By Holly Rosen Fink, GoGirlfriend contributor

Looking for a weekend getaway for you and your mom? A trip that’s just big enough for you and your first best friend? I highly recommend the Emerson Resort and Spa in the Hudson Valley’s Mt. Tremper, New York. Just two hours from New York City, the experience is both bonding and rewarding, and it’s ideal for a short escape.

The Emerson Resort is perched on the edge of a meandering creek, with views of the mountains from every balcony. From the minute we walked through the entrance, we felt the transition to Zen. The Catskills seemed like the perfect place to relax, reconnect and, eventually, recharge our batteries to return to the real world.

Traveling with my mom

I was looking forward to the quiet, childfree zone of traveling without kids, and my mom looked forward to the tranquility of being in the mountains. We both looked forward to escaping reality and lounging in the hotel’s high-end spa. Though we’ve already bonded in every aspect, we both love traveling and the time it allows us to spend with just each other – time we can’t seem to fit into our day to day lives.

Our mountainside accommodations

Our imperial suite, a duplex, featured a King sized bed upstairs and beautiful view from the balcony. The decor was contemporary with Asian influences and neutral colors. We had a gas fireplace, balcony facing the woods, jet bath tub, Wifi, flat screen televisions, two sofas, cozy bedding and a bottle of wine – all beautiful rooms should come with wine, in my opinion.

Although we were tempted to hunker down in our room and soak in the ambiance, the hotel offers a gym, daily yoga classes, outdoor pool and Jacuzzi and on-site restaurants. There’s also on-site shopping with antiques and furniture from all over the world, spa products , a toy store and the World’s largest Kaleidoscope Museum (tickets are included with your stay).

After spending the early evening alternating between the hot tub, the steam room and the sauna – all sipping wine – we had achieved Zen. Bliss! My mom took one sofa, I took the one by the fire and we spent the rest of the evening watching classic films, a hobby we’ve enjoyed since I was a child.

Yoga, breakfast and finally…the spa

Our morning kicked off with a yoga class, followed by breakfast at the Phoenix. We opted to sit by the window drinking coffee and gazing at the fall foliage as we anxiously awaited our spa appointments.

The spa is definitely a highlight of the resort.

The entrance to the spa is magical, a sculpture and fountain that instantly put our minds at rest and starts the process of relaxation – just in case we weren’t already there. The treatments were almost spiritual with Ayurveda rituals and Buddhist inspiration intertwined with Western therapeutic techniques. My facial was so very cleansing and cathartic, and my mom said her hot stone massage felt like a ritual to cleanse her mind as well as her body.

We emerged rejuvenated and ready to take to take on the world – or at least another evening of soaking and sipping.

Exploring our hippie side

Woodstock is just a 20-minute drive from the resort, so we spent the rest of our day roaming the town's shops, plugging into our artsy, hippie sides. When we got back, we nipped into the hotel's Kaleidoscope Show, perfect for all ages. Lying on the floor, we watched a video of various looks through kaleidoscopes. It was quite mesmerizing.

We ended our visit with dinner at the resort’s Catamount Restaurant. The restaurant has a homey, autumn feel with Classic American offerings on the menu such as shepherd's pie, pot roast and lasagna, mac & cheese, salads, steaks, potatoes and lemon curd and apple pie for dessert.

I highly recommend a girl's getaway or a weekend trip to the Emerson Resort and Spa, regardless of the time of year. The 24 hours my mom and I had together were cosmic, rewarding, and memorable.

If you go, visit the Emerson Resort & Spa online and see what other travelers have to say about them on TripAdvisor and Twitter.

Have you visited Emerson Resort and Spa in the Catskills of New York? We'd love to hear about your visit. Drop a comment below or connect with GoGirlfriend on Twitter or Facebook.

About Holly Rosen Fink

Holly Rosen Fink is a Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Branding and Social Media expert and writer based in Larchmont, New York. She is a current contributor to Trekaroo, OffMetro, Family Vacation Critic, and Women and Hollywood.