You don’t have to go far to find the antidote to the winter doldrums. Here are three Northeast Ohio inns that pamper both body and soul. Gather with friends. Cuddle with a sweetheart. Indulge in a solo retreat. Any way you want to get away can be a luxurious respite. Close and cozy, consider a mini retreat at one (or all) of these terrific destinations and embrace winter — on your terms.
Red Maple Inn is a hybrid Inn/bed and breakfast, with a touch of Grandma’s house.
General Manager Gina Holk has everything covered. Drop your bags on the carpet and grab a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. You’re home, only better — you don’t have to clean your room. This 18-room rural getaway is like going to Grandma’s if she had rooms for all the cousins, local gifts to buy in her foyer and Jacuzzi tubs in each bathroom.
The Amish carpenter-built Red Maple Inn is warm and homey, yet refined and indulgent. You’ll feel comfortable cozying up in a tapestry chair in a sweater (dare we say Snuggie) in front of the fireplace and overlooking the snowy Amish countryside.
Don’t grow roots into the chair. You’ll want to tour the fourth-largest Amish settlement in the country. Call ahead for details and booking. Guide Robyn Morris loads guests into a white van, distributes a comfort package and trundles guests to a number of places, depending on the day.
Destinations may include an Amish schoolhouse, private homes, a cheese factory, interesting retail businesses and more. Dress warmly for cold days because heating tends to be primitive in Amish buildings. Bring cash because you’ll have an opportunity to purchase handcrafted goods such as cutting boards, jelly, cheese, quilted items and more. Venturing out on your own? Smaller shops may not take credit cards — no electricity, no cards.
As you’re riding she’ll give insights into the philosophy and lifestyle of the Amish as well as their history and the latest fashion. That, for example, means women are adding new shades of yellow and green to their dress selections.
When you’re done, choose from two smart new dinner choices within walking distance — if you bundle up for Geauga County’s blustery winter. The Smith Restaurant, 14608 W. Park St. (440-273-8039), opened in 2016 serving traditional Southern barbeque and comfort food. On the other side of the square, Warren’s Spirited Kitchen, 14614 E. Park St. (440-273-8100) offers farm-to-table inspired upscale comfort food and local beverages, including mead.
If you have been around the world seeking luxury, try staying at home. The AAA Five-Diamond rated Inn Walden — close to much of Northeast Ohio’s population — offers elegant rooms with twice-daily maid service and afternoon tea in the library. With suites the size of a starter home, you’ll want to move in and cozy up with your favorite person. Most suites have fireplaces and both a full and a half bathroom.
The best reasons to leave the room are the spa, s’mores and supper — in whatever order you choose.
Spa and room appointments should be booked simultaneously to assure availability. The facilities fill fast.
Arrive at Spa Walden 30 minutes before a treatment to enjoy a private spa suite with a bubble massage tub, a personal steam room and Swiss shower. A mini-fridge and a tea station fuel your hydration needs. Stay in your private suite for treatment. Couples suites with fireplaces are available. Then, spend another 30 minutes preparing to re-enter the world. Forgot something? Want a cocktail? Call the butler.
Feel a little weak from the spa? Grab a s’mores kit in the lobby and merge melting marshmallow and chocolate between graham crackers at the wood-burning fireplace. Chocolate has amazing powers of rejuvenation.
Maybe you have an hour to trail ride or maybe it’s time to prepare for dinner at The Barn, Walden’s French-influenced restaurant. Only members or guests can get a table. The staff will make arrangements for horseback riding.
Take your time with dinner so housekeeping can work magic with turndown service. You’ll likely find rose petals, Champagne and other romantic treats when you return.
Seal the retreat with a classy breakfast made in the from-scratch kitchen.
In the late 1990s, James Landoll got carried away building a tractor barn. When he added a tower, he and his family realized his interest in architecture would be better suited to a hotel. So, the barn was dismantled and Landoll’s Mohican Castle rose on the spot. It opened in 2002.
Hugged by the woods in Loudonville, about halfway between Cleveland and Columbus, the multi-peaked building has a tower and truly resembles a European countryside castle.
The main building has 11 suites, which on the inside look like miniature mansions. Luxurious finishes include arched doors, gas fireplaces, heated bathroom floors and hardwoods milled from estate-sourced trees. Elegant mini-kitchens are supplied with in-room European breakfast for a leisurely morning indulgence.
Guests enjoy a recently remodeled indoor pool with a waterfall feature, hot tub and sauna, perfect after a brisk hike on neighboring Mohican State Park. Dinner is available at The Copper Mug Bar & Grille, while lunch is served only on weekends.
Landoll’s Mohican Castle was featured on the third season of FOX’s “Hotel Hell” with Gordon Ramsay. The Landoll family, which runs the property, gives Ramsay credit for enhancing their property and service.
“We needed help,” owner/manager Jimmy Landoll says. “They came aboard and taught us the things we were doing wrong. We learned a lot of new things and have made tons of improvements, and we’re stronger than we’ve ever been.”
Upscale country comfort, indulgent luxury, a castle in the woods. Take a couple of days to explore one of the region’s retreats and return home renewed, refreshed and revived. You deserve it.
