Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on hospitality-related businesses across the nation as many were forced to close their doors to ensure the safety of staff and customers. Now that the case numbers were decreasing and hotels/inn were slowly reopening their doors, I knew that I wanted to take a short socially distanced getaway during my time off. An important part of my health journey, is taking out time to take care of myself. Therefore, I decided to stay at Akwabaa The Mansion at Noble Lane, a black-owned bed and breakfast in the Poconos Mountain Region as seen on Checked Inn on OWN. I also brought along my husband, sister, and her husband.
Prior to booking the reservation, I visited Akwabaa’s site to see its Covid-19 procedures. The site detailed the many adjustments they have made to ensure the safety of their guests. Upon arrival to the Mansion, I was immediately impressed by the beauty of the grounds. The inside of the mansion had a rustic charm that showed its age and history but with some beautiful modern updates. We were greeted by Monique Greenwood at check-in, the owner of 5 black-owned bed and breakfasts. She gave us a private tour of the Mansion, detailing its history and unique architecture. We stayed on the third floor of the Mansion in their luxury rooms. Our room had a welcome snack basket with some games, which was a pleasant surprise.
This area of the Poconos Region is truly a gem. Our itinerary for the getaway included horseback riding at Happy Trails Stable, hiking at Prompton State Park, Boat Tour of Lake Wallenpaupack, and a picnic in the park. Every morning at the Mansion, breakfast was served at 9AM and they were able to easily accommodate me and my sister’s vegetarian dietary restriction. The food was delicious and it was comforting to be surrounded by so much black excellence. Our second day was a rainy day so we stayed at the Mansion for the full day but there was more than enough there to keep us entertained. I went to the gym in the morning and we spent the evening splashing in the indoor heated pool. We even made a few friends along the way, who happened to also be from Maryland.
All in all, I was extremely torn between writing this review or keeping this best kept secret all to myself. I decided that it would be better to spread the word about this awesome place to stay in the Poconos area for a quiet and relaxing time. I truly appreciated how invested Monique was in every customer, how she remembered all the names, and spent time talking to us about family and values. If you ever have a chance to visit the Poconos Mountain Region, I hope you consider staying at Akwabaa the Mansion at Noble Lane.
I Dream of Me 