Sunday, December 2, 2018

8 Reasons to Visit Nemacolin


Nemocolin front
The "Fat Bird" mascot welcomes visitors to Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.
Nestled in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands about 70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh in Fayette County is the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, a 2,000-acre playground offering an array of amenities to appeal to a wide range of travel tastes.

resort
Chateau Lafayette at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort (courtesy Nemacolin Woodlands Resort)

This fall, I took advantage of the opportunity to spend some time at the popular resort.  The extraordinary art displayed throughout the property, as well as other interesting features, inspired me to learn more about the destination's history, its founder, its impressive art collection and more.  If you're considering visiting Nemacolin, I hope this article will provide insight on making the most of your time at this unique and special place.

It Touts a Rich History

I learned that the resort takes its name from a Delaware Indian chief by the name of Nemacolin, who, in the mid-1700s, helped settlers blaze a trail westward along what is now Route 40. The bucolic area was once home to a private game resort, owned by Pittsburgh industrialist Willard Rockwell, who would invite associates for deer, bear and fox hunting, as well as fishing in the trout-stocked Beaver Creek. The businessman eventually added an airstrip, lodge and golf course to the property to accommodate an even wider range of guests.

It wasn't until the late 1980s that the property changed hands when Rockwell’s son Kent, (who was operating an inn on the property at the time), suffered some financial setbacks. Nemacolin went up for auction and was purchased by 84 Lumber Founder Joseph Hardy III, who set the wheels in motion to upgrade it to a world-class destination.

Today, Hardy’s daughter Maggie Hardy Magerko oversees operations at the AAA Four-Diamond Resort.

Comfortable Accommodations


room
My room at the Chateau Lafayette was beautiful, spacious and comfortable.


A variety of room options are available at the resort. During my stay, I enjoyed a spacious and elegantly appointed room at the Chateau Lafayette. Inspired by the Ritz Paris, the Chateau Lafayette was designed as an homage to the grand hotels of Europe, featuring vaulted ceilings, crystal chandeliers and marble bathrooms.

Additional accommodations created to cradle guests in the lap of luxury are at Nemacolin’s Falling Rock. The boutique hotel is the only Forbes Five Star, AAA Five Diamond property in Pennsylvania and includes 24-hour butler service.

Guests can also stay in the original resort known as The Lodge, which resembles an English country inn and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Nemacolin caters to the multi-generational travel trend by offering luxury vacation homes to larger groups. And for those who are loathe to leave their four-legged friends at home when they go on vacation, there is a select area of townhomes on the property where pets are welcome.

World Class Golf

Golf enthusiasts will be "in the zone" with Nemacolin's award-winning courses.

For the seasoned golfers, there's Mystic Rock, which earns top honors from Golf Magazine and Golf Digest and ranks number one in Golfweek’s “Best Courses in Pennsylvania.” Designed by Pete Dye, Mystic Rock was featured on the PGA Tour and has challenged such golf legends as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh.

Shepherd’s Rock, also located on the Nemacolin property, is another option. Rated number five in Golfweek’s “Best Courses in Pennsylvania,” it offers an outing that is both fun and challenging for golfers of all levels.

Additional Outdoor Activities

Nemacolin offers a range of activities designed to get the blood pumping. The area is popular for biking, hiking, miniature golf and tennis.

Guests interested in a little friendly competition can race each other on the 3,000-foot zipline known as the Fatbird Superflyer, or challenge themselves on a ropes course, scramble their way up to the top of a 50-foot, freestanding climbing wall, or hone their paintball skills in a makeshift town equipped with an array of targets.

One activity that is fun and fascinating for all ages is the Safari Tour, which transports guests to the wildlife preserve where a chain-link fence is the only barrier between humans and animals. Lions, tigers and bears romp freely over the expanse of land, often responding to human voices and venturing towards the guests for an up-close-and personal visit.
zoo
Animals that can be seen on the Safari tour. 
zoo


While I was visiting, a few intrepid members of our group opted to tackle 20 miles of rugged off-road terrain in a Jeep Rubicon, after a short lesson from a seasoned instructor. I chose, instead, to take part in something a little less adventurous. I'd share the landscape I painted in the art class conducted on site, but I'd rather you use your imagination to envision burnt scrub brush, because that's a pretty accurate description of how it turned out. Unlike Bob Ross, none of my artistic accidents are happy ones.
off-roading
Guests take part in the off-road Jeep experience. (Photo courtesy of Nemacolin Woodland Resorts)
Additional activities, such as top-rated sport clay shooting and seasonal bird hunts, are available at the Nemacolin Field Club Complex, which spans 140 acres of woodlands and touts some of the finest fishing streams and creeks in the eastern United States.

During the colder months, guests can tube, ski and snowboard on Nemacolin’s very own Mystic Mountain, which features six slopes ranging from beginner to expert.

Indoor activities are available as well. For the younger set, there’s the three-foot-deep Kidz pool and the Hardy Girls Gymnasium complete with foam pit, balance beams, a trampoline and more. If that’s not enough, there’s also the Kidz Klub Arcade, which features a variety of arcade games to keep the little ones entertained for hours. Another favorite kids spot is P.J.'s for ice cream, pizza, milkshakes and more.
car
Kid's especially enjoy P.J.'s for ice cream, milkshakes and pizza.

50s diner

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A booth made from an antique car at P.J.'s
Five-Diamond Dining 
restaurant
Lautrec has earned a AAA-Five Diamond award and a Five-Star award from Forbes.

Among the dining options available at Nemacolin is Lautrec—a restaurant so excellent and well regarded that it received not only a AAA Five-Diamond award, but also a Five-Star award from Forbes. The European-influenced restaurant is one of only 30 in the world to hold both designations for more than a decade.

Executive Chef Kristin Butterworth proves herself worthy of the distinction with each meal she prepares and guests walk away with an understanding of why Lautrec maintains its reputation as one of the finest restaurants in Pennsylvania. Outstanding food, white-glove service and a beautiful décor, (which includes six original Toulouse Lautrec lithographs), all add up to a one-of-a-kind experience that is far beyond the ordinary.

Plenty of Shopping Opportunities

Shopping opportunities are plentiful at Nemacolin, with 17 stores and boutiques offering everything from art and apparel, to jewelry, cigars and golf clubs.

My favorite is the Chateau Signature Shoppe located in the Chateau Lafayette. There you’ll find a selection of candles, gifts and apparel featuring designers like Ted Baker, John Varvators, Peter Millar and my favorite Samuel Dong, whose joyful designs seem to elicit a smile from everyone I encounter. I can never resist his fashions and ended up splurging on a spring coat that appeared to be lifted directly from a watercolor painting, decorated in happy hues of chartreuse, purples, pinks, greens and blues.

A Great Place to Unwind
massage
The Woodlands Spa offers a hot stone massage. (photo courtesy Nemacolin Woodlands Resort)
If you are feeling a little stressed, The Woodlands Spa is designed to help you unwind with an array of services from facials, to body scrubs, manicures and pedicures. Unique signature services include a Water Path treatment designed to stimulate circulation using alternating water temperatures along a pebbled pathway to improve blood and lymph flow, the Shirodhara, which is designed to increase blood circulation and improve sleep, and the Dream Catcher, which is a blend of Native American and Hawaiian Lomi Lomi healing techniques.

An Extensive Art Collection

If you’re an art lover, you’ll feel as though your head is on a swivel as you take in the staggering display of art on display both inside and out. You’ll see works by renowned artists ranging from Alexander Calder, to Frederic Remington, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, J.J. Audubon and more.
heart art
"Heart Grenade" is just one of many art works at Nemacolin.


bronze
"Old Man and Dog," bronze. Glenna Goodacre

One work that appears in numerous places on the property is “Fat Bird,” a bronze created by Barney Boller. “Fat Bird” was personally selected by Maggie, who oversees operation. “The Fat Bird is fun and whimsical, much like the expectations of our guests,” she said.
bronze
"A Rare Bird Indeed" Barney Boller.
When I saw something that piqued my interest during the day, I took the time to do a little research in my room later that evening.  For example, I learned about the incredible amount of work it takes to make each one of the framed Hermes scarves I passed while walking through a long hallway to breakfast each day. This information gave me a renewed appreciation for the iconic Hermes brand. Fun fact: Hermes ensures the finest quality of silk by providing silkworms with a fortified diet of mulberries.
scarf
Hermes silk scarves festoon the walls in a hallway at Nemacolin.

scarf


Guests who fail to explore the outside of the resort may miss quite a bit of art, so be sure to jump in the car and drive around the grounds. Below are a few examples of the many pieces located around the property.
Bronze by J. Seward Johnson, Jr.
Shaping Up, Bronze. J. Seward Johnson, Jr. 1986
Buddha
A Buddha sits outside a chapel built for reflection.
Sculpture by Prince Monyo
"Oh Happy Day." Bronze, Prince Monyo
Another item of note is this section of the Berlin Wall located on Lafayette Drive, which was donated by Lord Peter Palumbo to inspire future generations to diligently safeguard liberty.

Peter Palumbo


I hope these few highlights are useful should you decide to venture out to Farmington, Pennsylvania to experience this interesting destination.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Enjoying a Taste of Sunshine City in St. Petersburg, Florida


mural
This is one of many murals that can be seen around "St. Pete."

This exhibit at the St. Petersburg Museum of History tells the story of an editor who gave away free newspapers every day the sun refused to make an appearance.
When you mention the "winter doldrums," almost everyone gets it. The "summer doldrums" are practically unheard of, that is, unless you're a Pennsylvanian. We toughed out a long winter thinking that dry, sunny days would make an entrance around June.  Unfortunately, that didn't happen this year. In fact, we survived the wettest summer on record and almost every plan was scuttled by pesky precipitation. As I made plans for a winter getaway, I learned that St. Petersburg, Florida enjoys an average year-round temperature of 81 degrees a year and an incredible 361 days of sunshine. That, I determined, was where I wanted to be! While researching this phenomenon, I learned the story of Lew Brown, editor and owner of The Evening Independent, who declared the area, "Sunshine City," and offered to give away free newspapers every time the sun failed to shine. He started the practice in 1910 and ended it in 1986. During the 76-year-period, he gave away free papers only 296 times.  If you happen to be close to the Harrisburg International Airport you can fly there directly via Allegiant Air and be basking in the sun's rays in no time.

This alone was enough to woo me to the area, but I learned quickly that there's so much  to do and see. 

Miles of Beaches Await

What I looked forward to the most was kicking off my boots, slipping into a pair of sandals and sinking my toes into some nice warm sand and the St. Petersburg area provides plenty of it, with 35 miles of white-sand beaches. In fact, two rate highly on TripAdvisor's 2017 list of best beaches. St. Pete Beach, known for its Old Florida hotels and inns, its pristine white sand and opportunities for shell collecting ranks #1 beach in the United States. Clearwater Beach ranks #2 and is popular for its gulf-front promenade and nightly sunset celebrations at Pier 60 where visitors can shop among vendors while enjoying live music and a variety of entertainers.

During our visit, we took a stroll along North Beach at Fort Desoto Park in Tierra Verde and had almost the entire place to ourselves. Fort Desoto Park is known for its hiking and biking trails, fishing piers and waterfront camping and is accessible via toll road. The park is also a gateway site for the Great Florida Birding Trail
North Beach at Fort De Soto Park
On our drive home, I spotted these tame little guys and we pulled the car over and carefully crept into a cove to snap a few shots.
The Ibis uses his long beak to probe for insects.

Viewing the Second Largest Salvador Dali Collection

The largest Salvador Dali collection is housed in his hometown of Figueres, Spain, while St.  Petersburg lays claim to the second largest collection. The Salvador Dali Museum is listed as the top attraction in the area and a must-see for Dali fans. Works from every period of Dali's career are housed in the hurricane-proof building, which features a free-form geodesic glass bubble, known as "the enigma." Docents are onsite to offer tours. For guests who prefer to explore on their own, headsets provide narration about the works on display.


Self-portrait, age 17, prior to entering art school in Madrid. "I let my hair grow as long as a girls....as soon as possible I wanted to make myself look unusual. I brought a large black felt hat and a pipe which I did not smoke," said Dali.

"Portrait of My Sister," 1923. This painting hints at their sometimes contentious relationship. Tensions flared when Dali's future wife Gala entered the picture. Is Ana Maria depicted as being bit heavy handed?
"Enchanted Beach Featuring Three Fluid Graces," 1938
Among the many tidbits offered on the tour is that Dali was born into a middle-class Spanish family. His father worked as a notary and was an unabashed atheist. Dali's mother, on the other hand, was a devout Catholic. As the only male child in the family, Dali was known to be doted upon and often threw tantrums when he failed to get his own way.
This unusual bench is installed on the grounds of the Dali Museum.

Visiting the Museum of Fine Arts



Located within a 10-minute stroll of the Dali Museum is the Museum of Fine Arts. Created by Margaret Acheson Stuart, the destination, located along the St. Petersburg waterfront, first opened to the public in 1965.

The sprawling museum features a range of art spanning approximately 5,000 years. Artists include Monet, Rodin, O'Keeffe and many others, as well as ancient Greek, Roman, African, Asian, Art of the Americas and Native American art.

"Shiva as the Lord of Dance." Bronze. India. 19th Century

Albert Wein, American. Direct carving, cherry wood, 1937. "Horizons" 
Norman Rockwell, 1930. "Two Gentlemen Sharing a Pot of Coffee"

A room in the Museum of Fine Arts.

Bertel Thorwaldsen, Danish. Marble. Early 19th Century. "Mercury about to Slay Argus" 
Antoine Bourdelle, France. Bronze, 1924. "Le Poete"
Michael Glancy, American. Blown glass, 2007. "Stiletto Fusion"
Yasumasa Morimura, Japanese. Dye diffusion, thermal transfer print, 2001. "An Inner Dialogue with Frida Kahlo"
The nice thing about this particular museum is that it's open seven days a week and closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, so no matter when you visit the area, it's likely to be open.

St. Pete's Crown Jewel--The Chihuly Collection
When you spot this sculpture, you'll know you've located the Chihuly Museum. 



You don't have to travel to Seattle to see jaw-dropping art glass sculptures created by Dale Chihuly. The glass artist maintains a permanent collection in St. Petersburg in a 10,000 square foot gallery located at 720 Central Avenue.
Niijima Floats, by Dale Chihuly
Be sure to bring your camera because you'll want to share the beauty of the sculptures contained within the collection. The way the lighting is set up, it's difficult to take a bad picture. Squiggly, dazzling, colorful, striking, one-of-a-kind works wait around every corner to captivate. The piece below was commissioned especially for the St. Petersburg site and is known as the "Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier."

The tour of the glass collection won't take more than a half hour or so, but be sure to set aside some extra time to view the film at the end to gain insight on how Dale Chihuly creates these magnificent pieces. Learning how the renowned artist works is certainly intriguing. Afterward, consider visiting the Glass Studio and Hot Shop at the Morean Arts Center located directly across the street. There you can witness a glass-blowing presentation, or opt for a one-on-one lesson with a professional glass artist.

The Chihuly Collection and the Morean Arts Center are open daily year round. Check websites for hours.

Shops Galore
If shopping is your favorite vacation pastime, you'll be happy to learn that St. Petersburg is known for its shopping opportunities, with 30 blocks of shops on Central Avenue alone.
The pieces above are created by artist Nano Lopez and are for sale at Ocean Blue Galleries. Lopez creates the pieces from clay and transforms them into bronze. Learn about the process by clicking here.

More items for sale at Ocean Blue Galleries.
Florida CraftArt on Central Avenue offers a wide variety of pieces created by local artists.

Have a seat near a crocodile at Red Cloud Indian Arts.

The Sundial Mall, located at the corner of Second Street and Second Avenue near the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg, is quite popular with locals and visitors alike. There you'll find shops like White House/Black Market, Chico's and more. After giving your credit card a workout, you can go for broke with a nice meal at Ruth Chris' steakhouse, or simply grab something to go at the Locale Market.
Zazoo'd, also located on the Central Avenue, features an array of unique home decor.

The Locale Market at the Sundial sells a wide range of artisan gourmet products.

More Dining Opportunities
The St. Petersburg area is well represented in the restaurant realm. We enjoyed a number of them during our visit, including the Moon under Water located at 332 Beach Drive and accessible by the free Downtown Looper. The British restaurant takes its unique name from the recruiting activities of the British army. Once a man accepted the "Queen's shilling," he was deemed to be a recruit. Often a sergeant would sidle up next to a drinker and drop the shilling into the man's pewter tankard. When the unsuspecting patron lifted the tankard and the ale touched his lips, that was the end of life as a free man and he was carted off for service. To counter the shady practice, the glass-bottom tankard was introduced so that if a customer was suspicious, he could hold it up and peek underneath before taking a drink.
The Moon Under Water located at 332 Beach Drive.
Next to the Moon Under Water is the Birchwood, which features a lovely rooftop bar called "The Canopy" where locals and visitors can take time to socialize and enjoy a drink beneath the stars.
The Canopy at The Birchwood
A short drive to the vacation area of St. Pete Beach will take you to Spinners Rooftop Revolving Bistro and Lounge located at the Grand Plaza Hotel & Beachfront Resort. Stumbling upon the unique restaurant during our explorations was a happy accident, however, lacking reservations we were relegated to lunch at the bar. Those lucky enough to nab a reserved seat near the windows were treated to an ever-changing view of the downtown and beach area.
If you want to enjoy a view at this revolving restaurant, I suggest making reservations in advance.
One last restaurant of note is located in Clearwater. The Columbia Spanish restaurant was recommended to us by a local and has been in operation for more than a century, starting in Tampa's Ybor City with a small cafe known for its Cuban sandwiches and coffee. Today they tout seven locations around Florida.
A server prepares "1905," the Columbia signature salad.
Pork chop with bourbon apricot fig sauce, rice and plantains served at the Columbia Spanish Restaurant.
Dolphin Spotting
No trip to Florida is complete without a dolphin sighting, so to ensure that we wouldn't miss out on that experience, we booked a tour with The Tropics Boat Tours in Clearwater. During the 75-minute excursion, we spotted quite a few, but try as I might, they were too fast for me and disappeared beneath the water as soon as I brought them into focus. I did manage, however, to take a video of the shoreline that we saw aboard the double-decker boat.
The guide also shared the inside scoop on the various celebrities who reside in the area, including Tom Cruise, who occupies the top three floors of the grey building you see in the distance in this picture.
Clearwater is home to the headquarters of Scientology and Tom Cruise
Afterward, as we walked back to our car, we spotted even more wildlife, just hanging out, enjoying the beautiful weather.
Pelicans perch near boats docked at a marina in Clearwater.
Accommodations
During our visit, we stayed in the heart of the action in a relatively new Hyatt Hotel located at 25 Second Street N. The Hyatt is located within walking distance of restaurants, shops, taverns and museums.
The lobby of the Hyatt, which is located within walking distance of restaurants, taverns, shops and museums.
If you're in search of historic (and pricier) accommodations, The Vinoy is located at 501 5th Avenue NE and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The award-winning hotel touts a championship golf course, an onsite spa, a private marina, a 5,000-square foot fitness center and offers onsite dining.
The exterior of The Vinoy. 
View from across the street.
The elaborate porch at the front entrance.
The Vinoy lobby.
The Mediterranean Revival-style hotel was built in 1925 by Aymer Vinoy Laughner and attracted notables like Babe Ruth, Jimmy Stewart, Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover. During World War II, it was taken over by the United States Army and used as a training school. After the war, the hotel was sold for $700,000 and continued to thrive until the 1960s. In 1974, the hotel closed and contents were sold at auction. The hotel remained dormant until the 1990s when a partnership between the Renaissance Hotels and Resorts and the Vinoy Corporation brought it back to life with a $93 million renovation. In 2005, the Vinoy earned AAA Four-Diamond Status.

Spending five days in the St. Petersburg area enabled us to get a good feel of what was going on not just in "St. Pete," but in neighboring areas as well. I can say without reservation that I certainly recommend it, especially during November when the temperatures hover in the high 70s and crowds are practically nonexistent. It certainly ranks high on my list as one of the most fun places I've ever visited.