Growing up in the Poconos, I never understood why tourists came here. Surrounded by mountains and tall trees, with deer and wild turkeys grazing in the yard and the occasional black bear passing through, my childhood view was far from idyllic. To me, the nearest McDonald’s was 30 minutes away and nothing ever seemed to be happening unless you drove an hour to find it.
Now that I live in a busier, more populated area with more traffic and fewer trees, I returned to the Poconos with fresh eyes and a different perspective.
When I was invited to spend a weekend in Hawley, Pa., about 90 minutes from New York City, my first thought jumped to vintage resort ads of couples sipping champagne in heart-shaped tubs. But a stay at The Lodge at Woodloch quickly changed my assumptions.
I drove along winding roads past scattered homes until I reached the entrance. Tucked into the woods, the lodge felt like a hidden sanctuary—remote yet wonderfully inviting.
As a luxury destination spa, The Lodge at Woodloch attracts guests who want to relax, reconnect with nature and renew body and spirit. The daily schedule offers a wide range of activities: Healing Sounds Meditation, Yoga for Restful Sleep, Aqua Toning and many more, all designed to restore balance and calm.
The first night I dined outdoors beneath the stars, then settled by a fire pit in a rocking chair with cocktails and easy conversation before turning in to a very comfortable room. I cracked the window to let the cool night air and natural sounds lull me to sleep.
Refreshed the next morning, I joined a geocaching expedition in a nearby wildlife refuge. We hiked about two miles searching for hidden caches with a handheld GPS—an engaging way to explore the landscape and wake up the body. Afterward my feet needed a break, so I headed to the spa where eucalyptus scented the air.
The men’s and women’s locker and lounge areas each include a sauna, steam room and whirlpool. Showers and changing rooms are spacious and private; oversized showers feature river-stone floors that gently massage your feet as you rinse.
The spa itself houses 27 treatment rooms: 14 dedicated to massage, six for facials, two couples’ suites and two combination suites. Large windows in public areas keep the feeling of being immersed in the woods, and the interior color palette blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings.
I relaxed in the lounge with a cup of Bombay chai from the tea bar and a magazine—precious quiet time I rarely find with a six-year-old at home. When my therapist arrived, she greeted me with a warm smile and calm voice. The massage room was dim and soothing music played softly. I chose lavender oil to help me unwind.
I booked the Lodge Massage, a Swedish treatment, though the spa menu also includes deep tissue, native stone and craniosacral therapies. Signature nature-inspired treatments caught my eye as well—Natural Sage Gommage, Lotus Cleansing and Awakening the Senses Head to Toe, a multisensory experience combining aromatherapy, chromatherapy and healing sounds.
Facial options were equally varied: Lemongrass and Rosemary, White and Green Tea, and even a Caviar Facial, an anti-aging treatment that uses protein-rich caviar to hydrate and firm face, hands, feet and décolleté.
The 50-minute massage concluded with hot towels wrapped around my feet. I left the table feeling deeply relaxed and with markedly softer skin.
After treatments, guests can linger in the Whisper Lounge with cucumber water while their body temperature returns to normal. I was eager to continue relaxing, so I headed to the Aqua Garden instead.
The Aqua Garden is a coed space with an indoor heated pool and two therapeutic soaking pools featuring hydromassage waterfalls. Outside, a horizon-edge whirlpool sits at 104 degrees, offering fresh-air relaxation; the deck is heated so the outdoor whirlpool is enjoyable year-round.
By the end of my weekend at The Lodge at Woodloch I finally understood the appeal—why people seek a break from daily stresses to spend time in a quiet place surrounded by nature. The simple pleasure of rocking on a chair while listening to spring peepers and crickets felt luxurious compared with the constant buzz of phones and city noise.
Now that I get it, I plan to return more often.
THE LODGE AT WOODLOCH
109 River Birch Lane
Hawley, PA 18428
tel 866 953 8500
www.thelodgeatwoodloch.com