Peter and I drove up to the Lodge at Turning Stone for the Presidents’ Day weekend so that we could try out the Skana Spa there, about which I had heard quite a lot since its opening five months ago. The concierge had suggested that we take a quick Jet Blue flight instead of driving, but we love driving, because it is a quiet time for us to talk and enjoy the countryside. It took less time than we thought – just a little over four hours. Later I heard about the Jet Blue fiascos over the weekend and was even more glad that we passed on the flight.

We expected a 98-room lodge but instead pulled up to the front of a high-rise tower with what looked like hundreds and hundreds of rooms. It was buzzing with people – valet cars were lined up three deep to be taken to the garage. Josh Groban was appearing in the theater that evening, and scores of people were either checking in or going to the casino pre-event. A few minutes later we found out that we were in the wrong place – this was the Tower at Turning Stone; the Lodge was around the back.

Nice surprise – as the Lodge was more upscale, the entire building smoke-free, and the spa was located a short distance from our room.

I realized later that Turning Stone encompasses a casino, a tower with 700+ rooms, a conference center, an event arena, the 98-room Lodge, and the new Skana spa! Plus a nightclub is being built, as well as a dome for tennis and racquetball. Three golf courses are also part of the resort. Everything is interconnected. And the entire area – every part of it – is alcohol-free. That was another surprise.