The fact that Vermont’s historical hero is Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain militia is indicative of the character of the state, from a number of perspectives, reflects the fiercely independent nature of Vermonters. This state declared war on Germany before any other states did. One of the New England states, and home to Senator Bernie Sanders and over 100 19th century covered wooden bridges, the primary attraction of Vermont must be the countryside. With ski and hiking trails crisscrossing the state, and thousands of acres of state parks, forests, and historic farmhouses, the best way to experience Vermont is outside.
Ride the Stowe Recreation Path or the Burlington Bike Path. Visit the Shelbourne Museum or the Lincoln Family Home. Experience the snowfields of Mount Mansfield, or the lakeside tranquility of Waterfront Park in Burlington. If history is your poison, then skip over the Bennington and experience the haunting stillness of the Bennington Battle Monument. Or perhaps drive through Woodstock and reminisce about the ‘60s. And remember that the leaves turn in Vermont, and when they do the state explodes on fiery color.
Now let’s think about where you are going to stay while sinking into the Green Mountain State, here are the best resorts in Vermont:
1. Twin Farms
Nestled into the magical landscape around Barnard, is the 300-acre property that houses Twin Farms, one of Vermont’s exclusive and most elegant accommodation experiences. The buildings themselves are magnificent to behold, and these pale in comparison with the landscape within which they have been constructed. With classic, rustic architecture, and supremely attentive staff in place, Twin Farms claim that you will never want to leave, and it is an easy claim to justify.
With 4 styles of accommodation, ranging from Lodge rooms to self-contained cottages, there is nothing in Vermont that equals the Twin Farms experience. The resort is equipped with a fitness center and day spa, and quests can partake in an enormous range of activities on the property, including hiking, canoeing, fly fishing, ice skating, and tennis. All meals are prepared on the property and are part of the fully customized, all-inclusive stay at the resort. Twin Farms is a luxurious and peerless holiday experience.
Website: http://www.twinfarms.com/
2. Mountaintop Inn and Resort
Set on 350 private acres within the Green Mountains, the Mountaintop Inn and Resort is one of Vermont’s premium destinations. With a restaurant, day spa, Yoga workshop, and access to the Killington Region Ski fields, the Mountaintop Inn and Resort is a magnificent holiday experience.
The Lodge Rooms are supplemented by self-contained cabins and guest houses, all of which can be serviced by the on-site restaurants, the Mountaintop Tavern, and the Mountaintop Dining Room. The entire complex is designed to blend into the countryside perfectly, with timber construction and tangible elegance in the appointments. One of the top experiences to be had in Vermont.
Website: http://mountaintopinn.com
3. Basin Harbor
For over a hundred years, Basin Harbor Resort on Lake Champlain, has been a popular holiday destination for guests from across the country and across the globe. The complex supports 74 guest cottages dotted across the property, each carefully placed to maximize privacy and comfort while optimizing the views presented.
The resort is not short on activities for quests, boasting to host over 130 daily activities. Hiking, canoeing, fishing, or golf. Swimming, kayaking, and sailing on the lake, or tennis and basketball on the grounds. The resort will also arrange and facilitate historic tours, winery tours, or brewery tours, depending on your preference. The sheer magnitude of services and activities available at the Resort make Basin Harbor a complex and memorable destination.
Website: http://www.basinharbor.com
4. Top Notch Resort
Sometimes you hear the name of a holiday resort and cringe due to the lack of originality, and Top Notch may be one of those occasions, however the complex itself far outshines and staid title they have chosen. Set in beautiful Stowe, the resort offers a full range of lodge rooms and cottages for guests to experience the magical environs.
The resort has chosen tennis as its focal point and offers a number of coaching, playing, and workshop experiences around the sport. However, the site also hosts a quality equestrian center, a day spa, and two restaurants. Situated in some of the most magnificent scenery Vermont has to offer, there is plenty to adore at Top Notch Resort.
Website: http://www.topnotchresort.com
5. Equinox Golf Resort and Spa
Situated in Manchester Village among gorgeously landscaped grounds and classic New England architecture, The Equinox avails itself of 150 rooms (including 12 exclusive suites) in a resort designed and built around a love of the game of golf. Yes, there are tennis courts and a day spa, but it is the golf course that is the center of the experience at the Equinox.
Set in one of the most picturesque settings in the country, the 18-hole championship course was originally built in 1926, and the further development of the course has only improved the experience. A perfect destination for a corporate retreat, the resort also hosts 5 restaurants, each with their own tone and character. For lovers of golf, there are few courses in the country that will provide an experience to peer the Equinox.
Website: https://www.equinoxresort.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=Yext
6. Castle Hill Resort and Spa
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Castle Hill Resort in Proctorsville, is a truly magnificent stone and timber building constructed within beautifully catered grounds. With 10 guest rooms in the titular Castle building and a number of free-standing condos, there is accommodation to suit any guest.
The Castle hosts a fine dining restaurant for guests and provides a luxurious and relaxing point from which to explore the region. With truly beautiful grounds laid out around the Resort, Castle Hill is a visual splendor, and a perfect location for a romantic getaway, or wedding.
Website: http://www.castlehillresortvt.com
7. Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa
The family and pet-friendly Stoweflake Mountain Resort in picturesque Stowe provides casually elegant accommodations from which guests can branch out and explore the region. Winter is ski season, obviously, but there is plenty to do at the site once the snow has melted and the trees have started to change color.
With guestrooms that will accommodate up to 4 people supplemented by a range of townhouses that will suit larger groups, there is no reason to look elsewhere for your stay in Stowe. The resort provides a number of dining options and a full-service day spa. Why not book your stay to coincide with the Balloon Festival, July 7-9?
Website: http://www.stoweflake.com/
8. Sugar Ridge RV Park and Campground
Located in Danville and open from May to October is Sugar Ridge RV Park, which stakes its claim as Vermont’s finest family campground. With 150 secluded, wooded campsites, and a collection of on-site rentals, sugar ridge is the optimum size. Not so large as to be over-powering, but large enough to create a community atmosphere which is the prime benefit of these types of resorts.
There is plenty to do within the grounds of the camp, with swimming pools (including a heated pool), basketball and volleyball courts, and a selection of hiking trails breaking out from the center of the park. The area around Sugar Ridge is stacked with activities and attractions, and the operators are friendly and keen to assist. For an affordable and enjoyable camping experience, Sugar Ridge RV Park checks all the high marks.
Website: http://www.sugarridgervpark.com/
9. Okemo Mountain Resort
Okemo Mountain ResortA ski resort located in Ludlow, the Okemo Mountain Resort sports a truly expansive array of accommodation options. Whether it is the Solitude Village, mid-mountain, or Winterplace above the Clock Tower quads, there is no shortage of places to rest up after a long day on the slopes.
The village that has sprung up around the Okemo Mountain Resort makes the holiday completely self-contained. There are numerous dining options, as well as snow sports and other retail shops. However, you wish to experience the mountain, there are options available for every traveler. If you’re looking for that once-in-a-lifetime experience, you will get it here!
Website: https://www.okemo.com/
10. Smugglers Notch
Smugglers Notch provides a family resort environment in the heart of the Green Mountains, with accommodations and activities available to take advantage of every season. The operators and guests at the resort work hard to maintain the community feeling, with repeat visitors often claiming returning to the property is like coming home.
With a wide range of accommodation offerings, as well as restaurants, day spas, playgrounds, and shopping precincts, Smugglers Notch has all the bases covered for a fun-filled and memorable trip for the entire family.
Website: http://www.smuggs.com/
11. Tyler Place Family Resort
An all-inclusive family resort set on the banks of a lake in Highgate Springs, the Tyler Place is independently owned, and operates from May through to September. The unique feature of the resort is the extraordinary number of activities available for adults and children alike at the lakeside campground. Bikes, walking trails, basketball, tennis, skeet shooting, climbing walls, driving range, archery … take a deep breath and realize that list doesn’t even begin to account for the Lake.
The 70 cottages spread across the property are designed for all manner of families, large and small, and are supplemented by the Inn located on site. The all-inclusive nature of a stay at Tyler Place includes 3 healthy meals a day for every guest, and takes the stress of budgeting and cooking away from the family, leaving more time to enjoy the amenities and scenery. A truly unique camping experience.
Website: http://www.tylerplace.com/
12. Woodstock Inn and Resort
Housed in a building and estate that deeply reflects the history and character of Woodstock, and Vermont, the Woodstock Inn is a luxury experience with its lineage reaching back to Mary and Laurance Rockefeller. The accommodation is available in gradually increasing levels of elegance and opulence and is therefore considered perfectly suited for the character location and magnificent grounds within which it is constructed.
With no less than 5 dining experiences available at the Inn and Resort, including the award-winning Red Rooster, there is certain to be something to suit every taste. The Inn also hosts a world-class day spa and the Woodstock Country Club, one of the top 100 golf courses in the world. With everything you would expect from Vermont and New England luxury, the Woodstock Inn and Resort is sure to provide life-long memories.
Website: http://www.woodstockinn.com/
13. Hawk Inn and Mountain Resort
The Hawk Inn is the perfect blend of magnificent New England Architecture and idyllic Vermont countryside. Set within beautifully wooded grounds in Plymouth, the Inn, and Resort provides a range of accommodation options across all four seasons, including deluxe rooms in the inn and cottages dotted across the mountain.
Then on-site restaurant, The River Tavern, provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus all year, overseen by an award-winning executive chef. The resort also includes a fully equipped fitness center, indoor and outdoor pool, and a full-service day spa for maximum relaxation. Soak in the crisp mountain air at the Hawk Inn and Resort.
Website: http://www.hawkresort.com/
14. The Essex Resort and Spa
Dining and relaxation – that is the vision behind the Essex Resort and Spa in Essex Junction. More than just a culinary experience in excess, however, the Spa is a fully-fledging cooking academy where daily classes are hosted by world-class chefs who then venture into the restaurant kitchens to fully express their mastery. The on-site day spa is fully equipped to provide contemporary services from skilled and attentive staff, completing the defined mission of the complex.
The Resort itself has over 120 luxury rooms, from traditional hotel rooms to deluxe studios, and culminating in luxury suites. The rooms are decorated with a skilled eye to provide an experience that marries with the splendor of the grounds, and the rest of the experience. If you have a love of fine food and luxurious surroundings, the Essex Resort and Spa must take a place on your list.
Website: http://www.essexresortspa.com/
15. Mountain Green Resort
The Mountain Green Resort in Killington is a family-friendly condo resort sitting between the ski slopes (for winter) and the Killington Country Club (for the rest of the year). Constructed of a range of self-contained and individually-styled condos, the resort makes for a perfect destination for the independent family who wants a base camp to provide exploration opportunities.
The complex provides access to the Back, Body & Mind Health Spa at the base of Killington Mountain where all manner of massage therapies are available. The Capriccio Restaurant where guests can savor a range of Italian-inspired dishes through the winter season (December to April). An independent family looking for options to explore the Killington ski fields would do well to give the Mountain Green Resort their full consideration.
Website: https://mgresort.condocommunities.com/communities/login/index.asp?#home-section