Do you want to travel far, far away from the chaos of the grind and take a relaxing, rejuvenating vacation?  Well, WHO DOESN’T?!?!   The reality is however, that sometimes either due to high costs, lack of time off from work, family responsibilities, etc…,  getting on a plane and jetting off to some far away destination is not always possible.

But…. What if I told you that nestled right in the Catskill Mountains of New York, there was a hidden gem where you can immerse yourself in some of the most restful and relaxing experiences EVER and take in some of the beautiful views in the state!  You heard that right folks,  I have discovered the Emerson Resort and Spa, located in Mt. Tremper, NY and I want to share this gem with you.  Having traveled to 20 different countries around the globe and experiencing so many wonderful things, I can honestly say that my experience at the Emerson finds its way near the top of my “favorites” list!  Located 2 hours north of NYC, the Emerson provides the PERFECT escape that is both lavish (but not pretentious) and will not break the bank!  Allow me to share with you this serenity and bliss….   Escape to The Emerson Resort and Spa …..

My husband Mike and I found ourselves needing to escape the chaos of our daily lives, regroup, and re-ground ourselves.  However, neither one of us had time off from work. Our options were limited.  We decided to head to the Emerson Resort and check it out.  We have passed it hundreds of times before as we are both avid hikers in the Picturesque Catskills, but we had only stopped a few times to briefly to grab a coffee and snack at the Country Store located on the premises.  The grounds always looked decorative, the buildings looked well kept, and the location at the base of the surrounding mountains and the rambling Esopus Creek enticed us so we thought we would try it out.  We picked the Emerson thinking we can just disappear for a few days in a pretty location and only travel about an hour to get there.  Little did we know that we would experience so much serenity and bliss, indulge in such comfort, and be so pampered.  All this goodness, right in our (proverbial) backyard. Named after the poet/writer Ralph Waldo Emerson whose essay “Nature” inspired the birth of the Catskill Forest Preserve , every aspect of The Emerson Resort and Spa exudes a poetic sentiment in some way.  The personnel, the facilities, and even the the artwork on the walls (and the tiles on the floor) speak a language of tranquility and calmness, immersing you in the nature all the while. The writing is literally on the wall….

We arrived at the Emerson late in the afternoon.  As guests, we had access to the spa’s steam room, sauna, and hot tub.  We quickly ditched our bags in our room and “hightailed” it into the outdoor hot tub overlooking the rapid flowing Esopus Creek and in the shadow of Mt. Tremper.  After becoming sufficiently pruney and relaxed, we returned to our suite donned in our fluffy white robes and relaxed in front of our own fireplace until it was time for dinner. Notice the reoccurring theme…..relaxed.

Dinner at the Woodnotes Grille was another relaxed event. The eatery sources local ingredients are used to make the most spectacular food and drinks.  My smoked gruyere broccoli soup and beet loaf with roasted potatoes was out of this world! Mike had pan seared salmon with black lentil salad.  YUM! Then there was the decadent dessert- flourless chocolate torte….

After a dreamy night of sleep,  we enjoyed some fresh organic coffee again at the Woodnotes Grille.  Overlooking the Esopus once again eased us into a day that would be filled with the serenity.  My Veggie Benedict was the delish!

Before this stay at the Emerson, I could not say that I watched the show in the world’s largest kaleidoscope.  Now I can say I have been!  The Stardust show was really neat!  The 56 feet tall by 38 feet in diameter silo was built in the mid 1800’s and was transformed into the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope.   I have never experienced anything like it.  I was laying down on the floor looking up almost 60′.  3 triangle mirrors, weighing over a ton each, created these 3D figures that looked quite enormous!

We decided to take a short drive to the nearby Rochester Hollow trailhead and take a stroll and x-country ski to enjoy the unseasonable warm weather. We had to gain a little elevation to get into some snow as it has not been winter weather here in NY. The surrounding area has so much to offer!

Returning back to the Emerson for some spa treatments was probably the best part of the day for me! After entering the spa through the whimsical 17 century Rajasthani Palace doors, we were literally cloaked in sensations of peacefulness and renewal.  We took advantage of the VIP Valentine’s Day special which included a couples Himalayan Salt Soak, massage, champagne, and a cheese and chocolate platter.   Can you say AMAZING!  All natural, ethical, and sustainable spa products used in during the treatments made my skin and senses feel amazing. The experience truly connected and rejuvenated my mind, body , and soul.    If I told you how affordable this package was, you probably wouldn’t believe me!

After more relaxing after these treatment in the steam room, I had to muster up the energy to shower to return home to my dog Dexter.  When asked how everything was by a manager, I said that I was so sad to leave. Her reply was great….  When you are sad to leave, that means we did our job!  Literally, the writing was on the wall…

Of this I am sure… Emerson I will be back!  I look forward to visiting in the summer when I can wade in the Esopus, maybe try my hand at fly fishing, ride bikes on the surrounding beautiful country roads, hike, dine under the stars and mountains, and explore Phoenicia, Woodstock, on other local towns.  I look forward to soaking in the outdoor hot tub under the colorful autumn leaves, warming my toes near the outdoor bonfire, and hiking in the Catskills. This visit, we chose a special spa package…  I will have to choose from these other special packages and add-ons for next time.   The possibilities are endless…..