Highlights: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa

•The Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is a European-styled hotel that stands on 2,800 wooded acres in the Laurel Highlands of Southwestern Pennsylvania

•Resort includes three separate properties: Falling Rock, Chateau Lafayette, and The Lodge, which is connected to the Chateau.

•Fine cuisine offered in three restaurants, with casual fare available in three pubs/grills

•Comprehensive business center open during the week, along with 31,000 square feet of configurable meeting space

•Resort offers numerous children’s amenities including a kid’s camp, horseback riding, an adventure pool, and an ice cream soda fountain

•Luxurious Mobil Four-Star spa offers comprehensive treatment options and state-of-the-art fitness facilities

Amenities: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa

• 220 rooms, 5 story. Check-in 3 pm, check-out Noon. Restaurant, bar. Children's activity center. Fitness room. Two indoor pools, two outdoor pools, whirlpools. Golf. Tennis.

General Impressions: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa

Located about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh in the center of Pennsylvania, Nemacolin Woodlands is a destination resort that combines pampering amenities with a picturesque, natural setting. Although there are plenty of activities to keep you occupied for an extended stay , there are a few offsite area attractions that shouldn’t be missed. Architecture fans should take the time to visit two of Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpieces, Falling Water and Kentuck Knob, both located within a 20-minute drive of the resort. The closest town, Uniontown, offers basic shopping options, fine dining, and a movie theater.

I found Nemacolin Woodlands to be an ideal choice for a family vacation. Kids can participate in organized activities through the Kids Club, which includes a Dino Discovery program about paleontology, crafts, swimming in both indoor and outdoor pools, tennis, and croquet, and an arcade stocked with video games. Baby-sitting is available by advance arrangement with the concierge.

If it’s romance you seek, you and your sweetheart can find it here. Extra amenities like a couple’s massage at the spa, private dining at a chef’s table at Lautrec or Aqueous, cooking classes and posh room finishes like marble baths and 1200-count sheets on the beds in Falling Rock add up to a pampering experience. Creature comforts are a top priority throughout the resort, with all the rooms outfitted with top quality bed linens, oversized plush towels, and cozy bathrobes.

Business travelers will appreciate the meeting space options, along with the resort’s two golf courses, and golf academy. During my visit, the business center was closed, but the front desk took care of my needs, including copying, faxing, and help with Internet access. Dial up and Wi-Fi is available in all guest rooms, as are oversized desks which allow ample workspace for business travelers.

(+) Great location and elegant amenities designed for all types of travelers

Guest Services: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa

I found the general level of service at Nemacolin Woods, from front desk staff to concierge and wait staff in the restaurants, to be very good.

While I was quickly relieved of my bags, I would have appreciated if the doorman would have directed or escorted me into the lobby and registration area. Despite this minor hiccup, check-in went swiftly. I didn’t mind waiting a little while to get into my room because I arrived earlier than my check-in time, but I would have preferred being directed to a lounge or restaurant during my wait.

I was often greeted by name during my stay, a detail that added a touch of warmth to the experience. Throughout my stay, I found the staff genuinely interested in my satisfaction, very helpful, and accommodating without being overly solicitous. My only frustration was that I had to ring 12 times for staff to answer the phone for me to put in a request for a wake-up call.

(+) Staff provided genuine, warm service
(-) Wake-up service needs to be more responsive to requests

Guest Rooms: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa

The resort’s 335 guest rooms, suites, and private luxury homes are spread throughout three different boutique hotels -- Falling Rock, Chateau Lafayette, and The Lodge. All of the rooms feature high quality linens, and offer two-line telephones, high-speed Internet service, 24-hour room service, and nightly turndown.

The design and style of my room was reminiscent of a country manor – soothing earth tones, dominated by a lush palette of woodsy green, made for a calming retreat, a sense that was underscored by the lack of outside noise and distraction from other guests. I was happy to find plenty of closet and drawer space, although the closet could have used a light. The large marble bath included a generous grooming area, but while it was clean, it wasn’t as immaculate as I expected. An outdoor patio brought the verdant countryside into view.

(+) Well-appointed rooms are designed with the guest’s comfort in mind
(-) Housekeeping isn’t as consistent as expected

Facilities & Activities: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa

Both indoor and outdoor adventures abound at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, allowing you to relax or play as much as you want during your stay.

The Mobil Four-Star Woodlands Spa features 32,000 square feet of treatment rooms, workout facilities, and salon services. The spa menu features an array of massages, body therapies, hydrotherapy treatments and facials. Signature services include body kurs – a body scrubbing treatment based on the use of natural resources, including thermal mineral waters, algae, mud, essential oils, and herbs. East Indian Ayurvedic treatments use specific oils and herbs to bring mind, body, and spirit back into balance.

You can enjoy a full body workout on the fitness center’s cardio equipment, elliptical cross trainers, treadmills, Stairmasters, and free weights – all set up as a circuit training routine. Personal trainers and fitness classes are available at an extra charge, with options including cardio kick, water aerobics, step aerobics, yoga, Pilates, and special programs just for golfers. A new squash court was recently added to the fitness options.

My spa treatment was a real stress reliever and was made even better by the spa’s serene feng shui vibe. The staff was polite, and my therapist had a gentle touch. The fitness center was truly state of the art, from the individual flat screen TVs at each cardio station to the floor-to-ceiling windows that invited the gorgeous views indoors.

If you’re interested in outdoor activities, you can keep it simple with nature hikes in the woods, bike rides along the trails, or a leisurely tour of the grounds by horseback. Or for an adrenalin rush, try the adventure center, which provides extreme thrill seekers the chance to fly down a zip line, play a game of paintball, climb a 50-foot wall and drive an H1 or H2 Hummer through the Off-Road Driving Academy.

Golfers will appreciate the two 18-hole golf courses, including the well-regarded Mystic Rock Golf Course, designed by Pete Dye and home to PGA tour events. The second course, The Links, is a traditional Scottish design with thick woods, high rough, and lakes surrounding the fairways.

(+) State-of-the-art spa and workout area, and numerous outdoor activities, available for recreation

Dining & Lounge: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa

In addition to 24-hour room service, the resort offers a wide range of dining options, both at the main hotels and out on the grounds.

Each of the three hotels within the resort offers a highly rated fine dining experience. Lautrec in the Chateau LaFayette features contemporary French cuisine in a traditional formal setting. At the Lodge, the Golden Trout specializes in seafood and steak in a rustic setting, with patio seating in the warmer months. And at Falling Rock, Aqueous is known for progressive American cuisine with the emphasis on locally sourced and regional ingredients.

If it’s views you’re after, check out the Gazebo, with its seasonal outdoor patio overlooking the mountains of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia.

For a quick bite after a game of golf, Caddyshack serves up casual pub fare between the 9th and 10th hole on The Links public course. Work up an appetite shooting clays, then fuel up at Orville’s Pub and Grille at the Shooting Academy.

My dining experience for both dinner and breakfast was very good. Service was attentive and knowledgeable, and I especially appreciated being greeted by name by both the hostess and the server. I found the overall quality and presentation of the food to be excellent. Room service in the morning was a treat, from the helpful order-taker who offered menu suggestions to the server, who asked how everything was when she picked up the food.

(+) A wide variety of dining experiences coupled with excellent cuisine

Business Services: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort’s business center is adequately equipped for those who need to do business on the road. Two semi-private computer stations and two private rooms with computers and printers are available for a fee, and staff can help with complimentary photocopies and faxes. But those who want to use the center should be aware that it’s only open Monday through Friday or by special appointment on Saturday. The center happened to be closed during my visit, however, the hotel staff took care good care of my needs.

When the center isn’t available, travelers can work in the comfort of their rooms, which are equipped with Internet access and a spacious workstation.

Nemacolin’s 31,000 square feet of meeting and banquet facilities include four ballrooms, a 200-seat lecture hall, and 11 meeting rooms that can be divided into 31 different spaces. The resort also provides state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and services.

This location also is very convenient for business travelers because of its private 3,900-foot airstrip available for private planes.

(+) Business center, meeting space, and private airstrip cater to business travelers
(-) Center is closed on weekends, but guests can turn to hotel staff for assistance if needed