A Weekend at the Mount Airy Casino Resort

Disclaimer: We were invited on a press trip to visit the Mount Airy Casino Resort in the Poconos. We were provided with hotel accommodations, meals, and other complimentary items. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Having a kid with autism, childcare is always an issue. Our date nights are very few and very far between. If we want any time alone, we take a day off from work and have a day date. But those are limited too. As for romantic weekend getaways? It’s been eight years since we went away without Norrin.

This June we will be married 13 years. Marriage is hard. Parenthood is harder. Maintaining a marriage while parenting a special needs kid can be challenging. We have our days but I’m lucky to have found such a supportive partner. But there are days when it’s easy to forget that we were once a young couple in love.

My parents have been married for more than four decades. But when I was growing up, they never did anything as a couple. We either went out as a family or not at all. These days, my parents go out often. I’m happy to see them enjoying their golden years.

But I wonder if Joseph and I will be able to do the same. Childcare is hard enough now. I can’t imagine who will stay with him when he’s 20, 30, 40 years old.

RELATED: Will We Ever Need a Passport?

So this is the time to take advantage – to commit to making the time to get away without feeling guilty.

Having a kid with special needs, Joseph and I are hesitant flying anyplace without him. That’s why Mount Airy Casino Resort was the perfect weekend getaway – it’s less than a two-hour drive from The Bronx.

The moment we arrived at Mount Airy, we felt at ease. It was as if we traveled so much farther than just a few hours away from home.

It was after 10 o’clock by the time we checked in. Since we had no curfew to keep and we were hungry, we headed to Guy Fieri’s Mt. Pocono Kitchen for a late dinner. Having dinner after 10pm may not seem like much but for us, it was a treat. We sat and ate at our leisure. There was no rushing through the meal because our kid was tired. It was time for just us. After dinner, we wandered around the Casino floor tempted by the tables and slots. We weren’t ready to gamble but it’s fun to walk around and watch.

The next morning I let Joseph sleep in while I went to the Spa for a massage. While I wished I could’ve slept in a little bit longer, I needed the massage. I can’t remember a Saturday morning when I was ever able to do that and it felt luxurious.

Joseph met me after my massage and we spent a lazy afternoon lounging poolside. It was snowing but neither of us cared. The pool was heated and our drinks were cold.

The heated four season pool features a passage allowing guests to swim continuously from indoors to outdoors. A whirlpool conjoining the pool and an assortment of water features and sculptures. There’s also a 5,000 square foot outdoor deck with table-side fire pits and expansive views of the resort’s lake and golf course. And you don’t need to be an overnight guest of the resort to enjoy the pool – you may purchase a day pass for $15. However, children must be accompanied by an adult hotel guest only. For Non-Hotel Guest Day Passes you must be 21 years or older.

As I sipped my drink, I began planning future day trips to Mount Airy. We could easily drive up in the morning, spend a few hours by the pool, go for a massage, shower up, change, head to the Casino, grab dinner and then head on home. (You can see I have it all figured out.)

That evening, we got dressed up and dined at Bistecca. It was the kind of place we wouldn’t go to with Norrin. No one asked if we needed crayons or a kids menu. It was quiet and romantic. We enjoyed good wine and good food. It was everything a Saturday date night dinner should be.

Bistecca by IL MULINO combines it’s heritage of hand-crafted pasta, local seafood and farm-fresh vegetables prepared in the classic fashion of Abruzzo’s cuisine with the comforts of a modern Steakhouse, it’s meticulously selected meats hand-cut by our Executive Chef and it’s skillfully appointed Wine menu featuring the very best varietals from around the world.

After dinner, we decided to check out the Get Wet Pool Party. Growing up in New York City, we’re jaded about the club scene but we had a good time. It was fun to just hang out, be silly, listen to music and have a few cocktails. Joseph got to have a few drinks because he didn’t have to worry about driving home. We are well beyond are party days, but it was nice to relive it for a few hours.

We dined, we played, we drank, we relaxed. Our weekend at Mount Airy Casino was unlike any weekend we’ve had in a decade. We needed that time together. It made me realize how important our time together as a couple is and I won’t wait another decade until we have it again.