Weekend Wanderer: The Omni Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania | Travel, Pennsylvania, Eternal Springs, Spa, Festive cocktails | DONNE TEMPO

Weekend Wanderer: The Omni Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania

Weekend Wanderer: The Omni Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania

by Jacquie Kubin

Looking for something to do with your Weekend?

From a last minute get-away to taking advantage of advance booking discounts, hotel and resort properties are looking for weekend guests and are rolling out their winter red carpet.
Omni Bedford Springs
The Omni Bedford Springs Photo/J. Kubin
Some rules of thumb: When making your travel plans, call the property, don’t just rely on internet pricing and ask for their best deals and best rooms available, and then check those prices against the internet published deals and prices.

Confirm that pools, spas and restaurants are open for your mid-winter trip.

If there is a property you want to visit, sign up for their newsletter and see if they are offering any “internet only” specials and don’t forget to ask about Military, AARP and AAA discounts. They can reduce your bill by 8-10% in most cases.

This Weekend Wanderer deal was found at the Omni Bedford Springs, a property that I have stayed at and wholeheartedly endorse, but it is available at many of the Omni franchise hotels.
Omni Bedford Springs Lobby
Lobby Fireplace Photo/J. Kubin
Running through the end of the 2010, The Omni Bedford Springs is offering the Holiday Spirits and Sprinkles Package. This heritage resort just happens to be one of my leading “weekend getaway” destinations and I am thrilled to be able to highlight them in this first of many Weekend Wanderer features.

While I enjoy the glitz of a new property, I adore a good heritage property. A place that has been around for a couple of hundred years and that holds the essence of all those that have visited in the past.

Fitting that bill is the Bedford Springs Resort & Spa. For over two-hundred years people have visited Bedford's eight mineral springs for health and rejuvenation, and before that the land was a sacred healing place for Native American Indians.

The properties history as an in begins in 1806 with the Stone Inn with additional wings added to the property creating a wide sweeping veranda that provides relaxing front porch resting spots from the rooms that are all positioned to look forward to the mountain vista.

As is so often the case, the American Indians were the first to recognize the curative of the Sweet Spring, the Sulfur Spring, the Iron Spring and the Magnesia Spring that were particularly sought after for the relief they offered from an assortment of maladies. While the springs are still locatable around the property, most guests enjoy their restorative values at the The Springs Eternal Spa.
The Eternal Springs Spa Baths

The Eternal Springs Spa Baths

The spa features 30,000 square foot of Victorian inspired elegance and a full menu of healing spa treatments inspired by the area’s mineral springs. In addition to an incredible relaxation room perfect to sit and enjoy before or after your treatments, a hallmark of the Springs Eternal Spa is the Hot and Cold Mineral Springs baths.

The Eternal Springs Bedford Baths
The Bedford Baths
Before a treatment, guests are encouraged to partake in the Bedford Bath Ritual that begins with the spa’s signature Black Walnut Ginger Body Polish, an aromatic steam following by a cooling rinse in the Eternal Springs Mineral Deluge shower followed by baths that alternate between hot and cold mineral pools.

Your experience ends with the spa’s Signature Indian Cucumber Root Hydrating Mist providing ultimate hydration while adding an uplifting and refreshing end to the Bathing Ritual.

This is a self-guided ritual and included complimentary with any treatment. The spa menu includes incredible facial and skin treatments, massages and more.

“The Eternal Springs Spa offers so much more than just quality spa services and we encourage guests to join us from breakfast to dinner for a full day of healthful relaxation – without ever leaving their robes,” said Veronique Paquet, Springs Eternal Spa Manage.

“A perfect spa day includes coming in for a service in the morning, enjoy the Bedford Bath Ritual, relax in the Relaxation Room, have lunch from our new Winter Spa Food menu and then enjoy another relaxing service in the afternoon, followed by a relaxing steam and mineral water deluge.”

During your visit, I strongly encourage you to visit the resorts historic mineral spring fed swimming pool. When the property opened in 1905, it opened with one of the nations first indoor swimming pools and the water source is one of the healing mineral springs located deep beneath the structure.

Omni Bedford Springs Mineral Pool
Mineral Spring Pool Photo/J. Kubin
Adding to the properties first in the nation is the ”Old Course” golf course, which was recently updated, along with the rest of the property, during a 120 million dollar restoration in 2007.

Bedford Springs has been host to seven U.S. Presidents including Jame Buchanan, who used the property as his summer White House and Ronald Reagan who visited in 1975.

Following her rejuvenation The Omni Bedford Springs Resort features numerous dining options overseen by Chef Konrad Meier. Chef Meier trained in Germany and his robust appreciation for flavors comes through in his menus.

Personally I found Chef to be a delight to talk with and though not able to partake in a meal prepared by Chef Konrad or his famous Chef’s Table where guests can spend time cooking with the Chef, I found his sense of charm present in the casual Frontier Tavern offerings including the Chicken Corn Chowder and tender pork shoulder Brunswick Stew.

The bar is featuring festive, winter season drinks like The North Pole, a combination of Schnapps and Vodka, the Maker's Mark Bourbon Punch or the Mistletoe Margarita (recipes are here).
Frontier Tavern Bourbon Punch
Maker's Mark Bourbon Punch
The Frontier Tavern presents a delightful place to sit during afternoon hours or to enjoy a festive bar atmosphere at night. The Frontier Tavern sets within the building that was the original 1806 Stone Inn, the original inn at the property.

Large luxury rooms at the property feature truly comfort forward beds with quality linens, large, well appointed bathrooms and amenities at every turn. Other hotel features include a luxe workout room, seasonal outdoor pool and front yard fire pit. Ask the front desk for a “S’mores Box” for some childlike nightimte fun or spend your day hiking the gentle mountain slopes, looking for the springs that are still there.

For a special occasion or a relaxing getaway, I personally recommend The Omni Bedford Springs.

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Featured Resort Special: The Omni Bedford Springs Holiday Spirits and Sprinkles Package

Availability:
Through December 31, 2010
Stay one night, receive the second 50% off.
Promotion Details:
Deluxe room accommodations
50% off second night
Pricing:
From $149 per night is advertised. The current web site rate is $229 ($209 for seniors/AAA/Military) for the first night, with a 50% discount on the second. Total cost, with fees and taxes, $415.00 (subject to change. No prices are guaranteed by Donne Tempo or Donne's World.)
Conditions:
Based on availability and subject to blackout dates.
Not applicable to groups, conventions or in combination with other special offers.

Omni Bedford Springs
2138 Business Route 220
Bedford, Pennsylvania 15522
Phone: 814-623-8100, Fax: 814-623-8052

Do you have a favorite Weekend Wanderer destination? Donne Tempo Magazine is interested in knowing where you go to relax and rejuevinate. Email Jacquie with your favorite corners of your world. Don't forget photos!

Jacquie Kubin is a 15 year, award-winning veteran of travel and culinary writing. Today Jacquie edits and directs a staff of writers for the Communities at the Washington Times and Donne’s World at the Communities and is always looking for new talents who wish to expand their horizons. Email Jacquie with ideas, questions or to share your writing dreams. Follow Donne Tempo on Twitter and Facebook.
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