Elizabeth Lepine, Totntow
Jeff (my husband) and I just got back from celebrating our anniversary in the Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania. Wanting to flee the city clamor and immerse ourselves in nature and adventure, we chose to stay at the 1280-acre historical estate called the Lodge at Glendorn. This luxury adventure resort proved to be a perfect hideaway.
Glendorn's forest grounds are exquisite. The wild landscape is wild enough to feel like you're truly in nature, but tame enough to navigate the trails, streams and lakes (that are chock-full of rainbow and brown trout). On our many meandering walks throughout the vast resort, we felt like we were the only ones on the grounds. And there was an enchanting sense, in large part due to the retro decor of cabins, that we were in another time entirely.
During the day, we kept busy, hiking, fly
fishing, mountain biking, canoeing, and lying like cats by the lake. We didn't sit long enough to get a massage or facial or hit the
game room with its billiards and board games. but we did eagerly await the
freshly baked cookies that were replenished every night in the jar by our bed. Those and the monogrammed
sheets were incredibly soothing at the end of our adventurous days.
The cuisine and service were exceptional. The Chef's menus were creative and diverse. One afternoon, we arranged for a backpack lunch to take on our hike that was delicious and enjoyed picnic-style at Skipper Lake. The exemplary staff goes out of its way to meet your needs. Scott, the property manager, was beyond accommodating with all of our requests (packed lunches, bonfires, s'mores, celebratory champagne requests, etc).
Although this particular weekend there were no children at the resort, Glendorn would be just as ideal for a family vacation as it is for a no-kids-allowed one. The main lodge, known as the Big House, has four accommodations, but throughout this Relais & Chateaux property, there are various cottages of different sizes to accommodate small or large families. The grounds are completely fenced off, so kids can wander freely--although they might encounter the odd deer, fox, porcupine, rabbit, wild turkey, beaver or even (friendly?) bear. (At dinner on our last night, a black bear moseyed past the restaurant's window as we watched sipping our champagne in amazement.)
Glendorn is the epitome of rustic luxury if there is such a thing. We'd love to return in the winter to see the property covered in snow and to indulge in a fireside massage. The cross-country skiing and snowshoeing would also be amazing to experience. Anybody looking for charm, adventure, family-friendly activities and a rendezvous with a luxurious lifestyle of days gone by will not be disappointed by this pristine property.
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