Glasbern Inn
2141 Packhouse Rd.
Fogelsville, PA 18051
610-285-4723

Glasbern Home Page

May 2003

Welcome to www.weloveourlife.com. This is our page dedicated to our experiences while staying at The Glasbern Inn in Fogelsville, Pa, near Allentown. The Glasbern Inn has been awarded a "best of ..." www.weloveourlife.com award.

	The Glasbern has seven separate buildings with rooms. Pictured here is the main Glabern building. We stayed in a Deluxe Suite in the Carriage House. The décor is rustic yet luxurious.
	There are beautiful random-width wood floors throughout, and plaster and beam walls. There was a sun room with an angled ceiling and multiple skylights, and the huge whirlpool was at one end. There were wood shutters throughout that could be shut for privacy.
	The whirlpool was one of the nicest we have encountered. There were two lounges in the tub side-by-side, yet facing each other. The jets were strong and the tub was more than big enough for us to relax comfortably. Plenty of towels were provided (3 sets throughout the suite) and big, comfy terry robes. Keith had ordered a bottle of Moet & Chandon bubbly which was chilled and waiting for us when we arrived.
	Also in the sun room area were two stuffed chairs, a table, and a refrigerator (under-the-counter size). The refrigerator was stocked with spring water, soda, beer, wine, and champagne. There was a charge for these items if they were consumed.
	There was a king-size brass bed covered in a duvet. There was cable TV with a DVD player and VCR. We could play our CDs on the DVD player. Videos are available for free (in the main building/barn that houses the restaurant, and DVDs had a $5 rental fee that includes hot popcorn). We did opt to rent a DVD after dinner and enjoyed our popcorn with it. There was also a snack basket with charges for the consumed items.
	There was a wood-burning fireplace with wood and starter log ready to go. (Additional wood is right outside your door.)

We love the Glasbern’s décor because it is not fussy, it feels like home, and yet it is so luxurious. This is definitely among the best accommodations we have ever had.

We stayed in a bi-level suite in the Gate House on our previous visit to The Glasbern in fall 1998. We figure we will keep trying out all their fantastic accommodations. Rooms at the Glasbern are not cheap but are definitely worth every penny.

Inn Amenities

	The Glasbern has an outdoor swimming pool (seasonal), an exercise room, bikes are available for free, there are hiking/riding trails, animals (we saw sheep), and wildlife.
	The Glasbern's grounds are beautiful. We were lucky enough to see a very large gray fox when we were walking around shortly before we left. The fox actually came within 20 yards of us before gracefully running up a hill.

Thoughtfulness abounds throughout – right down to the large umbrellas provided in the rooms to shelter guests in the event it rains (for their short walk to the main building for dinner).

Inn Food

The Glasbern’s restaurant is a gourmand’s delight. No stay is complete without dinner. This was our second visit and we knew dinner would be a treat. Reservations are necessary, especially on the weekends. The main dining room is the interior of a re-done barn with stone walls and an inviting fireplace. Jackets for men are welcome but not required. It is upscale casual but we did see some people in more casual attire. It is simply a wonderful experience, and was only about 20 steps from our building. A nice plus is that the dinner can be billed to the room. The service is excellent and we highly recommend dining at the Glasbern.

Since we were there on a Saturday evening, dinner was prix fixe and included 4 courses. Lori had a crab appetizer that was wonderful – plenty of lump crab, followed by black bean soup, soft-shell crabs, and a dessert of chocolate Jack Daniels freshly made ice cream (with fudge). Keith had an appetizer of mozzarella, tomatoes, and prosciutto, followed by a walnut and gorgonzola salad, one of the best pieces of filet mignon ever with a wonderful sherry and soy reduction sauce, and a dessert of a warm flourless chocolate cake which – for all intents and purposes – was a wonderful brownie. We had a nice bottle of Australian chardonnay with the meal and Hennessy after dinner.

Breakfast the following morning was excellent, as expected. (Breakfast is included with the room rate, as is the gratuity.) There is a buffet with pastry, coffee, hot water, fruit, and fruit juices. Breakfast is made to order and included a choice of eggs, breakfast meat, type of bread, and potatoes. Lori had scrambled egg substitute, wonderful hard-baked potatoes (in small pieces), and fresh-made white toast. Keith had poached eggs, wheat toast, melt-in-your-mouth farm bacon, and potatoes. We sat by the lit fireplace which was cozy.

Inn Bar/Lounge

The Glasbern does not have a bar but drinks can be purchased and taken back to one’s room. We took some Sambuca and Frangelico along with us for our return to the room.

Inn People/Service

The Glasbern is beautiful and well-planned, but its people take it one notch above the rest. This place sets the standard for all others. When we arrived, we were greeted warmly by the innkeeper on duty, who gave us a map of the inn, explained where to park, and met us in the room to show us around and to answer any questions. We remembered this superior service from our previous visit in 1998. These people know how to pamper their guests and it shows – they appeared to have plenty of guests (although we felt like we were in our own special world) and everyone in the dining room looked like they were experiencing some sort of bliss. The Glasbern could teach people the fine art of hospitality. We highly recommend this inn and will continue to return. We were there to celebrate a special occasion and were not disappointed. We completely relaxed the entire time we were there. We love it!

Area/Attractions

The Glasbern is a destination in itself, perfect for a weekend getaway. The grounds are beautiful and relaxing. There are several wineries nearby and the city of Allentown is about 15 miles east. Although the Glasbern is in the country, it is located conveniently off of a major highway and the directions provided are excellent.

Dining

Fogelsville is a small town – a village, really. The Glasbern’s own restaurant is simply too good to pass up when staying there.

Nightlife

There are bars and clubs in the Allentown vicinity, but why bother when the serenity of this place is so relaxing?

Weather

Fogelsville is just beneath where the Pocono Mountains begin. It is about 60-90 minutes north of Philadelphia (depending on traffic). It is also cooler up there. We were there in mid-May and we had an unseasonably cool evening – but it was perfect because we were able to fall asleep to our wood-burning fire!

Tips/Suggestions

Go directly to the Glasbern, do not pass go! If you only experience one B&B in your life, this is it! 24 hours at the Glasbern is a respite, a passage to another world, a time when ambiance and service meant everything. You will not regret it. If your stay includes a Saturday, there is a two-night minimum, but you may be able to coax the innkeeper to let you stay for only one night (as we did, by paying an additional fee). Go for it!