Page 14 - Indulge October 2017

WEEKENDERS
Many of us seem to be permanently
fitted into end-of-the-year slots and
grooves — Thanksgiving with a sibling two
counties over, the holidays back home with
Mom and Dad. It doesn’t have to be terrible,
but it can be a little dull.
Want to break out a little? Late fall
and early winter have plenty of stimulating
getaways to offer. Here’s a quick rundown
of some short trips and slightly longer ones
that can brighten up a season of lingering
nights and gray days. (Christmas with the
family is still there if the excitement gets to
be too much.)
THE SPA TREATMENT: Natural hot springs
burble in aptly named Bath County, Virginia,
ready to simmer away winter’s chill for
appreciative visitors. The waters have soothed
guests since colonial times — including, it’s
said, the third U.S. president, for whom the
Jefferson Pools in the village of Warm Springs
are named. Accommodations at the pools
are historic and rustic, and bathers generally
take the waters nude. Those who crave a
more refined experience can try the Spa at
the Omni Homestead Resort in nearby Hot
Springs. discoverbath.com.
AN EVERGREEN PLACE: Longwood Gardens
in Kennett Square has been called America’s
Versailles — it’s an international treasure
with water features, formal landscaping,
demonstration gardens and much more,
longwoodgardens.org. Longwood welcomes
the holiday season each year with special
displays in its grand conservatory, plus
nighttime illuminated fountain displays and
extensive holiday lighting. Many hostelries are
available in the surrounding Brandywine Valley.
A unique example is the Bala Farm Cottage, a
cozy 1840s stone house 15 minutes from the
gardens that accommodates just two — early
reservations are a must.
CAPITALIZED: The U.S. Naval Academy
and the Maryland state capital make the
pleasant little city of Annapolis redolent
with history. Pretty and walkable, the town
presents its maritime heritage at every turn.
Many historical tours are available, but for
a weekend away, its shops and dining may
provide most of the diversion you’ll want away
from your room in one of the region’s many
14 | INDULGE • OCTOBER 2017
YOTURRESAETLF B&Bs. (One such that’s perfectly aligned
with the local atmosphere is the Reynolds
PRE-CHRISTMAS Tavern, operating on the site of an 18th-
GETAWAYS century inn near the State House.) The area
celebrates the holidays with a drive-through
By Jack Romig Lights on the Bay program, a State House
holiday concert and a Chocolate Binge
Festival, www.visitannapolis.org.
TO THE SLOPES: Many of the east’s most
famous slopes are fairly reachable from the
Valley: Whiteface, Killington, Jay’s Peak and
Stowe, with the Pocono resorts much closer.
For a little variety, skiers may want to add
some mountains in the other direction to
their life lists: Snowshoe (West Virginia), Wisp
(Maryland) and Whitetail (near Mercersburg in
south-central Pennsylvania).
FIRST RESORT: In Cape May, N.J.,
December is an ideal time to take in the
beauty of the seaside without the crowds.
This venerable resort at the southern end of
the state is unlike many Jersey shore points;
it has a distinctly old-fashioned atmosphere.
The town’s eye-catching Victorian architecture
looks especially good dressed up in Christmas
finery. And there’s no boardwalk, no
apartment high-rises. Visit Congress Hall, the
huge yellow dowager of a hotel where notables
such as Ulysses Grant and John Philip Souza
have spent their holidays.
COLD COMFORTS: Ice celebrations are held
here and there in Pennsylvania and beyond,
usually in the dead of winter. Lewistown’s
Festival of Ice starts early, slated for Nov.
30 and Dec. 1. Snuggle up for a carriage
ride past sculpted ice walls while the town
arranges live entertainment and festive foods
for you on Monument Square downtown.
WINES OF THE SEASON: New York’s
Seneca Lake is famous for gorgeous scenery
and an embarrassment of winemaking
riches. The first weekend in December will be
celebrated by dozens of the area’s wineries
with the 26th annual Deck the Halls event.
Seasonal wine and food tastings are arranged
at the festival’s holiday-decorated vineyard
locations. Participants receive a recipe book
and collect ornaments to decorate their
complimentary handmade grapevine wreaths.
Details are available at https://senecalakewine.
com/december-deck-the-halls-weekend.