cruise past a historic lighthouse on a boat tour; and visit area mansions. Lodging, all breakfasts, and most dinners as well as guides, van support, and entrance fees are included in the rate; not included are alcoholic beverages and guide gratuities. Washingtonian readers also receive an extra lunch.
When: Valid for trips scheduled from August 7 through 12 and October 2 through 7, 2011.
This article appears in the July 2011 issue of The Washingtonian.
