Homestead, Nemacolin, or Bedford Springs

[Anonymous]

We would like to take a winter vacation for a few nights to a local resort with our 16 month old. We are considering Homestead, Nemacolin (we would be staying in the less fancy Lodge), or Omni Bedford Springs. I think we will save Hershey for in another year or two when she can appreciate the activities a little more. We do not ski, and would like to just relax and spend time together (I know the relaxing part is tough with a toddler). All three appear to have indoor pools, family friendly dining, and spas. It seems as though Homestead and Nemacolin have more activities, though I'm not sure we would really be taking advantage of so many of those with such a young child. Also, has anyone used the babysitting services at any of these places?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Have been to Homestead and Nemacolin and preferred Nemacolin, which is less stuffy. Also probably the best spa I've ever been to. Didn't use a babysitter but did use the kids club, which was okay but nothing special.

[Anonymous]

Nemacolin all the way! Yes, they have a Kidz Klub program and it is fantastic. Looks like your little one would fit right in with Little Tykes.

They have a great staff so you can enjoy some alone time. Also, I would recommend looking into a holiday weekend. The rates may be higher but they usually have great special events for all ages that just add to their amenities. My final piece of advice, their Wildlife Academy. Your child will love it. Especially the Wild Animal Show that they have weekly.

[Anonymous]

Homestead is snooty and stuffy. Agree on Nemacolin.

[Anonymous]

Omni Bedford is the only one Ive been to and is probably half the price of the others and is a little over a 90 minute drive from where we live. It's a very nice hotel with a fairly large indoor pool but that's about it this time of year. There is skiing and snow tubing about a half hour away. It's a nice, quick, reasonable getaway but probably wont be much fun with a little one....

[Anonymous]

Has anyone used the Little Tykes program at Nemacolin?

[Anonymous]

We have been to the Omni and loved it. Our daughter was older when we went, but a toddler would love it too. The indoor pool is fed from a hotspring. The spa is lovely. It is rarely crowded. Food is good. They have a fire pit every night and you can buy s'more kits and make them at the fire pit. We did a lot of hiking, swimming, swinging on the swing on the tree out front. It was very relaxing.

[Anonymous]

I would choose the Greenbriar over all three but the Homestead would be number two.

[Anonymous]

What would a 16 month old do at Omni? Just wondering how you guys would relax/enjoy your time there rather than chasing down a toddler.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We chose the Omni Bedford Springs and had a very nice relaxing time. A toddler could use the indoor pool, run around inside the hotel, play with toys in the room while you read and relax. It worked for us because to a 16 month old running up and down a hallway is completely exciting. And there were a lot of open and not crowded areas inside the hotel. Honestly there isn't much for a toddler to do at any of these places. Once a child is 3+ the other places have more to do (which is why we decided to hold off on those until she could appreciate the activities), but its not like a 16 month old could bowl, horseback ride, or ice skate anyway. So we enjoyed the accommodations and food and just relaxed and swam in the pool each day. One day we went into the town for an hour. During naps one of us would go do an activity on our own: spa, gym, hike. But the main focus of our vacation was getting away from everyday life, and we were fine sitting around and not having tons of activities.

[Anonymous]

So glad you had fun, OP -- I've been dying to try the Omni. FWIW, Homestead (on a big weekend like Presidents' Day, etc.) is tons of fun, full of kids, and truly not stuffy -- I've been pre-kids and with-kids and had a blast both ways. The spa is also nice -- I frankly find it comparable to Nemacolin (which I used frequently when I lived near that part of PA). I'm glad other posters love Nemacolin for getaways because we're anticipating going with friends and our DCs soon and I was "fingers crossed" that it would be as fun as the Homestead.

[Anonymous]

Agree the Omni is wonderful! Nemacolin is great too. Homestead and Greenbrier are both not even in the same league--both old and tattered and in need of attention.