One Pennsylvania resort once received the first transatlantic cable message from England, way back in 1858. Another inn will cook your entire Thanksgiving dinner and hand it over for pickup on the big day.
I love that. Somebody else handles the turkey, and you handle the nap.
The state is full of old stone lodges, mineral springs, and farmhouses turned into inns. A few of them host turkey trots, holiday markets, and fireside dinners right as the season flips from autumn to Christmas.
I can’t think of a better excuse to skip the dishes this year. So which one gets your long weekend, the mountain castle or the farm with corncob joints in the walls?
Skytop Lodge
Few places can call themselves a fieldstone castle without blushing. Skytop Lodge pulls it off, sitting on a 5,500-acre wooded estate in the Pocono Mountains.
The lodge opened on June 16, 1928, and its Dutch Colonial Revival look still feels grand. It joined Historic Hotels of America in 2000, so the old-time elegance comes with credentials.
Thanksgiving here gets busy in the best way. The Windsor Dining Room serves a holiday buffet, while Lakeview offers dinner with specials.
Want to earn that second slice of pie first? The resort hosts an annual Turkey Trot 5K and Fun Run on Thanksgiving morning, collecting canned goods for a local food pantry.
The fun keeps rolling after the meal. Skytop starts celebrating Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving, with cookie decorating, a life-sized gingerbread house, and a visit from Santa.
Outdoor types get plenty of room to roam. More than 30 miles of trails wind through forests and past waterfalls, and guided hikes are offered.
The 18-hole golf course offers another way to enjoy the scenic grounds, while Skytop Lake adds lovely views. Kids can try the treetop adventure course or no-snow-needed tubing.
Evening campfires with marshmallow roasts finish the day nicely.
Address: 1 Skytop Dr, Skytop, PA 18357
Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa
President James Buchanan used this place as his Summer White House from 1857 to 1861. In 1858, the resort also received the first transatlantic cable message from England to the United States.
Yes, a spa resort made headlines in telecom history. That is a fun fact to drop over Thanksgiving dinner.
Omni Bedford Springs Resort and Spa dates to 1806 and sits around eight natural mineral springs. Native Americans used these waters long before anyone built a hotel here.
You can still sample the original spring water at the historic Stone Springhouse. The 30,000-square-foot Springs Eternal Spa uses mineral waters in treatments like the signature Bedford Baths.
The indoor spring-fed pool is a big deal too. Back in 1905, the resort installed one of the first indoor spring-fed swimming pools in America.
For the holiday itself, the resort offers a Thanksgiving Day Feast. Other days, the Crystal Room serves upscale Appalachian cuisine with seasonal, local ingredients.
The golf course was established in 1895 and later restored to its original layout. With 2,200 acres for hiking and biking, a post-turkey walk is easy to find.
Guided historic tours cover the resort’s long story.
Address: 2198 Sweet Root Rd, Bedford, PA 15522
Nemacolin Resort
Getting there is half the fun. The drive to Nemacolin runs along the National Pike, a historic road through the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania.
Once you arrive, the scale of the place sinks in. Nemacolin is a sophisticated retreat in rural Fayette County, with classy rooms, fine dining, and two golf courses.
This is a resort that likes to keep you busy. Guests can tour the property, book time at the spa, play mini golf, and sit down to a fancy dinner.
Snowboarding is part of the lineup too, when the weather cooperates. That makes it a fun pick if your family has a few restless members who can’t sit still after dessert.
Service and decor are a big part of the appeal. The staff works hard to handle special requests, which matters when you’re juggling a holiday crowd.
Thinking about a full itinerary? Nemacolin sits in the same Laurel Highlands region as Ohiopyle and the Frank Lloyd Wright houses, so the scenery around it is a bonus.
For a long weekend that feels like a true splurge, this one checks a lot of boxes. Just leave room in your schedule for that scenic drive home.
Address: 1001 Lafayette Dr, Farmington, PA 15437
The French Manor Inn and Spa
A 1930s stone manor serving French food in the Poconos sounds like a movie plot. Happily, it’s a real place, and you can book a room.
The French Manor Inn and Spa sits in Newfoundland, a quiet corner of the mountains. Its secluded setting offers scenic views of the Poconos, which is the whole point of a getaway.
Food takes center stage here. The inn is known for elevated French dining, so you can trade the usual casserole chaos for something a little more refined.
Picture yourself not washing a single roasting pan. Okay, that may be the most appealing part of the entire trip.
Pampering ranks high on the list too. The spa-focused experience fits a weekend when you mostly want to relax and recharge.
There’s also a saltwater pool on the property. Rooms are elegant, matching the stately stone exterior.
Couples tend to love this kind of spot. It feels romantic and calm, which makes it a strong pick if you want a grown-up break after the family gathering.
One night or three, the plan stays simple. Eat well, unwind, and gaze at the hills.
Address: 50 Huntingdon Dr, Newfoundland, PA 18445
The Settlers Inn
Here’s a holiday plan with zero dish duty. The Settlers Inn offers a Farm-to-Table Thanksgiving Dinner To Go, with pickup on Thanksgiving morning.
Grab your feast, then head back to your room or a rental nearby. It’s a smart way to enjoy a homemade-style meal without touching a peeler.
The inn itself is a restored Arts and Crafts lodge. Look for native chestnut wood beams, Bradbury and Bradbury hand-screened wallpapers, Fulper handcrafted tiles, and Mission-style furniture.
Hungry the rest of the weekend? The restaurant serves dinner nightly and brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
Menus highlight products from local farms. Dishes have included Blooming Grove Brook Trout, cavatelli verde, and roasted chicken.
Hawley makes a great home base too. The historic Bellemonte Silk Mill, built in 1880, sits nearby and holds shops, galleries, and Cocoon Coffeehouse and Bakery.
Lake Wallenpaupack is just down the road. The 13-mile-long lake was created in 1925 and 1926, which means 2026 marks its centennial year.
Between the lake trail, downtown shops, and that famous to-go dinner, this is an easy weekend to love. Your oven will thank you.
Address: 4 Main Ave, Hawley, PA 18428
The Lodge at Woodloch
Hawley shows up twice on this list, and honestly, the town earned it. Just outside downtown, The Lodge at Woodloch offers a completely different kind of escape.
This one is all about rest. The elegant lakeside property centers on a spa, so your weekend can revolve around soaking, stretching, and doing very little.
Food gets serious attention here. The locavore restaurant focuses on local ingredients, which feels right for a season built around harvest meals.
Prefer to move around after eating? Fitness activities are part of the program, giving you a way to balance out holiday treats.
The scenery helps too. The property sits beside a lake in the Pocono woods, a calm backdrop for a late November morning.
Many guests come here to recharge after a hectic stretch. Parents who need a break from daily chaos will likely find this pitch hard to resist.
Free Wi-Fi is available, though you may decide to ignore it. That might be the healthiest choice of the whole trip.
Combine a stay with a stroll through downtown Hawley or a peek at the lake. Then head back for another spa session.
Address: 109 River Birch Ln, Hawley, PA 18428
Hotel Fauchère
A chef from Delmonico’s in New York City built this hotel. Louis Fauchère opened it in 1852, and fine food has been part of its identity ever since.
The hotel stayed in the Fauchère family for 124 years. After an extensive restoration, it reopened in 2006 and now belongs to Historic Hotels of America.
Hotel Fauchère sits right in the center of Milford. That puts independent shops and galleries a short stroll from your door.
Inside, the vibe is understated and graceful. Elegant rooms come with free breakfast, which is a nice gift on a sleepy holiday morning.
Dining is where the history really shines. The Delmonico Room serves a prix fixe dinner menu, and Bar Louis offers a bistro menu.
Got a sweet tooth? Patisserie Fauchère, a French bakery, is part of the property too.
The hotel also houses an art collection and a formal walled garden. It works as a cultural center for the town.
Milford is a lovely place to wander over a long weekend. Spend the day browsing Broad Street, then end it with a fancy dinner in a room with real old-school flair.
Address: 401 Broad St, Milford, PA 18337
The Inn At Leola Village – A Historic Hotel of America
You can sleep in a converted tobacco barn here. The buildings once supplied tobacco to Lancaster’s cigar factories, and now they hold some very comfy rooms.
The story starts in 1867, when the Lehman family ran a tobacco farm. By the late 20th century, the farmhouses and barns sat abandoned.
A local hotelier saved them from demolition in 2000. The inn joined Historic Hotels of America the very next year.
Look closely at the restored structures. Original wood beams and corncob joints are still preserved, which is a detail I adore.
Rooms are spread across an antique Amish home, a cottage, and those barns. Many feature electric fireplaces and whirlpool baths.
Osteria Avanti, the on-site restaurant, plans a Thanksgiving dinner. On regular days it serves rustic Italian-inspired food, with house-made pastas and local ingredients.
The Spa at Leola Village offers massage, skin treatments, and hair and nail services. Landscaped perennial gardens surround the property.
Step outside and you’re in Pennsylvania’s Amish country. Nearby options include Abe’s Buggy Rides, The Amish Experience, and tours at Old Windmill Farm.
Lancaster Central Market is a short drive away.
Address: 38 Deborah Dr, Leola, PA 17540
Historic Hotel Bethlehem
Bethlehem’s very first house went up in 1741 on the exact spot where this hotel now stands. Talk about a solid foundation.
Historic Hotel Bethlehem opened in 1922, funded by Charles M. Schwab of Bethlehem Steel.
Its Beaux Arts design features tall palladium windows and seven murals by George Gray.
Timing is everything here. The town calls itself Christmas City, USA, and Thanksgiving weekend is when the festive mood kicks into gear.
Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem runs Friday through Sunday of the holiday weekend. It features more than 200 artisans, plus Moravian glass stars and glassblowing demonstrations.
Need a breather from shopping? The Historic Bethlehem Turkey Trot 5K and Fun Walk is set for that Saturday.
The hotel has a Thanksgiving menu, with The Tap Room and 1741 on the Terrace open. Guests also get free Moravian Sugar Cake and coffee in the lobby every day.
History waits right outside. The Moravian Church Settlements became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024.
The Moravian Book Shop, founded in 1745, sits across the street. It’s the world’s oldest continuously operating bookstore.
Grab a novel and call it souvenir shopping.
Address: 437 Main St, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Glasbern – A Historic Hotel of America
Some people want a holiday weekend with a packed schedule. Glasbern is for the folks who’d rather stare at a field for an hour and feel great about it.
This luxurious country inn sits on a 130-acre estate in rural Lehigh County. The setting is rustic and romantic, with beautiful views across the grounds.
Meals are a big draw. The farm-to-table restaurant serves superb dinners in a comfortable room.
Mornings start well too. Breakfast is free and made to order, which beats cold leftover stuffing any day.
Rooms lean romantic and relaxing. That makes this inn a natural pick for couples marking an anniversary or just escaping the family table for a bit.
There’s a pool on the property, along with meeting space. Glasbern also works as an event venue, so the grounds are designed to impress.
The location helps with planning. Fogelsville sits in the Lehigh Valley, putting Bethlehem’s holiday market within reach for a day trip.
Spend one day exploring and the next doing absolutely nothing. Glasbern makes either option feel like the right call.
Address: 2141 Packhouse Rd, Fogelsville, PA 18051
Allenberry Resort & Spa
Some families pass down recipes. Others pass down a favorite resort, and Allenberry has been that place for more than one generation.
The setting does a lot of the work. Old stone buildings sit beside Yellow Breeches Creek in the village of Boiling Springs.
You can even fish right on the grounds. That’s a handy way to keep restless relatives busy while the rest of the group relaxes.
Allenberry has a playhouse, which adds a dose of live entertainment to your stay. A spa and a restaurant round out the main attractions.
There’s also a cafe for lighter bites. Rooms feel homey, and free Wi-Fi comes standard.
Active guests have choices. Tennis courts and pickleball are available, and the outdoor pool serves summer visitors.
Lodging options include the Mansion, one of the property’s historic buildings. Its old-school look matches the resort’s classic charm.
Boiling Springs sits in south-central Pennsylvania, not far from Carlisle. The quiet village feel makes a nice change from busy holiday highways.
Catch a show, take a creekside walk, and book a massage. That’s a pretty solid recipe for a long weekend.
Address: 1559 Boiling Springs Rd, Boiling Springs, PA 17007
The Inn at Bowman’s Hill
Two-person whirlpool tubs might be the best argument for skipping the kids’ table. The Inn at Bowman’s Hill offers them, along with plenty of quiet.
This elegant bed and breakfast sits on a 5-acre estate in Bucks County. It’s just outside New Hope, a riverside town known for arts and culture.
Rooms come with fireplaces, perfect for a chilly November evening. Bring a book, light the fire, and let the world wait.
The inn focuses on quality service and cuisine. That makes it a strong choice for a romantic escape or a gift for parents who deserve a break.
Nearby attractions add easy day plans. Washington Crossing Historic Park preserves the site of Washington’s famous 1776 Christmas night crossing of the Delaware River.
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve features trails showing hundreds of native Pennsylvania plants. Peddler’s Village in Lahaska glows with about a million holiday lights once the season begins.
Back in New Hope, the Bucks County Playhouse stages Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn starting in mid-November. A show and a fireside night make a fine pairing.
There’s even an outdoor pool for warmer months. Consider that your excuse to come back next summer.
Address: 518 Lurgan Rd, New Hope, PA 18938
