Winston-Salem Journal: By Zenda Douglass

Rarely does a vacation involve just one destination; one place so replete in its attractions, activities and accommodations that visitors can unpack their bags and fill up their leisure time with just about anything they desire.

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is such a place. Situated on 2,000 acres in Farmington, Pa., Nemacolin lies about an hour southeast of Pittsburgh. Numerous small, rural towns dot the landscape in the surrounding area, offering historic sites, festivals, a winery, a brewery and a wide variety of outdoor activities. This scenic area is also known as the Laurel Highlands.
The resort’s namesake, Chief Nemacolin, was a native Delaware Indian who carved a trail through the Laurel Highlands Mountains between what is now Cumberland, Md., and Brownsville, Pa.
Nemacolin features 320 luxurious guestrooms, suites, townhouses and private upscale homes, including Falling Rock, a AAA Five Diamond boutique hotel. The resort offers championship golf, including the Pete Dye-designed Mystic Rock golf course, as well as an internationally acclaimed spa collection. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the Shooting Academy; Wildlife Academy that features everything from safari tours to dog sledding; Adventure Center, complete with zip lines and climbing wall; and Jeep Off-Road Driving Academy. Activities are available for every age group, making the resort attractive to families.

Nemacolin boasts 15 restaurants and lounges, including Lautrec, a Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond restaurant experience. Kristin Butterworth, Lautrec’s chef de cuisine, is currently the only female Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond chef in the world. For meetings and events, Nemacolin’s 32,000 square feet of conference space includes three ballrooms, a lecture hall and 25 meeting rooms.

The family-owned resort is home to a $45 million art collection that’s completely accessible to guests and the general public. A free art tour takes place daily, Monday through Friday. Guests interested in a more in-depth experience may enjoy the Curator’s Tour, which is available each Saturday.
Over the past 18 months, renovations and changes at the resort have totaled about $50 million and include a new pool, golf course and facilities, tennis courts, and a grand entrance.

Read more