Merriweather Lakehouse Is The Good Winter Getaway

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

Constantly making it to the highest of Cash Journal’s finest locations to reside 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, often known as the City Heart, attracts each locals and vacationers to its leisure and occasions, but additionally 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 Heart is shortly turning 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 and so they even host outside film nights and reside music in the summertime.

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

The Merriweather Lakehouse Resort

The entrance entrance of the Merriweather Lakehouse Resort in Columbia, Maryland | Picture: Higher Dwelling

Now, with the opening of its brand-new luxurious, Merriweather Lakehouse Resort in 2022, Columbia is turning into a sought-after vacation spot. With trendy lake home vibes and beautiful floor-to-ceiling lake views all through, The Merriweather Resort is the right spot for a calming winter getaway.

Open only a yr, with 212 trendy rooms and a part of Marriott’s Autograph Assortment (a bunch of over 180 distinctive impartial inns, upscale and luxurious inns), Merriweather Lakehouse Resort is a surprising lakeside retreat tucked in seven wooded acres the place you possibly can take time to calm down 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 Resort | Picture: Higher Dwelling

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 depart. 

Visitor room comforts and facilities embody:

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

The bed room within the Presidential Suite on the Merriweather Lakehouse Resort | Picture: Higher Dwelling

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

The nice and cozy and attentive employees makes this lodge really feel like a boutique property, however it’s the attractive views, luxurious facilities, and scrumptious onsite eating that can make you need to come again time and again.

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

The welcoming and spacious foyer at Merriweather Lakehouse Resort | Picture: Higher Dwelling

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

There’s additionally a real appreciation for reside 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 among the finest outside amphitheaters within the U.S. For the final 40 years, it’s drawn a number of 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 lodge.  

Lake Kittamaqundi

Having fun with espresso and the winter view of Lake Kittamaqundi from our suite’s personal balcony. | Picture: Higher Dwelling

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

A reputation which means “assembly place” within the language of the primary domestically settled Indian tribe, Lake Kittamaqundi, is a fairly little lake. Chill out on one in all its many benches, take a leisurely stroll, or get your day by day run alongside its simple paved path. Whereas the lake actually sees extra site visitors in summer season, it’s simply as stunning and serene within the winter.

Lake Kittamaqundi is the biggest 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.

Chicken lovers will likely be joyful to study that the lake and its surrounding space are actually dwelling to quite a lot of chook 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: Verify right here for up-to-date day by day chook 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 lodge of Lake Kittamaqundi | Picture: Higher Dwelling

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 right path to take when you’re on the lookout for an extended outside trek (2.9. miles complete).  See the path right here

Lake Kittamaqundi makes an excellent picnic spot within the hotter months. There’s a Entire 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 | Picture: Higher Dwelling

Eating At The Merriweather Lakehouse Resort

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

Merriweather Lakehouse Resort’s model new restaurant, lāk | Picture: Higher Dwelling

lāk Restaurant at The Merriweather Lakehouse

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

Even higher is the meals.

Fried Calamari at lāk. | Picture: Higher Dwelling

The whole lot we tried at lāk was contemporary and scrumptious. The highlights from our order the evening 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.

Crab Truffles at lāk | Picture: Higher Dwelling

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

Skillet Cowboy Cookie Sundae | Picture: Higher Dwelling

Even when 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. | Picture: Higher Dwelling

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

The Rookery Bar & Lounge

The Rookery Bar & Lounge | Picture: Higher Dwelling

At evening, unwind on the lodge’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. | Picture: Higher Dwelling

Stylish and trendy, with a number of the finest lake views in the home, The Rookery Bar  & Lounge opens at 4 pm every evening. 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 comfortable seating in entrance of a hearth, head to the Osprey Cafe, the lodge’s stylish lobby-side cafe.

Together with contemporary brewed Lavazza espresso, espresso, and fancy espresso drinks, you may as well seize a fast chew within the morning when you don’t have time for a sit-down breakfast.

A contemporary chocolate croissant and Lavazza espresso at Osprey Cafe. | Picture: Higher Dwelling

Don’t neglect to choose up one in all their freshly baked pastries, like their buttery chocolate croissants. 

The Health Heart

The fitness center right here is so good right here you’ll need to break a sweat.

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

A rowing machine with a lakeside view on the Merriweather Lakehouse Resort health middle. | Picture: Higher Dwelling

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 reside 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 information 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 lodge. 

Apart from enjoyable massages, physique wraps, and reiki, in addition they provide magnificence therapies like facials, manicures, pedicures, and waxing. A novel 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, guide a session in The Pearl’s Halotherapy (salt) room which advocates consider helps promote cleansing, reduces irritation and improves respiratory. 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 supplies company with an inexpensive bundle with a few of their hottest experiences for relieving stress. It contains: 

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

It prices $100 per particular person and you may prepay when reserving the lodge with code SPA at checkout.

The entrance exterior of the Merriweather Lakehouse Resort | Picture: Higher Dwelling

Merriweather Lakehouse Resort Location and Parking

Resort: Merriweather Lakehouse, Autograph Assortment

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