This past weekend Tiffany Eckhardt, Shannon McGill and I packed up and headed for the Cherry Valley Lodge and Coco Keys Water Resort in Newark, Ohio. We were looking forward to a relaxing getaway and that's certainly what we got.
Although the Cherry Valley Lodge and the Coco Keys Water Resort are connected, the two operate independent of one another. Upon arrival, the entrance to the lodge is the first thing you see so we began by exploring and getting settled into the Lodge.
Check-in at the Lodge was easy; we were met with friendly staff members who gave us detailed instructions on parking, how to get around the facilities, and how to get to Coco Keys Water park. The lodge itself is gorgeous; there are several botanical gardens on site and the decor is really warm and inviting. Our room was located on the first floor and had a sliding door and seating area that leads into one of the botanical gardens, complete with a babbling brook and a walking path. It was very relaxing and it gave the appearance of a remote location.
The lodge grounds have a restaurant on site, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. We had 
dinner in the restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed it. The food was high quality and the service was top-notch. The dining room floor plan is nice and open and there are several windows that look out to a gazebo pond area. There is a nice sitting area on the patio that leads to the gazebo; we commented how nice it would be to sit out there on a summer day.
There is also a workout facility, an indoor pool, and hot tub on the grounds of the Cherry Valley Lodge; all of which were nicely maintained.
While the resort facility is technically in Newark, the closest town is Granville, Ohio. Granville is a quaint small town filled with unique shops and some great dining options. We spent a few hours exploring the area. Granville has a bike path that runs through the town and would be a great place to plan a day bike trip around.
After exploring the Cherry Valley Lodge and Granville, we headed to Coco Keys for some hot tub time. The water park is attached to the Lodge and includes several areas that are perfect for kids. There is an arcade, a large water slide, a lazy river and much more. Parents can post up inside at the restaurant/bar area or in the parents only hot tub area. We played in the arcade for a bit; and felt like kids again! Tiffany tried out the Dance, Dance Revolution game, which was pretty entertaining. We also visited the adults only hot tub area and found it to be nicely maintained and relaxing. Tiffany and Shannon contemplated the waterslide, but in the end decided against it. A big benefit of an indoor water park like Coco Keys is the fact that you are so close to our hotel room. If your kids (or you) need a nap you can take a short walk and be in your room.
Overall, we had a great visit this weekend and I recommend checking out both the Cherry Valley Lodge and Coco Keys. I'm already thinking about a summer visit to Granville and the Cherry Valley Lodge. Be sure to check out all of our pictures on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/retweat and while you are there make sure you "like" us. :)
