Merriweather Lakehouse Is The Good Winter Getaway

 “A little bit tranquil lake is extra vital to my life than any huge metropolis on the planet.” – Munia Khan (creator and poet) 

Persistently making it to the highest of Cash Journal’s finest locations to dwell within the U.S. annually, and named the “most secure metropolis” by Forbes Journal, Columbia, Maryland is a wonderfully landscaped instance of a tree-lined suburban utopia with city conveniences. 

Near each Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Columbia’s quickly increasing downtown, also called the City Middle, attracts each locals and vacationers to its leisure and occasions, but in addition to buy on the Mall of Columbia, the place there are over 200 locations to buy and eat. 

The newly developed Merriweather District in Columbia’s City Middle is shortly changing into a hub for arts and tradition, with quite a lot of distinctive eating choices that embody Thai, Indian, and a speakeasy with a number of extra eating places and eateries set to open this yr together with a “crossanterie.” In Merriweather District’s Colorburst Park, you possibly can go ice-skating at their seasonal outside rink in winter they usually even host outside film nights and dwell music in the summertime.

There’s an appreciation for nature and sustainability right here too. Columbia maintains 3600 acres of open house, 114 miles of trails, and 5 lakes for anybody eager to benefit from the open air. Columbia’s Lakefront District is a well-liked spot for festivals and different outside occasions all year long.

The Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge

The entrance entrance of the Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge in Columbia, MD.

Now, with the opening of its brand-new luxurious, Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge final yr, Columbia is changing into a sought-after vacation spot. With trendy lake home vibes and lovely floor-to-ceiling lake views all through, The Merriweather Lodge is the proper spot for a soothing winter getaway.

Open only a yr, with 212 trendy rooms and a part of Marriott’s Autograph Assortment (a bunch of over 180 distinctive unbiased motels, upscale and luxurious motels), Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge is a surprising lakeside retreat tucked in seven wooded acres the place you possibly can take time to loosen up and refresh any time of yr.

And there’s a lot to like right here.

The dwelling space within the Presidential Suite on the Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge

Stunning, serene visitor rooms with luxurious linens (many with lakeside balconies views), a beautiful foyer and bar, a contemporary health middle, a cute little foyer cafe/espresso store, and lake views for days will all make you by no means need to go away. 

Visitor room comforts and facilities embody:

• Luxurious Linens
• C.O. Bigelow Lavender-Peppermint Bathtub Necessities
• 55′ Flat Display screen Good TV
• Mini Fridge
• Keurig

The bed room within the Presidential Suite on the Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge

The excellent news is if you wish to convey your pooch alongside, they’re pet-friendly too.

The nice and cozy and attentive workers makes this resort really feel like a boutique property, but it surely’s the beautiful views, luxurious facilities, and scrumptious onsite eating that can make you need to come again many times.

As you enter The Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge, you’ll immediately get transported right into a Zen-like house that mixes the fantastic thing about lakeside dwelling with an appreciation for the musical aspect of Columbia’s historical past.

The welcoming and spacious foyer at Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge

With a impartial palette with accents of blues and greens and lake-inspired décor in each nook, one of the placing issues concerning the resort is its floor-to-ceiling glass home windows that supply larger-than-life lake views from nearly each spot within the resort. There’s no approach to not really feel relaxed. We particularly loved sipping complimentary sizzling chocolate within the cozy foyer every night. 

There’s additionally a real appreciation for dwell music right here. Musical performances streamed within the foyer, honor the close by Merriweather Publish Pavilion, which each Billboard Journal and Rolling Stone have acknowledged as top-of-the-line outside amphitheaters within the U.S. For the final 40 years, it’s drawn among the greatest acts in music, together with Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, and Taylor Swift. And it’s solely a 15-minute stroll from the resort.  

Lake Kittamaqundi

Having fun with espresso and the winter view of Lake Kittamaqundi from our suite’s non-public balcony.

The Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge overooks Columbia’s stunning 27-acre Lake Kittamaqundi. Surrounded by a peaceable 1.4-mile wooded path, it’s good for nature lovers and health lovers. A stunning spot to reconnect with nature any time of the yr. 

A reputation which means “assembly place” within the language of the primary regionally settled Indian tribe, Lake Kittamaqundi, is a fairly little lake. Loosen up on one among its many benches, take a leisurely stroll, or get your each day run alongside its straightforward paved path. Whereas the lake definitely sees extra visitors in summer time, it’s simply as stunning and serene within the winter.

Lake Kittamaqundi is the most important of Columbia’s 5 deliberate and developed lakes. However though it’s not authentic to the world, it seems to be and feels prefer it belongs right here. And native wildlife agrees.

Chook lovers will probably be glad to be taught that the lake and its surrounding space at the moment are residence to quite a lot of hen species, together with water birds like belted kingfishers and nice blue herons. Head to the lake’s pier to identify one of many many species of geese like ring-necked geese, northern shovelers, and hooded mergansers fortunately swimming by.  

Tip: Examine right here for up-to-date each day hen sightings at Lake Kittamaqundi!

An awesome place to “canine watch”, the lake is a favourite spot for locals to stroll their canine of all breeds. Welcome to kayakers, you’ll want a allow if you wish to fish. 

A panoramic view from the resort of Lake Kittamaqundi

What’s good is that the path that wraps round Lake Kittamaqundi additionally connects with different paved trails that wind all through Columbia. For extra exploration, veer to the left the place the path forks on the northwest finish of the lake. This path will take you to close by Wilde Lake and is the proper path to take in case you’re on the lookout for an extended outside trek (2.9. miles complete).  See the path right here

Lake Kittamaqundi makes a fantastic picnic spot within the hotter months. There’s a Complete Meals a brief stroll from the south finish of the lake (2 minutes) the place you possibly can seize lunch, a snack, or take a espresso to go to benefit from the lakeside. It’s additionally recognized for its stunning sunsets. 

Lake Kittamaqundi at sundown.

Eating At The Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge

The resort is inside strolling distance of the eating places within the Merriweather District and The Mall of Columbia. However you don’t want to go away the resort property for a scrumptious chunk. The resort’s onsite restaurant, lāk gives a inventive menu of traditional American with Worldwide infusions. 

Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge’s model new restaurant, lāk

lāk Restaurant at The Merriweather Lakehouse

Serving breakfast and dinner each day, lāk (pronounced “lake”) is taken into account a positive eating restaurant. However its heat service, cool trendy, pop artwork décor and relaxed environment give it sensible informal vibes. And we love that.

Even higher is the meals.

Fried Calamari at lāk.

The whole lot we tried at lāk was recent and scrumptious. The highlights from our order the night time we visited was the sunshine and crispy Fried Calamari with pepperoncini and Fra Diavolo sauce and the Hen Piccata, a Parmesan-crusted hen breast with angel hair topped with a delicious Lemon Caper Sauce.

Chef Zach Dollak within the kitchen at lāk.

Raised on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania close to the Poconos, Chef Zach Dollak lately joined the Merriweather Lakehouse staff because the resort’s culinary director after working all through the U.S. at premier eating places and luxurious motels, together with Emeril’s NOLA and The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia. Now he’s placing lāk on the map as a culinary vacation spot to not be missed.

Crab Truffles at lāk

Since there’s no higher place for crab truffles than Maryland, we couldn’t go away with out making an attempt their two lump crab truffles served over a creamy forest mushroom risotto with lemon garlic aioli. Completely unbelievable. In case you love crab, don’t miss this dish.

Skillet Cowboy Cookie Sundae

Even in case you’re full from dinner, don’t miss out on their ever-changing made-from-scratch dessert menu. Dessert choices change right here usually. If obtainable, attempt the Apple Crisp served with caramel ice cream or the Skillet Cowboy Cookie sundae topped with vanilla ice cream and moist walnuts. Each are tremendous scrumptious.

Pastry Chef Brian Holland icing a carrot cake.

Pastry Chef Brian Holland, a graduate of the Worldwide Culinary Middle in New York Metropolis who spent greater than a decade on the 4 Seasons in Baltimore, creates tantalizing desserts and pastries for the resort.

The Rookery Bar & Lounge

The Rookery Bar & Lounge

At night time, unwind on the resort’s Rookery Bar & Lounge serves up craft cocktails, wine, and beer with tasty bites like Steak & Cheese Egg Rolls, Bavarian Pretzel Sticks, and Cubano sandwiches. 

Steak & Cheese Egg Rolls and Bavarian Pretzel Sticks at The Rookery Bar & Lounge.

Stylish and trendy, with among the finest lake views in the home, The Rookery Bar  & Lounge opens at 4 pm every night time. You even have the choice to order from lāk’s menu however get served up within the bar.

The Osprey Cafe

For connoisseur espresso served with lake views and cozy seating in entrance of a hearth, head to the Osprey Cafe, the resort’s stylish lobby-side cafe.

Together with recent brewed Lavazza espresso, espresso, and fancy espresso drinks, it’s also possible to seize a fast chunk within the morning in case you don’t have time for a sit-down breakfast.

A recent chocolate croissant and Lavazza espresso at Osprey Cafe.

Don’t overlook to choose up one among their freshly baked pastries, like their buttery chocolate croissants. 

The Health Middle

The health club right here is so good right here you’ll need to break a sweat.

To get in an excellent exercise, the Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge has a 24-hour onsite health middle that’s well-equipped with weights, machines, and equipment like BOSU® steadiness trainers, yoga balls, and foam rollers for lively restoration.

A rowing machine with a lakeside view on the Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge health middle.

Additionally they have a rowing machine, Peloton® bikes, and high-tech Elevate Way of life treadmills and elliptical machines, that are Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled and have dwell real-world interactive programs that can transport you across the globe. They’re quite a lot of enjoyable! Make an account, and it can save you your exercise knowledge for later.

The Pearl Spa

For spa facilities, therapies, and health courses like yoga, The Pearl Spa, is a 27,000-square-foot wellness middle solely a brief stroll from the resort. 

Moreover enjoyable massages, physique wraps, and reiki, additionally they supply magnificence therapies like facials, manicures, pedicures, and waxing. A singular function of THE Pearl is its expansive water remedy room that features a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, chilly plunge, rest pool, and vitamin C bathe they name THE Therapeutic Waters.

For a singular expertise, ebook a session in The Pearl’s Halotherapy (salt) room which advocates consider helps promote cleansing, reduces irritation and improves respiration. To quiet your thoughts, THE Nice Abyss – is a deep multi-sensory meditation expertise that mixes vibrations and magnetic remedy with layers of music – to induce deep rest.

The Pearl Spa’s Wellness Passport offers visitors with an inexpensive package deal with a few of their hottest experiences for relieving stress. It contains: 

• 1 mind-body motion or meditation class
• 1 component expertise salt session
• 1 hour in THE therapeutic waters
• A 25-minute session in THE nice abyss (meditation expertise)​

It prices $100 per individual and you’ll prepay when reserving the resort with code SPA at checkout.

Merriweather Lakehouse Lodge Location and Parking

Lodge: Merriweather Lakehouse, Autograph Assortment

Web site: https://merriweatherlakehouse.com/ 
Deal with: 10209 Wincopin Circle
Columbia, Maryland, 21044
Tel: +1 410-730-3900
Nearest Cross Avenue: Little Patuxent Parkway
Parking: Parking on the resort is free and simple. Self-park within the storage immediately throughout from the resort.