The most magnificent indoor pools, spa, and family friendly resort, is less than two hours away from NYC by car. What are you waiting for? Keep reading for an exclusive offer on a 1, 2 or 3 night stay.
My family and I recently spent two nights at Crystal Springs Resort & Spa in New Jersey.
There are two properties to choose from, we stayed at Grand Cascades Lodge. My daughters, 4 and 7, said that it looked like Arendelle from Frozen! It is quite majestic. Snow covered mountains and quaint Disney looking buildings all over the property. It was a winter wonderland for sure! We stayed in a one bedroom suite, with a gorgeous balcony, fireplace, and full kitchen. I love having a kitchen when traveling with kids. My kids are picky eaters, plus it’s costly to go out for 3 meals a day as a family of 4. We did order room service for breakfast one morning though, my kids love room service (so do I, who am I kidding?).
When I booked our dates, I had no idea that the resort would have so many festive activities! They have Christmas Corner & Winter Workshop. These start in the evening on the weekends and last a few hours, and consist of Christmas crafts, a petting zoo, horse & carriage ride, hot cocoa, s’mores by the fire, and a visit with Santa! During the day they have free pony rides around the property, my girls love pony rides! The staff really went all out on the decor, and the activities. It’s the perfect way to spend a weekend with your family. My daughter decorated a real live mini Christmas Tree, which we still have. I managed not to kill it yet!
Crystal Springs also has a daily itinerary of activities for ALL ages, wine tastings, workshops, yoga, & more. After dinner in one of their many fabulous restaurants, you can enjoy a show too. This totally reminded us of being on a cruise, we love options when it comes to activities, and Crystal Springs delivers! We thoroughly enjoyed taking a horse drawn carriage ride, petting goats, and sitting in the igloo. They also offered complimentary marshmallows for roasting by an open fire. Next to the fire pit they had a cute little concession stand with warm adult beverages, snacks, and hot chocolate too.
Now, the MAIN reason my kids were jumping for joy at the idea of a “staycation” was because I showed them images of the two indoor pools that Crystal Springs has to offer. There are two pools- Tropical Biosphere Pool Complex and Minerals Pool Complex. If your‘e a guest at Grand Cascades Lodge you have access to both. If you’re a guest at Minerals Hotel, you only have access to the Minerals Pool Complex. Both pools are indoor/outdoor all year round!
These are the two most beautiful indoor pools I’ve ever visited! We spent hours in the pool, surrounded by lush tropical plants and warm air- no need for sunscreen! We had so much fun swimming outside too- the kids got a real kick out of swimming outside with snow on the ground. They keep the water temps nice and hot, and they even do movie nights at the pool. The Biosphere pool has a great little snack bar that serves gelato & cocktails... mommy and girls were both delighted! The Biosphere Pool is also surrounded by tropical plants, it's like swimming in a greenhouse. The Minerals pool has a huge fish tank in the pool! Such a great idea, it kept my kids entertained for sure! Check out the slideshow below.
We pre-booked a few spa experiences before our stay at Elements Spa. My daughters both enjoyed the Bee Pampered Manicures. The nail techs were so patient and sweet with them- my kids can be wild and I’m always scared of a situation where they have to sit still! They enjoyed getting pampered. At Elements spa they use ingredients from Farm House Fresh, which happens to be one of my top favorite skincare lines. I was pleased to find out that the scrub they used to exfoliate my daughters hands was from that line. Their nails never looked better, can’t wait to go back again!
You KNOW I had to get some spa time in too! I received two treatments, the Age Defying Copper Facial- an intensive, powerful anti-aging therapy composed of copper, an antioxidant that encourages production of collagen and stimulates cell turnover. Elastin and soluble collagen, combined with Vitamin E and hyaluronic acid play a vital role in the natural tissue building process. Combined with a lactic/glycolic peel and micro current therapy, this natural facelift therapy improves muscle tone, increases cellular activity and tightens skin.
My skin was vibrant immediately after! My esthetician also used a beautiful lip mask on me and gave me a very relaxing shoulder massage. I really needed it, my body & mind have been on overdrive lately and it felt good to just let go for a few hours. After my facial I went for the Detoxifying Desert Silk Body Treatment where I got Smooth, firm and detoxified. My therapist used a fine pumice mineral mud mask to clear dead skin cells and a cactus toning gel to improve skin elasticity & to help firm and tighten the surface. It was Refreshing and luxurious! It improved my skins texture and instantly soothed my skin as well. My favorite part was the relaxing Vichy rainshower afterwards. I was trying to think of a way to describe it. And here goes- it felt like I was a child again, being cared for in the most sacred of ways, being cleansed by another human. It may sound strange because it's kind of intimate, but you’re covered in a special towel and it was healing. I’d definitely get this treatment again, as it’s one of a kind, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a physical & nurturing experience.
As a Spa owner and Esthetician I can tell you that Elements Spa is definitely a spa to put on your list. The staff from the front desk, to the technicians were super professional, friendly, and knowledgable. The facility was clean, and the menu of services was unique. Elements Spa uses top notch products and techniques in their treatments, which is something I look for. A nice touch was the rose petal foot bath at the end. It's small details like these that make certain spas stand out from the crowd.
I'm already making plans to go back next winter with my family, but in the meantime I'd like to go back for a moms only spa retreat and experience some more of the adult activities, like sip and paint- where you get to paint your own wine glass.
Crystal Springs is the perfect retreat for New Yorkers. It's a close drive, yet you feel like you're thousands of miles away. Take your daughters on a mom and me getaway (or go with the whole fam). Snag this deal for a 1, 2, or 3 night stay this Winter!
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xo,
elena
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I was hosted by Crystal Springs Resort. All Opinions are my own.
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