Your swimming options range from an indoor lap pool complemented by a whirlpool tub outfitted with a cascading shoulder massaging waterfall to a pair of outdoor pools overlooking the mountains, one of which is heated year-round. The centerpiece of Top Notch's 35,000-square-foot spa is its three pools. The great outdoors lie at your fingertips just across Mountain Road in front of the resort on the Stowe Recreation Path or on nearby hiking trails like the Stowe Land Trust's Mill Trail to Bingham Falls. Seventeen two- and three-bedroom resort homes surround the main property offering all the perks of your own house while still having access to the resort's certified tennis academy with four indoor and six outdoor courts, an equestrian center offering private and group horseback riding lessons as well as guided English and Western trail rides, and Topnotch Spa. All rooms are mountain view while some have private decks, fireplaces, and pet friendly perks like dog beds, canine turndown service, and doggie spa treatments. A number of renovations freshened things up over the years but the latest $15 million overhaul in 2014 transformed all 68 guest rooms while common areas and the two onsite dining venues were reconstructed from the ground up.ĭespite this transformation, Topnotch magically retains its auberge charm while exuding the quiet sophistication of a luxury resort. Tucked into a wooded 120 acres overlooking Mount Mansfield's distinctive notch that gives Smugglers Notch ski area its namesake, Topnotch Resort first opened in 1959 as a family-owned inn with a small lounge and 24-seat restaurant primarily catering to skiers. In town, the Alchemist and Idletyme Brewing Company are good starting points on your quest for top rated local suds.Ībove Mountain Road (Route 108) just north of Stowe, the AAA Four-Diamond Topnotch Resort is your ideal base camp for exploring it all or escaping the outside world entirely. Can't miss eateries like Piecasso and The Bench, interspersed with a panoply of area breweries. Beyond its renown as “ski capital of the east" surrounded by wide open meadows and working farms nestled among rolling mountains that rise up in every direction, this region is the epicenter of VT craft-food producers ranging from household names like Cabot and Ben & Jerry's to local favorites like Cold Hollow Cider Mill and Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea. Photos by Meredith Perdue for Map & Menu.Northern Vermont's Stowe region embodies what comes to mind when envisioning a quintessential Green Mountain getaway. Some of our happiest memories have happened in Vermont over the years, and we feel so fortunate to be able to leave our lovely piece of the Maine coast every now and again to experience the beauty of the Vermont mountains and rivers. Three nights in Vermont – one more than we’re used to – still proved to be too short of a visit for us. The food and the aesthetic of the inn and restaurant were both wonderful. We’ve always wanted to stay there, but since they don’t allow dogs (and we feel too guilty to sneak off to Vermont without Orvis in tow), having dinner at the restaurant seemed like the best alternative. Dinner at the nearby, beautiful Edson Hill was certainly a highlight. In addition to visiting some old favorite trails, shops, and restaurants, we also made a point to try a few new places this time around. Splashing around the river together with Orvis post-hike proved to be my favorite memory of the entire summer! On our most recent trip, after hiking Wiessner Woods in Stowe, we drove south down Route 100 to pick up sandwiches from the Warren Store for a river picnic at Bobbin Mill. Not only is there so much to see and do in Stowe, we also love that Topnotch is just a short drive away from the Mad River Valley towns of Waitsfield and Warren. Mansfield from the patio at Flannel is a tough one to beat, but the fact that we can watch it with Orvis at our feet makes it all that much more enjoyable. We’ve grown accustomed to staying at Topnotch Resort in Stowe because we’re allowed to eat our meals outside with Orvis. Though we visit Vermont every now and again during other months, these August visits have become so special to us over the years. August in Vermont. What started out as a weekend spent working in Ludlow, Vermont back in August of 2012 has evolved into summer tradition I look forward to all year long.
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