pluierouge
August 19, 2024
TL;DR - It’s a really lovely resort that allows you to choose your own type of wellness. The grounds of the property are immaculate. The staff and the classes really make the experience. The spa is great but can also be hit or miss and can get crowded. And there are some things that can be improved (particularly at this price point). A small essay of my greats, goods, mehs, and gripes. First Impressions - After a windy journey up some interesting roads, arriving at the resort was an immediate delight. I was greeted by the security gate and directed to the valet, who promptly whisked my car away and took all my luggage. Check-in was quick, and the front desk staff were incredibly friendly, giving us a tour of the building. We were then directed to the spa for a tour, which was very helpful for getting acclimated. We went for a walk to explore while our room was being prepared and were quite impressed. The grounds are impeccably maintained and manicured. There are mostly paved paths directing you around the property, and anything not paved is well-groomed. There are even just arbitrary hammocks for your lounging delight. The grounds are lush, foliage is plentiful, the dock on the lake is perfect, and it’s fairly impossible to get lost since everything loops. Overall, there was lots of “ooo-ing” and “ahh-ing” the entire time! We were also blessed with the most lovely and mild weather. The Room - Our room was ready a short while before check-in time, and we were happy to settle into our 2nd-floor double veranda room facing the gardens. The room was generally nice—spacious, with a large closet, double vanity bathroom, two very comfortable beds, a TV, nice patio, etc. However, it didn’t feel very luxurious or even particularly resort-like, which was a bit of a surprise. It’s just your standard run-of-the-mill nice room, somewhat akin to a Marriott with a bit more cottagey personality. It would have been nice to have at least a teapot in the room. There is tea and coffee available in the garden room until 5 p.m., but after that, you have to ask the restaurant, which can be a chore if you want a cup of sleepy tea before bed. The Classes - After settling into our rooms, we immediately dashed off to a jewelry-making class. Be sure to follow their instructions and book classes in advance because it can get busy, and the popular ones do fill up. Our first class was with Jill, who was an absolute gem and had the patience of a saint as we fumbled with our wire to wrap around beads. We ended up taking a few classes with Jill, including a landscape acrylic class, a drawing mushrooms in the moonlight class, an oil pastel water lilies class, and a clay class. Each of these was super fun, appropriate for all skill levels, and well-designed. They also have a nice video and screen teaching setup, so you can follow along. We also took an outdoor watercolor class with Debra, which was lovely, and it was so nice to do art outside. Interlude at Blackmore Farm - M