this past weekend i spent a two night stay at crystal springs resort in hamburg, new jersey. after being told i couldn’t fly back in december, this made for an incredible (and super local!) mini-babymoon to get us through the home stretch as we wait for our little girl’s arrival. read on for the scoop on this incredible tri-state getaway!
a little background: stephen and i had planned a trip to miami december 27th but after landing myself in the labor & delivery ward on the 24th due to excess fluid causing false contractions, i was told i couldn’t fly…. so we abruptly cancelled our trip and wound up booking this weekend getaway as an alternative. it turned out to be such a great idea! we left on friday afternoon around 2pm. since it’s only an hour away, we were there just in time to check in and enjoy the premises! our room (a 1 bedroom suite) was gorgeous. with high ceilings, wood beams, a stone fireplace & every rustic detail you could possibly think of…. we felt like we were at a beautiful ski lodge (and the snowy balcony views added to the aesthetic, that’s for sure!)
after settling into our suite we were presented with the sweetest cheese board and sparkling cider which we consumed in front of our fireplace…. they know the way to a preggo girl’s heart!!!
then we got gussied up for our first dinner, which was at crystal tavern! this restaurant was delicious. we started with a ‘bar snack’ of buffalo wings. my favorite part about this tavern is the fact that they have a MOCKTAIL LIST!!!! such a pleasant surprise. i had a “from thailand with love” minus the egg white, which consists of: yuzu, masala chai, honey, egg white & club soda. it was so refreshing! not too sweet either, which i loved. i felt like i was having a real pre-dinner cocktail! the pork chop i ordered was epic (and delicious) and i washed it all down with a spicy mexican style hot chocolate. i’ve really been into hot chocolate this pregnancy.
the next morning was an early one, because we had appointments booked at the reflections spa!!! if you know me at all, you know i LOVE a good spa day… so this was top priority for me when finding the perfect place to have a babymoon getaway. i’ve been getting monthly prenatal massages, and the one i received at crystal springs was absolutely fantastic. in fact, i connected with my masseuse (erin) and we chatted the whole time about motherhood and pregnancy (… and i still left completely relaxed!) the spa is decked out in crystals hanging from the ceiling (to go with the crystal springs theme, i’d assume!) and the complimentary foot soak lounge is a really nice touch to ensure you come out of your haze of bliss slowwwwwly before entering the real world again. hubby had a regular massage that he also really enjoyed!
after the spa we headed to the biosphere pool… which was basically the entire reason we decided to do this mini getaway in the first place: it’s an inground pool, nestled among palm trees and greenery… outdoors…. yet enclosed in a gigantic clear dome. it’s temperature controlled (as a matter of fact it’s humid enough to feel like we were actually in miami!) and it’s the trippiest experience to be in your bathing suit looking past the glass to the snow!!!! complete with a sauna, hot tub and water slide… this pool is an incredible place to come if you want to relax in the water or bring your kids to allow them some swim time in the dead of winter! imagine spending the whole day on the ski slopes, only to come back and take a dip in this indoor/outdoor oasis. stephen and i lounged here all day long… ate lunch at our recliners and vegged out. it was exactly what we needed, and being in a pool of water felt AMAZING on my 9-months-pregnant belly.
for our last meal at crystal springs we opted to dine at springs bistro, the italian restaurant on the premises! i’m a sucker for homemade pasta, so it was a no-brainer that i try the rigatoni with pork ragu. this is only after trying the fresh mozzarella and meatballs as appetizers. it was absolutely delicious!
the weekend was a fabulous one, spent in cozy accommodations with delicious food and wonderful amenities! not to mention the most unbelievable views…. i forgot i was in new jersey! if you’re looking for a local getaway in the tri-state area, i urge you to check out crystal springs resort. it takes such little effort to get there, and once you’re there you’ll have an absolute ball! i’m adding this to my list of “things i love about new jersey”. follow along on instagram to stay in the loop! coming next…. “what i’m packing in my hospital bag”!
