A Great Spot Close To The Big Mountain.
As one person said, Stowe, VT, takes its wellness seriously and nowhere is that more apparent than at Topnotch Resort. The 120-acre wooded getaway is a place to recharge and refuel in a calm and soothing environment.
The attractive, minimalist hotel has just 68 rooms, plus two restaurants. From the minute you swing open the large wood front doors, you are swarmed by friendly staff ready to help.
Floor to ceiling windows overlook Mt. Mansfield, which beckons, ski me, ski me, which is easily done. Take the resort’s free shuttle up to the Spruce Peak parking area without the hassle of parking.
Topnotch caters to both rabid outdoor types and those who are on a different pace. If you need a chillax day or have someone in your group who does not ski, Topnotch offers a schedule of daily fitness activities—some are free, some have fees. They range from Pilates to Vinyasa Yoga, from Qui Gong to Chakra Balancing; plus a morning stretch at 8:25 a.m.
You can do as much or as little as you like. No one is judging you.
The five-mile Stowe Recreation Path runs along the river across the road. You can fat bike, Nordic ski, hike, snowshoe, walk your dog (Topnotch has several pet friendly rooms). Rent gear from MountainOps, a high-end retail and rental shop that works with Topnotch and where you can pick up local intel.
Tennis anyone? You can take daily adult clinics at Topnotch Tennis, with four indoor courts, recently resurfaced and relit, consistently is ranked as one of the top tennis resorts in the U.S.
The piece de resistance, however, is the 35,000-foot spa. You have absolutely no excuse to not be on the slopes the next day due to sore muscles. A cascading waterfall indoor hot tub hydro-massages aching shoulders, while an indoor pool with a dedicated lap lane lets you stretch out the whole body. A steam room, sauna, and shower will also help melt away any tight spots.
An outdoor heated pool and hot tub let you swim or soak under the stars.
You may not be interested in the fitness center, after beating yourself to a pulp on Stowe’s Front Four, but if you do, it has a wide selection of cardio and weight equipment and attractive studio. The spa also has 30 treatment rooms. I highly recommend the signature hops massage with Scott, which left me feeling as bendy as the Mom in The Incredibles.
After the day outdoors, the ravenous will appreciate The Flannel which uses local, seasonal, fresh ingredients from local farmers, Vermont cheesemakers, and culinary artisans, supervised by chef Ryan Lajoie. The Roost, an informal lobby bar, is a popular locals’ après-ski spot with live music weekends and offers more casual fare and a kids’ menu. Topnotch is a place all generations can enjoy.
In spring, rates go down at this four-diamond luxury resort, just in time for Vermont maple sugaring season. Both are sweet deals. Plus Stowe just got three feet of snow.
Courtesy of kind skiing parents I stayed at The Topnotch a number of times in the 1960’s. It was wonderful lodge back then but clearly many amenities have been added.
That is one of its charms, it has a long history of Stowe families staying there, with an eye still on the main event – skiing, yet has really kept up to date with all the other amenities people now want and look forward to being surprised by.