Vacations are the best. Sometimes, you just need hit the reset button when things start to get crazy — and a vacation is a great way to do just that. But, sometimes a week-long rendezvous just isn’t possible *even* when we we desperately need a break. One of the best parts about living in Hoboken is the proximity to easily accessible weekend destination spots. In just a few hours drive it’s possible to relax on the beach {in summer of course}, hike a mountain, swim in a lake, go wine tasting… the list is endless. So when we were invited to the Mount Airy Casino and Resort in the Poconos, it seemed like an ideal option for a weekend getaway, and we were right. Here are 6 reasons Mount Airy is the perfect spot for some r&r.
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1. It’s only 90 minutes away.
Mount Airy is an hour and a half drive with no traffic — a straight, easy shot out Route 80 which can get congested depending on the timing. We left around 5:00PM on a rainy Friday and it took us about two hours to get there. The nice part is the last half of the drive is through the Delaware Water Gap which is always really pretty.
^Crossing the Delaware on the way.
2. The full-scale resort is very cozy.
Mount Airy hosts a variety of restaurants, a casino, a night club, a concert hall, a golf course, and a pool and spa. It has a modern lodge-like feel, which makes it very home-y despite its size {the resort sits on1056 acres!}.
The atmosphere is welcoming and all of the attendants are so friendly and extremely helpful. The outdoor arrival area and inside lobby have extremely high ceilings, making the building feel fancy — all while having a mountain-lodge feel.
^view of the lobby from the casino level
3. The rooms are huge with very comfy beds.
The first thing that struck me about our room was how big it was — especially since we just went with the Standard King Room. The rooms are all recently renovated, very clean, and house a bed that feels like sleeping on a cloud.
^Inside the room with the {very} comfy king bed and tons of extra space.
4. They have food options for all budgets and palates.
Mount Airy has 4 different in-house restaurants {one is a buffet}, Guy Fieri’s Mount Pocono Kitchen is a casual BBQ joint that had ahhh-mazzzing truffle fries and some delicious appetizers as well.
Bistecca by Il Mullino is the fine-dining option at the resort. The look and feel of the restaurant is quite upscale and the menu here is definitely on the pricier side with appetizers averaging $18-$19 and entrees in the $35-40 range {though there are a few pasta options for $25}. The wine list is something to write home about — with some really affordable bottles up to expensive choices. We split the Porterhouse steak and ordered a side of grilled broccoli rabe and truffle fries. The steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked exactly to temperature. We were very very happy with dinner and the service could not have been more accommodating and sweet.
We went to Lucky 8 Sushil Lounge and Bar for lunch on Saturday afternoon and were so pleasantly surprised by how upscale it was. We started off with an order of Steam Pork Dumplings that were pretty much the most delicious dumplings we’ve had in a very long time — light and flavorful.
^sooo good!
5. The spa is top-notch and not insanely expensive.
The spa experience at the resort is seriously fantastic. It’s a full service spa, and if you get a treatment it gives you access to the luxury lounge — complete with steam room, sauna {and cucumber water, obvs}, plus the pool. They also have day passes available for $30 that give access to the spa area without the treatment. The 55-minute “Signature Massage,” which is a Swedish Massage plus an organic body butter application and essential oils treatment, was phenomenal. The treatment was $120 and includes 18% gratuity {though a little extra is always appreciate}.
^Spa swag for sale
6. The pool is ideal in winter AND summer.
We spent the majority of our afternoon hanging out at the pool. The outdoor pool was closed while we were there but in the summer months, the pool becomes indoor and outdoor with the option to swim back and forth to both. Plus, you can order a bowl of frozen grapes at the pool restaurant — much better for the bikini body than typical bar food.
At night, the pool area turns into Get Wet nightclub, where various DJs are booked for the summer months. During the day though, the pool feels more like a luxury spa filled with lounge chairs, private cabanas {though they’re $100 for the day– not really worth it}, fountains, and jet pools.
^Perfect way to relax in the afternoon.
Insider Tips
- Mount Airy doesn’t have the nightlife you’ll find at Atlantic City or Vegas resorts but it’s a perfect option if you’re looking for a low-key getaway or a spa weekend with girlfriends. It’s possible that the Get Wet bar gets busier in the summer months since they have some notable DJs scheduled to play.
- We were definitely on the younger side of the crow and when I asked around, I was told most guests were in their 40s — which we were totally find with since we were really looking for a a few days to unwind, not make friends, ha.
- The resort also has a Starbucks, Red Mango, and Nostalgia {sweet shoppe}.
- The gym at the resort is much nicer than typical hotel gyms, so you can definitely plan to get a good workout in.
- The spa is fully booked almost every weekend, so be sure to book your treatments in advance.
- And seriously… try the truffle fries!
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*This trip was organized by Mount Airy Casino Resort, but all opinions reflect the true experiences of the author.*
