My Husband and I are just recently back from a vacation in the Poconos. This part of the U.S. has been on our 'must see' list for a number of years. We'd heard that it was a beautiful area, so we decided it was time to check it out. For us, it was about a 6 1/2 hour drive from Burlington, Ontario (we live just outside of Toronto).
We searched the web in advance of our vacation for accommodations and after a lot of "research", we decided on the Bischwind Inn. The Bischwind is a gorgeous English tudor style country manor complete with original Tiffany stained glass windows. It was built in 1895 by Albert Lewis, who was a noted business leader in the area.
It's located just outside of Wilkes Barre in Bear Creek, Pennsylvania. The Bischwind is run by Billi and Ralph English. Billi was the perfect hostess and made us feel like family. Her Mother Barbara, was a real sweetheart and also made us feel very welcome. We really enjoyed our time there and hope to go back some day.
There are 6 rooms and 2 suites to choose from - all with their own private bath. We decided to splash out and book the Theodore Roosevelt Suite. This historic suite is named after, you guessed it, President Theodore Roosevelt who stayed there in 1910 and again in 1914. Another famous guest that stayed in this suite was President William Howard Taft. The original antique furniture from back in that period is still there today. It was humbling to be amongst such famous past guests.
The suite included a private adjoining English library with a wood burning fireplace for the colder months - not that we needed it during our stay. It was very hot and humid while we were there. Luckily, the Bischwind has air conditioning. Wifi internet access is available for the workaholic. I took my laptop with me, but I'm proud to say that I didn't even fire it up once while I was there!
Breakfasts are served in the Presidential Dining Room and are included with your stay. They were amazing! The morning started with juice, coffee, a fresh fruit starter, just-baked croissants, a main entree and for those who still had room left, dessert. We were even treated to filet mignon one morning for breakfast. I'm afraid to step on the scales and see the damage I've done!
The grounds around the inn are breathtaking. The terrace overlooks the gardens and an inground swimming pool. Just a stone's throw away is a 100 acre lake. We took the 2 1/2 mile walk around the lake most mornings to help burn off breakfast. In the evening, you are welcome to take a bottle of wine out to the terrace and chill by the pool.
If you've never been to this part of the country, you should check it out and if you're looking for a place to stay, give the Bischwind Inn a try. There are many great restaurants in the area and just 30 minutes away is the Mohegan Sun Casino in case you feel like trying your luck at the slots.
The Poconos is also home to the Poconos Raceway, a.k.a. 'The Tricky Triangle' to Nascar race fans. We spent some time at the track as well (it was only 20 minutes away). I'll save that whole adventure for another blog post (or maybe 2). What a blast! Stay tuned ...
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Dezigner Digz is Burlington Ontario's premier home staging, styling and redesign firm and serves Ancaster, Hamilton, Burlington, Waterdown, Stoney Creek, Oakville and surrounding areas. The owner, Charlene Storozuk, is a member of the Real Estate Staging Association and currently serves on the Executive Committee as Regional Vice-President Canada. Her work is featured in the book FabJob Guide to Become a Home Stager, 2009 edition. Charlene has also written several articles on home staging, some of which have been published by the International Business Times and the Women's Council of Realtors. She is also a Contributing Blogger for REALTOR Magazine. For more information about us, visit our website at www.dezignerdigz.com.
