I felt like Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion - somebody hand
me a robe and a glass of cognac.
Champagne tubs are exclusive to Cove Haven Resorts. Morris
Wilkins, who dreamed them up in 1971, patented the idea after
learning the hard way by not patenting his other brainstorm,
the heart-shaped tub. The heart-shaped tubs are as ubiquitous
now, at least in romantic hot spots nationwide, as chocolate
on the pillows.
After the bath, we fell asleep on the round bed under the
"celestial ceiling," which we flicked on with a
switch. The pinpoints of light were romantic and worked great
as a night light.
The room we were in - the Champqne Tower - had mirrors,
mirrors everywhere, especially above the round bed,
which could freak some people out - (some things are better
left unseen!) A word of caution: Be careful when taking
pictures in the room. There's a picture of me in the bubble
bath obscured by well-positioned bubbles, but the
picture-taker could be fully exposed because there are mirrors
everywhere.
When we pried ourselves away from the luxurious
accommodations, we found life outside to be full of rewards,
from the sumptuous buffet to the indoor ice rink and game
arcade. There are basketball and handball courts, a dance
club, bar and grille, and outdoor activities such as
snowmobiles in the winter, horseback riding and canoeing in
the warmer months.
The live nightly entertainment was OK: A very popular
potty-mouthed comedian one night, followed by some sort of
magician/psychic.
The next night we caught a so-so Journey cover band, the
awkwardly named (for honeymooning couples) "Separate
Ways," but it was apparently good enough for the young
couple we ate breakfast with, who got engaged during the
bands' version of "Faithfully."
As part of our weekend package deal, we were given a tour
of the other two resorts, Paradise Stream and Pocono Palace,
both of which had their own unique attractions and ambience.
Paradise Stream is a hotter, hipper resort for young couples,
with a posh lounge and modern nightclub. Pocono Palace is
billed as an adventure resort with a country club atmosphere,
including nature trails, a nine-hole golf course and a 32,000
square-foot sports and entertainment center.
We liked the Lakeshide Chalet rooms at Pocono Palace, with
its combination of rustic beauty and indulgent opulence,
stunning sunrise views and a picturesque location to view the
stars glistening on Echo Lake. This would be my wife's
choice for a romantic anniversary weekend or
getaway. All the resorts, however, have
spectaclarly lavish rooms! Diana's Oasis was another
favorite and, of course, the Champagne Tower!
Also at Pocono Palace, we were entertained by a
wise-cracking chef who rivaled the best celebrity chefs on
TV! Far more entertaining too! She cooked
everything with generous splashes of Guinness Stout. My
favorite was the Chocolate Guinness Goodness.
Get the Chocolate Guinness Goodness
Recipe
Compliments of Pocono Palace
Back at Cove Haven, we checked out framed newspaper and
magazine clippings at the recreation center which told the
story of Morris Wilkins and how Cove Haven became known as the
"Land of Love." There was even a 1982 TV movie made
at the resort called "For Lovers Only," the pilot
film for a potential series that never aired titled Honeymoon
Hotel. For the rest of our stay, I imagined myself as Vernon
Bliss (played by Andy Griffith), the manager of the resort,
who is far from blissful, especially when bickering with my
daughter (Deborah Raffin) and her husband, a would-be
playwright (Gary Sandy).
It's easy to let the imagination run wild at Cove Haven, where
anyone can be the star of his or her own romantic comedy.
P.S. - Don't forget your Al Green/Barry White (or
whatever floats your boat)
CD's & IPOD
deck!
