Looking to plan a little romantic weekend getaway to the Burlington area (Ben and Jerry’s+Magic Hat=Awesome) and I’m looking for someplace cute and quaint to stay. So of course that means I don’t really want to stay in Burlington, but somewhere in the general area. I don’t really want a Bed and Breakfast, but I would love something cozy, maybe in the woods, nice views, that sort of deal. Would love any and all suggestions. Thanks a bunch.
You’d think I’d know of places, but I don’t…I mean, I’ve never had to get a hotel or little cabin up here.
But if you need suggestions of more things to do, or want to meet up with nay of us VT dopers (me, Eonwe, LeahM, and…umm…ok, I forget the name of the othe guy, but he lives in White River, which is a bit far away, as far as VT goes,) feel free to ask.
And just so you know, the B&J factory isn’t actually in the Burlington area, it’s in Waturbury, which is about an hour from here.
HEY !! I’M A VERMONTER!! [sup]originally[/sup]
From Barre.
I live in CT now, but we still have our camp up in Groton State forrest on Lake Groton. And relatives all over VT.
Anyway, I’d stay in Williston or Stowe - both are roughly halfway between where you will be going. Williston Village Inn is a B&B and my wife and I like it. It’s owned by a Scandanavian couple who are ex-gold medal Olympic skiers.
In Stowe you can stay on stowe or off there are quite a few B&B’s in Waterbury too. One that is right off 89 is the Stage Coach Inn and it’s very nice. Best Breakfast I have ever had. Seriously.
Thanks for the Stowe recommendation, I think I’ll try to find something in that area. Seems to have a whole bunch of different places to choose from. This would honestly be my first time staying at a B&B. Something about them always just weirded me out I guess. Anyway, any other sites of interest (maybe a good hike or a really good restaurant) you can suggest would be much appreciated. I’ve only ever been up that way once (to the Ben and Jerrys Factory and the Magic Hat Brewery where I managed to buy 10 growlers of beer), so everything is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
For Hiking I would go up to Smuggler’s Notch - which the the other side of Stowe. So from I-89 continue North on 100, then veer left onto Rt-108 towards Stowe, and don’t take any turns it takes you right between the Mountains into Smuggler’s Notch, lot’s pull off hiking spots. Bring a Growler or two in a cooler for after the Hike*.
As for restaurant’s do you want Vermont local favorites or touristy type places? There is an English Pub on 100 when you come into Stowe I believe, it’s on your left, it’s nice but a bit pricey. Lot’s different beer on tap.
I tend towards the mom&pop type places so I may not be the best to recommend a good restaurant. There is plenty of great restaurants in Burlington -right on church street or just off the beaten path.
Don’t worry about staying in B&B’s, it’s really nice, Innkeepers are usually very nice people.
Vermont local favorites of course. Mom and Pop places are usually my ideal dining spots because they’re usually cheaper and have much better food than anything too touristy.
I’m trying to think if I’ve been around Smuggler’s Notch before. Does the Appalachian Trail pass through that area? I seem to remember doing a hike that met up with the Trail at some point. And there was an awesome little apple cider mill in the general area as well (sorry I’m being so vague it was a couple of years ago).
Just stumbled upon this thread!
Are you planning on being up in the summer?
The Appalachian Trail does pass through, or rather, a branch off called the Long Trail. The cider mill was probably Cold Hollow. A decent place to visit in the fall (not much cider pressing going on in the summer months).
Just stumbled here too, so it might be a bit late, but!
As the others have suggested, maybe something up around Stowe or Waterbury might be your best bet, especially if you’re looking for something a little more quaint / cozy, also with the destinations you mentioned.
Burlington’s not really the spot for that, but you can always roam around the city as part of your trip and simply not lodge here.
Unfortunately, I’ve never been up that way (I used to live in Barton, and then Johnson, and now Burlington), so outside of those three places I’m not very good with offerings of good places for lodging.
Either way, hope you enjoy whatever trip you plan!
I just resubscribed to reply to another thread, so I might as well reply to this one, too.
I live in Stowe, so I can heartily endorse the recommendation. We’re about 35 miles from Burlington, but great outdoor activities, excellent dining, and some pretty good concerts held on Trapp Meadow.
A couple of specific recommendations: The Foxfire Inn - Great Italian in a very pleasant setting. The Partridge Inn - very good seafood. The Grey Fox inn and Dutch Pancake House - Dutch pancakes have become a family Easter tradition.
Other good resort inns: Expensive: TopNotch, Trapp Family Lodge. Medium: (I knew of several, but they have all changed hands and changed their names. Sorry.) Relatively Inexpensive: Commodores Inn.
Activities: Mount Mansfield Toll Road, Alpine Slide, Gondola ride, Stowe Mountain Resort (Cliff House restaurant, top of Gondola - great food and unparalleled views).
Hiking: Smugglers’ Notch, Mount Mansfield, Stowe Pinnacle, Long Trail
Bicycling: Mountain biking, Road biking. Rent at AJs sports, Mountain Bike Shop.
Golf: Stowe Golf Club (expensive), The Farm resort (inexpensive), Copley Golf Course (community course), Country Club of Vermont (VERY expensive).
Music & Arts: Trapp Meadow hosts various musical acts (including Vermont Mozart Festival and Vermont Symphony). Final concert of the year (late August) is the Air Force Band of Liberty - free concert). Picnic on meadow before and during concerts. Stowe Performing Arts presents several different plays and other performances. See Stowe Area Association website for calendars.
Hard to go wrong!
It looks like the actual Appalachian trail branches off the Long Trail much further to the south, exiting Vermont somewhere around the Hanover, NH region.
Haven’t made the trip just yet. Planning on July. Probably going to be staying at the Black Bear Inn (which is in Bolton Valley). Seems nice, not too expensive and they have a suite that’s set apart from the main lodgings. I really appreciate the continued suggestions. I honestly wish I had more than a weekend to spend up there, but there’s not much I can do about that. Really craving sweet potato fries (which for some reason I’d never had before going to Burlington), some Magic Hat Number 9 and some free Ben and Jerry’s.