Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, Stowe, Vermont

An aerial view of Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa
An aerial view of Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa

Traveling with two kids for a month has both challenges and rewards. My challenges can be summed up by bickering, relentless competitiveness and keeping them fed and entertained as we traipsed through eight states from Maine to New Jersey.

My reward? Snowflake Resort and Spa in Stow Vermont.

The outdoor pool at Stoweflake where my kids played for hours while I hit the spa
The outdoor pool at Stoweflake where my kids played for hours while I hit the spa

I hadn’t been to Vermont since college and had forgotten how incredibly beautiful it is. The Green Mountain State, indeed. Rolling hills carpeted with lush trees in every verdant shade dotted with little red barns and farmhouses. Nothing against New Hampshire, but I felt instantly relaxed as I crossed the border into Vermont.

The family-owned resort in the shadow of Mount Mansfield is surrounded by 60 acres of land and is probably best known as winter ski destination but as we came to find out, it is also a fantastic summer getaway.

Our comfortable room had a gas fireplace, flat screen television, Wi-Fi, mini fridge and Keurig coffeemaker.

We were greeted by Stoweflake’s warm and knowledgeable concierge Jim, who created an itinerary for the kids that included golf, ping pong, tennis, and swimming in both the indoor and outdoor pools, while I set about for the serious business of spa treatments and yoga classes.

The decadent award-winning spa at Stoweflake. I indulged in a coffee scrub and massage and an anti-aging facial here.
The decadent award-winning spa at Stoweflake. I indulged in a coffee scrub and massage and an anti-aging facial here.

The top-rated spa (Conde Nast, Forbes, Elle and Spa Magazine) offers some 120 signature healing and anti-aging remedies for the mind, body and soul, an “aqua solarium” with a Hungarian mineral pool, a cascading waterfall pool and lounge area with mountain views as well as separate men’s and women’s steam and saunas.

I chose the Green Mountain Coffee Body Treatment mostly because it sounded too interesting not to—an exfoliating scrub, antioxidant Dead Sea Mud wrap, and a full-body coffee oil massage! I came out feeling like a million bucks and smelling as good as a frappacino.

The next day I indulged in a second treatment, the Harvest Facial, that used anti-aging properties of organic grape seed combined with an AHA peel. Once again, my skin glowed and I felt profoundly pampered.

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We dined Charley B’s Pub and Restaurant, known for its Wine Spectator award-winning wine cellar featuring 3,000 bottles and craft brewed beers. The clam and corn chowder was a big hit with Roman.

Our three days at Stoweflake flew by. I’d like return some year for the Hot Air Balloon Festival (we missed it by a week this year).

But before we left,  we made sure to walk the labyrinth in the meditative spa garden, surrounded by herbs and flowers, and set an intention to come back again.

The labyrinth in the meditative garden.
The labyrinth in the meditative garden.

Insider Tip: Five miles from Stoweflake is Bingham Falls, a tucked away watering hole with flowing waterfall. Follow the unmarked trail down a 700-ft incline to this magical reservoir frequented by locals.

This post was contributed by Lisa Crovo Dion. I was a guest at Stoweflake.

Photos courtesy of Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa.
1746 Mountain Road
Stowe, VT. 05672
1.800.253.2232.