When the weather outside is frightful, few things are more delightful than a winter getaway – which is especially needed after a stressful holiday season. But while many travelers default to the obvious destinations this time of year (namely, rural spots where there’s lots of snow), why not consider retreating to, well, Philadelphia?
To help you recharge in the new year, Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia just unveiled a Warm Winter Escape campaign. “Our hotel is the perfect location for a wintry getaway,” explains general manager Cornelia Samara. “It’s a one-stop location for staying cozy, with programming that provides a refuge from the dropping temperatures.”
The hotel’s two dining outlets, JG Sky High and Vernick Fish, are whipping up seasonal cocktails to melt the winter’s chill. At JG Sky High, sip on a hot apple toddy laced with allspice, cinnamon, and star anise, while taking in bird's-eye views of the city. For Vernick Fish, bartender Ryan Foster created a 17-ingredient, Courvoisier- and rum-based egg nog. “Even though it’s a cold cocktail, it feels warm because of all the different spices,” notes beverage director Dawn Trabing.
Prefer in-room dining? Then order the special hot chocolate bomb by executive pastry chef Ryan Schmidt. Simply pour the warmed milk on top of the marshmallow-filled Valrhona chocolate sphere for a decadent (and very photogenic) treat. “It’s balanced between bitter and sweet,” says Trabing, who recommends adding an Amaro on the side for a fun twist.
At the award-winning spa – which happens to be Philadelphia’s first and only Forbes Five-Star Spa – shake off the cold weather with a signature Crystal Oil Massage. In addition to being applied to the skin warm, the crystal-infused oils also “help heal and balance your chakras,” explains Rebecca Moffitt, the assistant spa director. And on Friday and Sunday evenings at 7:00pm, hotel guests can quiet their minds for the evening with a complimentary poolside sound meditation. For twenty minutes, trained staff will play crystal signing bowls, then offer herbal tea to close the session. “This offers a real disconnect for the mind, while allowing your spirit to reconnect,” says Moffitt.
And for a bathing experience like no other: book a Grand Landmark room or suite, and request the Soak Above the Clouds Bath Experience. In addition to a lush floral arrangement by Jeff Leatham’s team, you’ll receive mineral-rich bath salts, fragrant candles, and a Knesko Gold Repair Collagen Face Mask with 24K Colloidal Gold and Hyaluronic Acid to restore you from head to toe. As Samara puts it, “There is no better place to enjoy a snow storm, than with a view that can be compared to a giant snow-globe.”
