Everything about Springs Eternal Spa is softness: plush towels, calming music, seasonal teas and snuggly blankets as you sink into a plump-cushioned chaise set by the fire or overlooking the gardens. And that’s just the spa’s cozy relaxation room at Pennsylvania’s historic Omni Bedford Springs Resort.
Set in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, the resort makes frazzled guests feel refreshed—which may be why it has played host to 13 U.S. presidents. (President James Buchanan made it his summer White House in the mid-1800s.)
Originally renowned for the purported healing effects of the area’s mineral springs, the 2,200-acre property today includes a golf course, tennis courts, 25 miles of hiking and biking trails, lawn croquet, an indoor pool, an outdoor pool complex and the 30,000-square-foot spa.
Renovations during the pandemic included the addition of Evitt House Coffee café, a fitness center, an archery range and off-road vehicle trails, as well as Tally Ho Outfitters, where guests can book yoga and Pilates classes or private sessions, guided hikes (including a meditative walk), carriage rides, horseback riding and equipment rentals for biking and fishing.
The resort’s 220 rooms and suites (some pet-friendly) feature high-end down comforters and sheets. Several also have balconies with rocking chairs, and some have bathrooms with soaking tubs.
Guests can dine on classic American gourmet fare in an 18th-century setting at the 1796 Room.
The outdoor pool opens in May, and daily children’s activities begin Memorial Day weekend. A “Spring Into Wellness” weekend—think spa, sunrise yoga and lazing about in a hammock—is June 2-4, and the Tally Ho Outfitters’ fishing tournament is June 18. Room rates begin at $274.
Omni Bedford Springs Resort, 2138 Business 220, Bedford, Pennsylvania; 814-623-8100