Peak of serenity
PLAN COZY WINTER GETAWAY AT STOWE’S TOPNOTCH RESORT
When it comes to a winter mountain getaway, slope side is often the go-to choice. But that convenience can come with a price. Busy hallways and sidewalks can keep things noisy through the night. Snow-making apparatus hums and beeps until morning, and often, you are a distance away from the thick and beautiful forest.
What if you could have all the convenience of being slope side and still be away from it all? That’s what you’ll find at the famed Topnotch Resort in Stowe, Vt. Just down the hill from the hubbub that is one of the East’s most amazing mountains, and just up the hill from a quintessentially Vermont town center, Topnotch is tucked off the road and high on a hill, where it offers sweeping views of Mount Mansfield while insulated by a lush forest.
Topnotch has been a popular mountain destination, both summer and winter, since it opened in the late 1950s. But in the past few years, with new owners and a multimillion-dollar renovation, it has taken the Stowe experience up a notch.
For skiers, Topnotch makes being down the hill from the base of the mountain feel decidedly “slope side.” Equipment is stored in the resort’s adorable ski chalet, where boots are kept in a “warming room” and are always toasty for you (from your ski boots when you’re ready to your street boots when you return from skiing). The chalet is just a few steps from the main building.
There, you put on your boots and bundle up while your shuttle driver (no fee for this) loads your skis and poles into the shuttle and zips you up the road and drops you off at the gondola, getting you up on the mountain fast. When you’re done, the shuttle loops back and
brings you to that same warm chalet to change and go on with your day.
Skiing isn’t the only game at Topnotch, though. The resort has embraced the concept of active adventure, offering snowshoeing, horseback riding, fat biking (on snow!) and more. In partnership with many Stowe-area tour groups, Topnotch can set up visitors on all kinds of winter fun.
Like a brewery tour. During a recent visit, Topnotch set me up with Four Point’s Guide Service for an afternoon of brewery and distillery tours. Along with four other guests on the tour, we learned about — and sampled — Vermont distilled vodka, cider and more than a few local brews. Learn more at 4pointsvt.com.
And should you want to dine out, shop in town or have a few cocktails off site, the resort’s shuttle will drop you off and pick you up anywhere, anytime.
Topnotch also knows how to help you relax. First, the settings, including the on-site restaurants, are all newly renovated. There are plenty of spots to curl up with a cocktail or cocoa by a fire, indoors and out. In its pub, The Roost, you can choose from a dozen taps and order off an innovative and delicious pub menu, all in a cozy, smart setting where you can even wear your slippers. There’s live music on weekends, and speakers bring that music outside as well, should you choose to hang by the outdoor heaters and fireplace.
Flannel is where you’ll find exquisite breakfast and dinner choices prepared by a top area chef in an open kitchen. And while the meals are upscale, the vibe is casual.
Then there is the spa. Ranked among the best in the nation, this 35,000-square-foot spa features lounges with steam rooms, saunas, showers and bright, beautiful lockers. The soundproof, peaceful treatment rooms (with windows to bring in natural
light) are just off a beautiful co-ed relaxation/waiting area with soaring windows and amazing views. There are also indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs; one indoor hot tub offers a cascading waterfall you can relax under.
Treatments are both traditional and innovative. I tried the Mount Mansfield Saucha and was wowed.
Slope side is great, for sure. But there really is something about being away from it all. Deep in the woods of Stowe, Topnotch showed me how I could savor the quiet and be totally connected, too. Learn more at topnotchresort.com.