PRIVATE TIME ON LAKE ONEIDA

A Visit To The Cove At Sylvan Beach

By Stacey Zable

Set on Oneida Lake and approximately 30 miles from Syracuse in Upstate New York, The Cove at Sylvan Beach welcomes guests to a new community that opened in 2022 and is designed for elevated lakeside vacations. The Cove boasts 70 two- and three-bedroom lakeside cottages ideal for families and groups of friends seeking to spend time enjoying water activities. A unique offering for guests is that with every cottage rental comes a private pontoon boat set in a slip right outside their door for their use during their entire stay. Another perk for guests is booking golf and spa time at the nearby sister property Turning Stone Resort Casino. Book early, as The Cove at Sylvan Beach is open May 5 - October 1, 2023.

As a guest, you’ll feel at home as soon as you enter your cottage with its open-air living and dining area and fully-equipped kitchen. There is also a gas grill on the front porch and a fire pit with chairs in the cottage’s front yard. The brightly-lit fully-air-conditioned cottages offer multiple bedrooms and bathrooms for comfort for all. Bring your supplies or stock up at the on-site Sylvan Beach Supply Co. Besides the basics, the store offers various attractive gift options and a wall of candy, offering 80 varieties that will be hard to pass up. The treats don’t stop there, with a full menu of ice cream and snacks, pastries, cooked-to-order eggs, and more for breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and more for lunch and dinner.

The Sylvan Beach Supply Co. is also where you rent equipment to get you in the water, such as kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, and water bikes, or explore on land with bicycles. But the nine-seat Tahoe Sport Cruise 20-foot pontoon boat will be calling your name as soon as you see it parked in the slip in front of your cottage. Guests operating the pontoon boat must complete a boater safety course online before arrival and show proof.

When it is time to come off the lake, a heated pool beckons with comfortable lounges. The playground next door is sure to get the kids climbing through its incredible features. The lovely grounds include a dockside boardwalk and walking paths along the waterfront.

Neighborly Amenities

Dedicate at least one day to the Forbes Four Star-rated Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, only a 20-minute drive. As it is an affiliated property of The Cove, you’ll be able to charge for services and dining to your account quickly. A much different experience than your laid-back, intimate community at The Cove, Turning Stone is the place for more amenity excitement with five hotels. If golf is in the offing, then choose from five award-winning golf courses and an indoor Golf Dome featuring practice areas for golfers’ long and short games, a TaylorMade Performance Center, a golf simulator, and a Golf Superstore.

But a must for those seeking true relaxation is time in Skana, one of two of the property’s spas. Skana is the Oneida word for peace, and that is exactly what you’ll find amongst its superior amenities and treatments the moment you step into its calming world. This unique spot is in The Lodge at Turning Stone Resort Casino, an all-suite hotel designed for pampering and serenity away from the high energy of The Tower at Turning Stone.

Be sure to end your day with dinner at one of the 20 dining options on-site at Turning Stone. Top picks include TS Steakhouse, set high above, and Pino Bianco for Northern Italian cuisine. Other excitement at Turning Stone consists of the 125,000-square-foot gaming floor, The Lounge with sports betting, The Showroom, an intimate concert venue, a 5,000-seat arena, and several nightlife venues.

For more information on The Cove at Sylvan Beach covesylvanbeach.com; for Turning Stone Resort Casino, visit turningstone.com

The Town Of Sylvan Beach

Within walking distance of The Cove is the cute village of Sylvan Beach. White sand lines the lake’s shores with free public access. Main Street is home to restaurants, cute shops, and a town bandshell where a local festival or event may be held if you time it right. Schedule at least one night (or two) for dinner on the deck at The Lake House at Sylvan Beach, which shares owners with The Cove. You’ll face the beach, lake, and a fantastic sunset while enjoying delicious American fare. And if gaming is your thing, the restaurant has a separate area with slots and more. For families, the town is also home to the Sylvan Beach Amusement Park for classic rides, games, and snacks.

The Flanders Hotel Ocean City’s most historic and prestigious boardwalk hotel, known as “The Jewel of the Southern Shore”, was built in 1923. This service-oriented Ocean City, NJ hotel, which was placed on the Nation Register of Historic Places in 2009, will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023. The Flanders combines the elegance and hospitality of yesteryear with modern amenities to offer the finest in luxury accommodations. All suites in our Ocean City hotel have private bedrooms and full kitchens, equipped with refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, coffee makers and stove tops, along with irons and ironing boards.

Located on the Ocean City Boardwalk, our full-service NJ beach hotel is a seaside destination that provides the following amenities:

• Spacious Banquet and Meeting Space

• Emily’s Ocean Room (featuring family friendly dining)

• The Shoppes at The Flanders (featuring clothing, jewelry, accessories)

• Divine Images Salon & Spa

• Outdoor heated pool (largest in Ocean City)

• Fitness Center

• 24-hour business center

Ocean City, known as America’s Greatest Family Resort, is one of the best beach towns in South Jersey. The Flanders, with its premier accommodations and prime location, is a landmark known throughout the region, state and nation. Vacationers have marveled at the towering structure as one of the great hotels along the Jersey Shore while local residents and business owners are reminded of the glory and memories provided by the resort. Because of its status as the grandest of Ocean City, New Jersey hotels, the community is fortunate that this architectural gem has survived to the present and continues to remain an important part of Ocean City’s past and future.