Tag: <span>Vermont</span>

Published February 1, 2010 by

Finding the Ultimate Reception Venue

mountaintop-innFirst off, I promise not to turn this into a wedding blog but since I’ve just started planning a wedding, I can’t resist telling you about the beginnings of my venue hunt. Mike and I have decided to have a winter wedding in central Vermont: the area where we first joined a ski house together four years ago. Between the mountains, rivers, covered bridges, and maple syrup farms, there is really no place cuter.

And the epitome of VT quaintness? The town of Woodstock.

Luxury-hotels-woodstockWoodstock was the first stop on our list of potential locations. We have always loved this village. The 18th-century architecture, the stream that passes under the main street, the antique lamp posts, cheese shops, and boutiques all combine to make it one of my favorite places in the whole country (and I’ve driven across the U.S. twice). The town is full of charming bed-and-breakfasts, but to accommodate 150 guests for the ceremony well need something bigger than a quaint courtyard. The Woodstock Inn is definitely the largest and grandest hotel in town, so we had to check it out.

Though the Woodstock Inn is quintessentially small-town Vermont, the suites feel fresh and sophisticated (i.e., no wooden ducks and twig wreaths); if I could choose any rooms for our guests to stay in, it would be these. While I could definitely imagine a gorgeous wedding in the inn’s ballroom, we realized that if we were going to have a wedding in the Green Mountains, we needed to embrace what Vermont does best: the great outdoors.

Stone fireplace On to the Mountaintop Inn (pictured here and top)! Set on 350 acres of forest and perched above a massive reservoir, this Chittenden property was recommended by my dear friend Erin (who actually introduced Mike and me–good omen). Offering ice skating, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, snowshoeing, and horse-drawn sleigh rides, this hotel definitely appeals to Mike and my former-camp-counselor sensibilities. The inn’s decor is bit rustic for this L.A. girl, but the space is supremely cozy, with lodging options that just couldn’t be better. Couples can stay in the lake-view suites, while groups of friends can rent three-to-five-bedroom chalet homes on the property for as little as $55 a person.

Though we are leaning heavily toward the Mountaintop Inn for a winter wedding, the experience of hunting for venues is too good to rush. Looking for reception sites is probably the best excuse to sample all the hotels you’ve ever dreamed of visiting, and I’m going to soak up every moment.

Do you know any great hotels, farms, barns, mountain peaks in Vermont that you think could work well for a wedding? If so, wed love to hear them!

Places

Vermont wedding

Published December 1, 2009 by

How to Pick the Perfect Ski House

ski-house-rentalWhen I moved to the East Coast from California, I was shivering constantly. I spent the first year finding ways to enjoy myself indoors but the end result was eating, sleeping, and shopping far too much. Year two: I stopped avoiding winter and embraced it with a ski house.

Mike and I have been doing a seasonal rental in Killington, Vermont, since 2006, and I’ve loved winter ever since. There is just nothing like a day of skiing through trees, cooking dinner with friends, and relaxing in the hot tub under the stars. We’ve loved every house we’ve stayed in but with four rentals under our belt, we’ve learned a few things guaranteed to improve your stay.

What to look for when shopping for a group ski rental:

1. Single family home. You are in the mountains; it should feel like it. A freestanding house, tucked in the trees is the way to go (and generally not that much more expensive than the three-bedroom condos). Plus, the option to snow shoe or sled on your property is a great way to get adventure when the weather is too arctic to ski.

2. Flexible sleeping arrangements. A ski house should always have a more-the-merrier mentality so pullout couches, trundle beds, and bunk beds are a great option to keep the house guest-friendly and the mood spontaneous.

3. Fireplace. This is essential not only for gathering around with friends or a book but also for drying your ski gear.

4. Hot tub. We didn’t have one the first year but once we did, there was no turning back. Great for relaxing sore muscles, prompting gatherings and if for nothing else, I recommend it for the surreal experience of watching snow fall while swimming.

5. A kitchen for multiple chefs. Cooking with friends is half the enjoyment of the meal, but not if everyone is tripping over one another. A kitchen that can handle three or more chefs makes cooking social and efficient.

6. A big dining table. A table that can seat ten or more will keep the conversation and the group bond going strong.

7. Mud room. Between the ice, dirt, and mounds of gear, ski houses are bound to take a beating. Having a large mudroom where people can dump their wet stuff will be the best way to keep the rest of the house clean.

8. Nearby grocery store. This isn’t your house so you’re bound to be missing the spices or staples you think you have. Though it’s great to be in the wilderness, it’s worth sacrificing a bit of nature to have a few comforts easily accessible.

9. No steep hills. There are bound to be housemates or guests without four-wheel drive so you don’t want a house they can’t access. Take the steepness of the driveway and nearby streets into account before you rent.

10. Proximity to the mountain. The heart of any ski town is the area surrounding the slopes. Though cooking and relaxing at home is nice, nearby bars and restaurants offer some welcomed variety.

While it may be too late for a great seasonal rental, all of these tips apply to week-long rentals or even buying a ski house. Happy winter!

Places

travel resources Vermont

Published April 29, 2008 by

A trip to Simon Pearce

SimonPearceFactory.jpgEveryone is so excited for the start of summer but I am already missing winter. This weekend, 10 friends and I sadly shut down our winter ski house in Killington, Vermont. It was a six-month rental, which should have left us ample time to explore the surrounding area, but as life goes, we crammed all our touristy adventures into our final day of the season: a Vermont cheese farm tour, maple syrup tasting, a brewery visit, and my new favorite, the Simon Pearce Glass and Pottery Mill.

SPearceKiln_0.jpgSimon Pearce has been a major national retail business for over 20 years but once you get to their historic river-powered mill in the small town of Quechee, you feel like you’ve discovered an artists commune. Glass blowers move through the facility with the precision and intention of a bee colony–dipping, trimming, and shaping the glass around the heat of the kiln. In the potters room, one ceramist mixes glazes for the latest bisqueware while another is kneading clay. A shelf of glazed vases and dishes sit perfectly on the shelf, reminding me that I am in also in a retail store. I head up the stairs to the shop which feels more like a living room than a showroom.

SPearceLamp.jpgWhen I asked the salesperson what was new, she showed me the new Lyra Lamp from the Simon Pearce Signature collection. The teardrop shape, each and every air bubble, the seaglass translucence . . . . I love everything about this lamp.

SPearcelogo.jpgThere is an organic quality and an honesty that I really adore in Simon Pearce. They’re a big business but they have kept production handmade, in-house, and powered by their local and natural resources. For an great example of true artistry in retail, I recommend a visit to the Mill at Quechee, VT .

Places

shops tabletop Vermont