This beautiful luxury resort of Crystal Springs, tucked in northern New Jersey, is the perfect weekend getaway if you’re looking for someplace that makes you feel like you’re really away, without actually leaving the state. Located in Hamburg along the edge of the Appalachian Mountains, just an hour from New York City, Crystal Springs has two hotels: the main Grand Cascades Lodge and, a few minutes away, the Mineral Springs Hotel. The resort boasts six top-rated golf courses, ten restaurants, two spas, and well-appointed guest rooms with gorgeous mountain views. This is the perfect spot for a family vacation, a romantic getaway or a girls’ weekend.
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WHAT TO DO
There are six championship-caliber golf courses, which wind through the picturesque Appalachian scenery.
If you love spas, there are two award-winning ones: Reflections Spa at Grand Cascades Lodge and Elements Spa at Minerals Hotel.
The famed wine cellar at Crystal Springs houses 45,000 bottles. Photo: Courtesy of Crystal Springs Resort
For wine buffs, the renowned wine cellar here, one of the premier cellars in the country, is not to be missed. Take a tour of its 45,000 bottles of wine, including rarities and bottles from estates all over the world, or sign up for a private wine tasting with uber wine director Susanne Wagner. You can purchase wine that you enjoy at the on-site wine shop.
Grand Cascades has an incredible indoor/outdoor biosphere pool complex, with lush tropical foliage and a retractable roof. There’s also an underground aquarium and a 140-foot water slide.
Ice skating is just one of the many activities available here. Photo: Courtesy of Crystal Springs/Christy Graham
The resort also offers an assortment of fun activities, including archery, laser clay shooting, goat yoga, ice skating and pony rides. In the winter, there’s terrific skiing at neighboring Mountain Creek Resort. And there’s always hiking on the nearby Appalachian Trail.
Crystal Springs also hosts the annual New Jersey Wine & Food Festival (May 2–4 in 2025) and the New Jersey Beer & Food Festival.
WHERE TO EAT
Unique dishes from Restaurant Latour, a fine-dining option. Photo: Courtesy of Crystal Springs/Julian Huarte
The resort has 10 restaurants, from casual to fine dining. Restaurant Latour is a top-rated dining spot serving three- and seven-course meals created by executive chef Aishling Stevens. It uses many ingredients gathered by its foraging team, and it has one of the country’s only all-foraged bar botanical programs. Wines from the award-winning wine cellar are also available.
The restaurants also include Crystal Tavern at the clubhouse, which also showcases local farmers and purveyors, and Springs Bistro, a casual Italian restaurant that offers a selection of pizzas.
Other options are Kites Restaurant, Moonshine and the Farmstand in the summer months, and Frosty’s Cantina during the wintertime.
WHERE TO STAY
Grand Cascades Lodge Photo: Courtesy of Crystal Springs Resort
Choose between the two hotels: Grand Cascades Lodge and Mineral Springs Hotel. Both have pools and restaurants, and guests may use amenities at either place.
Grand Cascades features standard guest rooms as well as luxury suites with fireplaces and decks, and many of the rooms have spectacular views of the mountains. It is one of Jersey’s few AAA Four Diamond hotels.
Minerals Hotel also offers standard guest rooms as well as luxury suites. It has indoor and outdoor pools, a steam room, sauna, hot tubs, the Elements Spa, a sports club, and a nine-hole golf course.
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