{"id":7559,"date":"2009-08-13T08:18:39","date_gmt":"2009-08-13T12:18:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/foodembrace.com\/?p=7559"},"modified":"2009-08-13T08:18:39","modified_gmt":"2009-08-13T12:18:39","slug":"our-retreat-at-the-inn-and-spa-at-cedar-falls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foodembrace.com\/2009\/08\/our-retreat-at-the-inn-and-spa-at-cedar-falls\/","title":{"rendered":"Our retreat at The Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"View<\/a>Hi gang!\u00a0 Last month Scott and I were asked if we would like to attend a blogger getaway at The Inn and Spa at Cedar falls in August.\u00a0 The Inn is located in the Hocking Hills area of Ohio which is south of Columbus.\u00a0 Hocking Hills is an incredible area of woods and countryside.\u00a0 There are loads of parks, hiking trails, and water activities.\u00a0 Lots of cabins to rent for an amazing retreat.\u00a0 The fact that Hocking Hills is only an hour south of Columbus makes it a perfect destination for vacationing.<\/p>\n

Because Scott and I are country folk at heart and love being in the woods, Hocking Hills is an ideal area for us.\u00a0 Close enough to home that we aren’t traveling for hours\/days yet once there, it’s very private and relaxing.\u00a0 Since we love Hocking Hills, we jumped at the chance to be able to attend a small retreat.<\/p>\n

Originally, we were just going to go down for the day and not stay overnight because we were unable to bring Rocky with us.\u00a0 However, a few days before we were to leave, we were told that we could bring Rocky, no problem.\u00a0 Hooray!<\/p>\n

I got our itinerary a couple of days beforehand so I was able to plan out our trip.\u00a0 We were going to be busy, busy!\u00a0 Scott and I were super excited for the trip.\u00a0 A small vacation in the middle of the week made for a wonderful break.\u00a0 We had not been to Hocking Hills in quite sometime and both of us were happy to have the chance to visit again.\u00a0 We would be staying at The Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls<\/a> to review the accommodations and to meet with the owners, Ellen and her husband, Terry.\u00a0 Our stay was courtesy of the Inn owners and our only out-of-pocket expenses were gas, tips, and a bottle of wine that we purchased.<\/p>\n

This post is very long<\/em>! So grab a drink, get comfy, and let’s chat about the trip!\u00a0 Details after the jump.<\/p>\n

We left Wednesday afternoon around lunchtime and ate lunch in the car while soaking in the scenic drive down to the Inn.\u00a0 The Inn is not hard to find at all and is very easy to get to.\u00a0 Our spa appointment was scheduled for 3:30 and I was told that we could check-in to the cabin by 2pm.\u00a0 We arrived just after 2:30 in the afternoon.\u00a0 Nancy was manning the front desk and responsible for getting me checked in.\u00a0 Everything ran smoothly and she was able to find the bloggers itinerary so that she could give me a little bit more detail about the upcoming events.\u00a0 More specifically letting me know where I needed to be and where each place was located.<\/p>\n

I got directions to our cabin, which was The Strong Wolf cabin<\/a>.\u00a0 The Inn has two pet friendly areas, Strong Wolf Cabin, and one of the smaller cottages.<\/p>\n

\"Strong<\/a>Just a short drive down the road and a few turns brought us to the driveway of our cabin for the evening.<\/p>\n

\"Driveway<\/a>I’m not sure if you can tell from this picture, but the driveway up to the cabin was very steep!\u00a0 I was afraid our little hobbit car wasn’t going to make it.\u00a0 We had to drop gears and just take the path very slowly but we were able to make it!\u00a0 Had it been winter though, our car would not have made it up that driveway.\u00a0 Perhaps a small blurb on the website about the steep driveway so guests can take precautions would be beneficial.<\/p>\n

Once up the drive and around a corner, we arrived at our little cabin in the woods.<\/p>\n

\"Cabin<\/a>It’s really nestled down in there, isn’t it?\u00a0 Too cute!\u00a0 There were steps down to the front porch that led us right into the cabin.<\/p>\n

The cabin had two sections, a main floor area and a loft area.<\/p>\n

\"Cabin<\/a>From the front door, on the left was the kitchen and dining area.\u00a0 The table had some goodies waiting for us!<\/p>\n

\"Cabin<\/a>There were maps of the property, binders, journals, and some oatmeal cookies!<\/p>\n

\"Binders<\/a>There were two binders on the table.\u00a0 One had information about the Inn, local attractions, a copy of the restaurant menu, and other information about the area.<\/p>\n

The green binder was about all things green!\u00a0 How you can choose to live a greener life and everyday things that help the environment.\u00a0 Along with information about the Inn and how they try to run as green as they can.\u00a0 What a great touch! I really like knowing that places care about the area they live in and what efforts they put forth to try and preserve the space.<\/p>\n

The journal was for guests to document their stay.\u00a0 We would have added an entry but the journal was full!<\/p>\n

\"Cabin<\/a>The right side of the cabin was the den area with a fireplace and a couch situated to look out the lovely tall windows facing the woods outside.\u00a0 It was extremely peaceful and intimate.<\/p>\n

\"Cabin<\/a>Upstairs was a loft area that had a queen size bed along with bathroom facilities.\u00a0 A two person whirlpool tub, toilet, and sink.\u00a0 With the bathroom facilities out in the bed area, it makes things a little less cozy and private feeling.\u00a0 It’s not something that really concerns Scott and I, so we were cool with the set up.\u00a0 Just putting it out there in case potential guests prefer a separate bathroom area.<\/p>\n

Off the kitchen downstairs was the door to the back deck.<\/p>\n

\"Cabin<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Rocky<\/a><\/p>\n

It had a rocking chair, two adirondack chairs, and a nice little table area.\u00a0 There was a grill but that was located on the front porch.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/a>The view from the back deck was stunning.\u00a0 Surrounded by woods and all you could hear were the sounds of running water and whispering trees.\u00a0 There was a ravine in the back breaking up the woodland floor and providing a nice texture to the scenery.\u00a0 Strong Wolf cabin is isolated on its own 30 acres of land.\u00a0 There is nothing and no one around which is absolutely perfect for us.\u00a0 When we get away, we like being by ourselves!\u00a0 And we specifically search out cabins that are alone and on a lot of land.\u00a0 This ensures we won’t have to run into anyone on our vacation and that we can take hikes with Rocky.<\/p>\n

When we arrived at the cabin we had just enough time to take some pictures, set up Rocky’s crate, and change into comfy clothes. Then it was off to the spa for our couples massage!<\/p>\n

The Spa<\/strong><\/p>\n

The spa is located just a little ways down the road from the Inn gift shop and restaurant.\u00a0 And just a short distance from our cabin.\u00a0 The driveway up to the Inn is also a little steep.\u00a0 Not nearly like the driveway to the cabin, but it has a good incline to it.<\/p>\n

\"Spa<\/a>The walk from the driveway down to the spa is gorgeous!\u00a0 A lovely wooded trail evelopes you on your way down to the spa.\u00a0 It creates such a calm and relaxing atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\"Spa<\/a>Leading down to spa, are small ceramic signs posted along the trail.<\/p>\n

\"Steps<\/a>There’s a small hill with winding wooden steps marking the final path down to the spa cabin.<\/p>\n

\"Spa\"<\/a>The spa used to be a regular cabin on the Inn property that one could stay in.\u00a0 If I’m remembering right, it was converted into a spa in 2006.\u00a0 The spa offers many packages that will appeal to all types<\/a>.\u00a0 Inside is very cozy and intimate feeling which is a direct result of the spa being in a cabin.\u00a0 Many times you visit spas or salons and even though those places are very clean and relaxing, they can also seem very sterile.\u00a0 The Spa at Cedar Falls has none of that.\u00a0 It is very welcoming and relaxing starting with your first step down that wooded path.<\/p>\n

Scott and I enjoyed a couples massage with our therapists Randy and Nicole<\/a>.\u00a0 Both were extremely nice and happy to answer all of our (mostly mine) questions.\u00a0 This was our first time having a professional massage and I have to say the experience was perfect.\u00a0 Thank you Nicole and Randy for a great time!<\/p>\n

The spa is not just for Inn guests, anyone can book an appointment!\u00a0 They are perfect if you’re looking for a little retreat and escape from everyday activities.\u00a0 Or planning a girls day out, the spa would make for an ideal destination.<\/p>\n

After our appointment we had to hurry back to the cabin to get ready for dinner!<\/p>\n

Pre-dinner Drinks<\/strong><\/p>\n

We were to meet with the Inn’s Chef and also the Innkeepers.\u00a0 I was rushing around getting dressed and Scott who is never on time (ever) kept giving me up to minute time statuses.\u00a0 As if I was unaware of the situation.\u00a0 Silly boy!\u00a0 Dressed for a nice dinner out!<\/p>\n

\"On<\/a>Sorry about the yellow lighting! It was dark in the cabin on our way out.<\/p>\n

We arrived at the restaurant a little late but that was okay because the theme is that everything is relaxed and not rushed.\u00a0 Us being a few minutes late was not a big deal.<\/p>\n

The front of the restaurant is a small bar area called Kindred Spirits.\u00a0 You can sit and sip while chatting with some of the Inn workers.\u00a0 Or you can chat with your dining companion.\u00a0 Or if you’re like me, you’ll chat with everybody!<\/p>\n

\"Inn's<\/a>That is part of the bar area and behind that is the Inn’s kitchen!\u00a0 It’s a small space but it gets the job done, which is serving people great food.\u00a0 I love the open concept of the kitchen.\u00a0 You can see exactly what’s going on! Which for me personally I love because it gives me a little glimpse of how meals are prepped and served.\u00a0 When kitchens are squirreled away behind closed doors, I sort of get curious as to what is actually happening with all the food!<\/p>\n

When we walked in, Chef Anthony was giving out the details for the evening to the servers.\u00a0 I had never seen that before so it was interesting to sneak a peek.<\/p>\n

\"Scott<\/a>There’s also another little bar counter and this is where we sat and chatted for a while.\u00a0 Kindred Spirits used to be the restaurant area when the Inn first opened.\u00a0 It was small and intimate, only being able to accommodate a few tables.\u00a0 Ellen Grinsfelder’s (current Innkeeper) mother was owner and operator of the Inn at that time and she made all the meals for the Inn as well.\u00a0 She had a vision to provide people with a nice place to stay and hot meals to fill their bellies.\u00a0 What an undertaking that would be! To start and run an Inn would be hard enough, but adding on meals as well is a very ambitious adventure!<\/p>\n

While Scott was deciding on a drink, I sipped on some wine.<\/p>\n

\"Wine<\/a>I decided on the Pinot Grigio and was rewarded with a very generous pour of wine!<\/p>\n

\"Me<\/a>I was a very happy camper indeed!\u00a0 Scott was still checking out the drink menu when I spied with my little eye, something intriguing!<\/p>\n

\"Vodka<\/a>What is this large container all about?\u00a0 Because it definitely caught my eye!\u00a0 The server said that it was pineapple soaking in vodka.<\/p>\n

You don’t say?<\/p>\n

And it is the main component of this drink:<\/p>\n

\"Drink<\/a>The Island Breeze: containing vodka (that the pineapple was sitting in!), coconut rum, pineapple, and orange juice.\u00a0 Well Scott was all over that!\u00a0 There’s a mixed drink that I make him at home that is very similar to this and it happens to be his favorite.\u00a0 He was quite pleased to have this as an option.<\/p>\n

\"Island<\/a>Behold the Island Breeze!\u00a0 I had a small sip and whooo it was potent! But I’m not a mixed drink kind of gal so I’m not a good person to ask.\u00a0 Scott loved it and said it was very good and the pineapple was well soaked. ;)<\/p>\n

\"Me<\/a>We chatted some more with the server who was very nice and personable.\u00a0 And willing to sit and have a chat with us!\u00a0 Which was lovely and made us feel totally welcome.<\/p>\n

Chef Anthony<\/a> came out for a few minutes and we were able to chat with him as well!\u00a0 He and his family moved from Long Island to the Hocking Hills area; that would be a huge environment change!\u00a0 He said he loves the area and being in the country is similar to where he grew up.<\/p>\n

I was excited to talk with him about food!\u00a0 One of my newest passions is being aware of where the food I eat comes from.\u00a0 Since The Inn and Spa are located in farmland territory, I was curious to see how much of what is prepared is local.\u00a0 Chef Anthony explained that he tries very hard to get as many local ingredients as possible.\u00a0 Some things, obviously, are not local, like the fish for example.\u00a0 But he discussed the company he uses for that service and how fast and efficient they are in making sure he is able to receive fresh seafood.\u00a0 The Inn also grows a lot of their own herbs and had grown vegetables as well but local wildlife also liked the garden making the upkeep a little hard.\u00a0 The Chef is also working on securing a local dairy supplier for eggs, cheese, and milk.\u00a0 I was extremely pleased to hear that only local and fresh ingredients are used.\u00a0 The menu changes four times a year with the seasons in order to utilize what is fresh and currently in season.<\/p>\n

During our talk with the Chef, Ellen<\/a> came in for a chat!\u00a0 It was so nice to meet her and be able to talk with her before we were seated for dinner.\u00a0 She is a wonderfully nice person with a great personality.\u00a0 Her warmth shines through the minute you start talking with her.\u00a0 We chatted for a few minutes and then we were off for a quick tour of the immediate property.<\/p>\n

The Tour<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Terry<\/a><\/p>\n

Ellen’s husband, Terry, lead the tour! \u00a0We first walked through the restaurant and Terry explained how it came to be and which areas were part of the original 1840’s log cabin.\u00a0 The log cabin is amazing and clearly quality-built!\u00a0 The dining room is situated in that cabin which provides a rustic and cozy feel. It’s also extremely romantic and a great spot for couples to dine!<\/p>\n

Through the restaurant and into the newest additions, The Gathering Place<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>\"The<\/a>The first half of The Gathering Place has big plush chairs surrounding a fireplace.\u00a0 There are also smaller chairs and tables around the room.\u00a0 Outside is a lovely porch with seating as well.\u00a0 The Gathering Place provides a nice relaxing retreat for visitors.\u00a0 One can also have access to the Inn’s wireless network in order to keep up-to-date with personal and business correspondence.\u00a0 Terry mentioned that they had a T1 line installed just for guests to be able to have online connections.<\/p>\n

\"Meeting<\/a>\"Meeting<\/a>The second half of The Gathering Place is more of a meeting and board room type of set up.\u00a0 There’s a large flatscreen TV that people can use for presentations.\u00a0 The room can hold up to 45 people.\u00a0 The Gathering Place is able to be rented out for business meetings or other events and occasions.\u00a0 If you need a break during the business meeting, or are looking to release some stress, the Inn can also set up adventures for your group, like ATV trail rides, and kayaking.\u00a0 Ellen and Terry are very flexible and willing to work with the guest to make sure they have everything they need for their event.\u00a0 They can also cater your event if you need it.\u00a0 They can do buffets, boxed lunches, BBQs, whatever you need, just ask!\u00a0 They are more than willing to help you have the best event you can.<\/p>\n

It also makes for a great place to have business meetings!\u00a0 With the T1 line, internet access is available and stable, making business meetings flow with ease.\u00a0 The countryside offers a nice change of pace and scenery as well!<\/p>\n

Terry also explained how he tries to build the Inn’s buildings as green as possible.\u00a0 Terry is the one in charge of building and maintaining the Inn’s buildings.\u00a0 He has built and overseen all projects at the Inn.\u00a0 During the tour he told us about how he uses recycled and reclaimed building materials.<\/p>\n

\"Meeting<\/a>How rain barrels are incorporated to provide water for flushing the toilets.\u00a0 How newspaper is used for insulation and where some of the wood, flooring, and other materials came from.\u00a0 In a time when protecting the environment is a huge issue, it’s great to see how someone carefully constructs new buildings that have as minimal a footprint as possible.<\/p>\n

After the meeting room tour, we headed outside. First there was a quick peak of the back patio.<\/p>\n

\"Dining<\/a>This is right off of the restaurant.\u00a0 It had been raining that day so we would not be able to eat dinner outside.\u00a0 But the patio is very secluded and provides gorgeous seating!<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>The rooftop of the Gathering Place is Terry’s newest project.\u00a0 He would like to make seating and a small bar available on top.\u00a0 The view is incredible!\u00a0 All around seeing lush green grass, trees, and hills made for a fantastic backdrop.\u00a0 Once the rooftop deck is completed it will be an amazing place to sit and have a drink and to just breathe.<\/p>\n

After the patio, we were on our way to the building that houses the Inn’s rooms.<\/p>\n

\"Building<\/a>Which sort of has a rustic barn look to it.\u00a0 But first, as we walked to the rooms, we passed two other stops.<\/p>\n

\"Firepit<\/a>There’s a firepit area with seating for guests.\u00a0 Terry mentioned that guests can start the fire on their own and how it provides a nice area for guests to mingle and chat with each other.\u00a0 People can bring up some wine and share stories around the fire.<\/p>\n

\"Garden<\/a>Next to the firepit is the Inn’s Garden.\u00a0 It’s a beautiful open space with different landscaping all around the area.\u00a0 Seating is also available for those that want to relax and maybe enjoy a morning cup of coffee.<\/p>\n

After the garden, we made our way over to the rooms!\u00a0 On the first floor of the building is The Common Room.<\/p>\n

\"Common<\/a>The Common Room is open to all guests of the Inn.\u00a0 There’s seating, a fireplace, and games available.\u00a0 This room also has wifi access.<\/p>\n

The building has rooms on two levels and there are two styles of rooms that guests can choose from.\u00a0 There’s the rustic style.<\/p>\n

\"Rustic<\/a>\"Rustic<\/a>Which provides more of a cabin\/cottage type of feel.<\/p>\n

The second style of room has more of a modern feel to it.<\/p>\n

\"Modern<\/a>\"Modern<\/a>All the Inn rooms have on-suite bathrooms and are just a few steps away from the restaurant and Gathering Place.<\/p>\n

We headed back down to the Inn and it was time for dinner!\u00a0 On our walk back, we passed what was once the old smokehouse and root cellar.<\/p>\n

\"Smokehouse<\/a>Do we not love this?!\u00a0 It is just way too cute!\u00a0 Terry mentioned that he would like to convert this into a wine cellar.\u00a0 Keeping the structure and rustic charm of the smokehouse, but updating the inside a bit to hold the restaurant’s wine selections.<\/p>\n

Now it was time for dinner!<\/p>\n

Dinner<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Dining<\/a>\"Dinner<\/a>We dined with Ellen and Terry.\u00a0 Along with another local blogger, Lisa, The Restaurant Widow<\/a>, and her husband Chris.<\/p>\n

The Inn’s restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and everyone is welcome.\u00a0 Reservations are required though, which helps keep things small to preserve the intimate and relaxed atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Dinner at the Inn is five courses.\u00a0 Wow, right!\u00a0 This was my first five course meal and I was pretty excited.\u00a0 First things first, a wine must be selected!\u00a0 I picked a red.<\/p>\n

\"Red<\/a>\"Red<\/a>It was a Spanish red and the info is: Rioja, Altun ‘Albiker’, Spain.\u00a0 And it was delish!\u00a0 Not too dry but enough body that it could keep up with food.<\/p>\n

\"White<\/a>Lisa<\/a> picked a white wine but I’m not sure what it was!\u00a0 I was chatting and then suddenly there was more wine in front of me.\u00a0 It was really good though, very crisp and refreshing.<\/p>\n

There was also another red poured that I did not get a picture of because I was either too busy chowing down or talking.\u00a0 Terry recommended this wine which is from a local Ohio vineyard.\u00a0 Via Vecchia is the vineyard, located in Powell, OH.\u00a0 The wine was a red blend made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Frac.\u00a0 This wine was fantastic!\u00a0 Both Scott and I just loved it.<\/p>\n

For those keeping count, that’s four glasses of wine for me!\u00a0 I am a lightweight and will tell you that in all honesty.\u00a0 Four glasses of wine are way too much for me so I had to make some sacrifices.\u00a0 The first glass of white I had was a huge pour and I drank all of it.\u00a0 At dinner, I drank the white that Lisa picked and I sipped on the red that Terry picked.\u00a0 I couldn’t do more than that and for me, even that was pushing it!\u00a0 Thankfully there was also a glass of water on the table for me to sip on.\u00a0 I would have liked more water but didn’t think about asking.<\/p>\n

Moving back to food!\u00a0 There are five courses for dinner starting off with some light nibbles.<\/p>\n

\"Crackers,<\/a>Crackers and bread with two kinds of spreads.\u00a0 A Wisconsin cheese spread made of different kinds of cheeses, herbs, and sprinkled with some nuts on top.\u00a0 And an olive tapanade.<\/p>\n

\"Cheese<\/a>\"Cheese<\/a>I took one of the larger flatbread crackers and put some cheese spread on it.\u00a0 I’m not a fan of olives so I didn’t try any of the tapenade but Scott did and he loved it.\u00a0 I think he even made a comment about him pretty much eating the whole container that was down at his end of the table!<\/p>\n

Next course was soup!<\/p>\n

\"Soup<\/a>I could have sworn that this was described to us as a vegetable soup so when it arrived I was surprised by the small amount of veggies.\u00a0 However, seeing some other bloggers talk about their retreats, it seems that this was a spaghetti squash soup.\u00a0 My favorite part of the soup actually wasn’t the soup at all but these.<\/p>\n

\"Flowers<\/a>Wee little blossoms floating in the soup!\u00a0 How cute!\u00a0 I did not finish all of my soup because I needed to save room for the other three courses still to come!<\/p>\n

\"Mixed<\/a>The salad course was a small mixed greens salad with an endive spear and a roasted roma tomato.\u00a0 I love warm tomatoes so I was pretty excited to have that as part of the salad!\u00a0 The salad was lightly dressed with a house-made vinaigrette and the juice from the tomato also provided a nice flavor for the greens.\u00a0 I ate every bit of this salad! I know those of you familiar with me and my eats are not surprised.<\/p>\n

For the main course, I chose the salmon dish.<\/p>\n

\"Salmon,<\/a>\"Salmon,<\/a>The salmon was perfectly cooked, having a nice light and flaky texture.\u00a0 I had a few bites of the jasmine rice but I wasn’t feeling the starch that evening so I didn’t eat it all.\u00a0 What bites I did have were sweet and creamy.\u00a0 Naturally I ate all of the asparagus and wished there was more! Actually I would have loved more veggies and no rice but that’s because I’m a veg-head.<\/p>\n

\"Perch<\/a>Scott chose the perch cooked in parchment paper with other assorted veggies.\u00a0 And drizzled with a jalapeno ailoi on top!<\/p>\n

\"Perch<\/a>A closer look!\u00a0 And of course I taste tested a bit!<\/p>\n

\"Perch<\/a>\"Roasted<\/a>A small piece of perch and a roasted potato.\u00a0 I had not eaten perch before so it was a bit interesting to taste.\u00a0 The fish itself didn’t have much flavor but took flavors from the ailoi and the veggies that came with it.\u00a0 The potato was fabbo!\u00a0 But I love potatoes so I might be a bit biased on that.<\/p>\n

After dinner, there was dessert!\u00a0 Oh my!\u00a0 This was already more than I normally eat so I automatically thought I would pass on dessert.\u00a0 Especially considering that sweets aren’t really my thing.\u00a0 But the options presented sounded so good and I needed something to help soak up all that wine, right?\u00a0 I went for it!<\/p>\n

\"Chocolate<\/a>Our chocies for the evening were:<\/p>\n