Christmas at Omni Bedford Springs Resort
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
There are 2 gorgeous Omni properties in the state of Pennsylvania. One is located in downtown Pittsburgh and the other in Bedford Springs, a small town in the Allegheny mountains. Many famous politicians and Presidents have stayed at this resort. Most notably, they decorate very nicely for the holiday season, making it a great place for a vacation this time of year.
If you are seeking a relaxing getaway, complete with easy access to a multitude of outdoor activities, this gorgeous historic property is a great choice. Amenities include an indoor pool, spa, several restaurants and a lobby bar, morning yoga, complimentary puzzles and board games, and firepits where you can enjoy S’mores and cocktails.
If you are seeking a festive holiday getaway, this particular Omni is also a wonderful choice. Whether or not you are staying at the resort, it’s worth a visit over the holiday season to enjoy the seasonal decor and festive onsite restaurants. Mike and I stopped here on the way to our D.C. Christmas trip from Pittsburgh. We were very pleased with the gorgeous decor and great breakfast buffet in The Crystal Room. We would love to come back for an overnight stay to enjoy more of the amenities.
History of the resort
This location is considered one of the most historic of the properties. The resort is located on 8 mineral springs which were once a source of healing water for Native Americans and later travelers from around the world. In the late 1700’s, a local doctor bought the land and built a hotel as more guests came to enjoy the healing properties of the mineral waters. The pool was built using these healing waters which is pretty cool. On another historic note, this resort was home to one of the first indoor pools and golf courses.
The resort became very popular with the wealthy, especially politicians and Presidents. To date, 13 Presidents have stayed here. During James Buchanan’s presidency, this hotel served as his “summer White House.” Other notable Presidents who stayed at the resort include Ronald Reagan in 1975 and George W. Bush in 2012.
You can learn more during your visit or read more about the resort’s history via their website.
Christmas activities: It’s the best time of the year!
The entire resort is decked with holiday cheer – I was really impressed with the design. Festive wreaths, cozy fireplaces, garland, nutcrackers, Christmas trees, and gingerbread houses all came together to creative a cozy ambiance. The decor was not just thrown around, but rather elegantly presented. They did a nice job.
There are also a number of special holiday activities on the lineup. These include:
Gingerbread display – See the beautiful creations from the pastry team. On display throughout December.
Christmas cookie decorating – For 20 bucks plus tax, guests can create their own sugar cookies and take them home. Saturdays from Nov. 29th-Dec. 20th at 2pm.
Holiday movies – Enjoy free screenings of Christmas classics in the Anderson Room at 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays. This event runs throughout December.
Blitzen’s – On select nights, you can enjoy an over-the-top holiday experience at this pop up bar.
Take a look at the gorgeous holiday decorations around the property. I love that they paid attention to small details like the nutcrackers in the bookshelves and pretty red bows everywhere.
Even the outside is festively decorated with pretty red bows and garlands.
Holiday dining
The best place to dine over the holiday season is at the gorgeously decorated Crystal Room. The ambiance is very elegant and the sparkly winter trees add a special holiday touch. Consider enjoying the breakfast buffet even if you are not staying at the resort.
While the food is not quite up to par with other Omnis I have stayed at, it’s still a pretty place to dine over the holidays. The chefs work with local farms and use local and organic ingredients for a true farm-to-table dining experience. As someone who cares truly about where their food comes from, this was a big plus for me. On select days, kids can dine with Santa.
The breakfast buffet is priced at a steep $28 per person, although unlimited coffee, juice, and made to order omelets make it a slightly better value. In addition, the buffet line includes all the standards including eggs, breakfast meats, potatoes, yogurt parfait, oatmeal, pastries, bagels, and pancakes. I thought the coffee was fantastic and also enjoyed the croissants and made to order veggie omelet.
Resort Details
This resort is located at: 2198 Sweet Root Rd. in Bedford, PA.
To make reservations and explore resort amenities further, visit the resort’s website. Room rates range from $250-400 this time of year. Expect to pay more during peak holiday periods. Fortunately, parking is free, so if you are just visiting for the day no need to worry about extra costs.
I also recommend visiting the gorgeous Omni Grove Park Inn in the Blue Ridge mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. It is one of the most magnificent properties around and they host a wonderful gingerbread competition each year. Like this property, they also go over-the-top in the holiday decor department.
