The Stowe Mountain Lodge is a splurge for most families, but a pure treat. Located within the Stowe Mountain Resort, about five miles outside of the quintessential New England town of Stowe and at the base of Vermont’s highest peak, Mount Mansfield, the Lodge is located in one of the best areas in Vermont. The Resort boasts several accommodations of varying price ranges and we were treated to five star service.
Accommodations and Dining at Stowe Mountain Lodge
First impressions are important and the Stowe Mountain Lodge greets you with well attentive valets who were incredibly eager to assist us with anything we needed. I honestly have never heard myself referred to as “Mrs. Mazeau” as many time as I did during our weekend visit! When you enter the Stowe Mountain Lodge you are immediately struck by the sophisticated, rustic decor of the Alpine lodge. Our valet gave us a full tour of our suite and pointed out key spots on the mountain. The view from our balcony could not have been more perfect.
Our studio was part of the Ridgeline rooms and our fourth floor location gave us a stunning view of the Stowe trails and Mount Mansfield. Our room included a king bed, pull out couch for the kids, gas fire place, well sized galley kitchen fully stocked with ceramic ware from Bennington Potters, and a beautifully decorated large marble bathroom. Those crisp Vermont nights were perfect for a glass of wine on the balcony and I actually allowed myself time to relax in the deep tub.
My kid’s favorite go-to spot at the Stowe Mountain Lodge was the enormous free-form heated pool. The pool is open year round and has a convenient indoor entrance that served us well on a chilly night when the kids begged us to go night swimming. With two hot tubs, a bar, light food fare, wait service, and stunning views of Mount Mansfield, you can make a whole afternoon of just lounging by the pool.
Dining options at the Stowe Mountain Lodge during the summer include Solstice and the Hourglass. Solstice is open for breakfast and dinner and includes a menu largely created from locally sourced food and an array of Vermont’s rich, luscious cheeses. I could have made a meal of just cheese, thick sweet honey, and nuts! The kid’s menu is complete with child-friendly appetizers and more than the usual chicken fingers, which as a parent I very much appreciated. The Hourglass is a great place for lunch and the artisanal grilled cheese with caramelized onions is as scrumptious as it sounds.
One great thing about visiting the Stowe Mountain Lodge is that you are only a few minutes drive from a multitude of award winning restaurants in the town of Stowe if you opt to leave the resort for night. Another reason why the lodge is a true splurge
Make sure to visit the Alpine Concierge. The team at the Stowe Mountain Lodge is there to enhance your every experience at Stowe and they assisted us with kid-friendly restaurant suggestions and bike rental locations and as expected, all of their recommendations were excellent.
The Spa and Wellness Center at Stowe
The pool area is connected to the enormous fitness center and close to the Spa and Wellness Center. We hit a new developmental milestone on this trip as my daughter and I received complimentary spa treatments. Yes, at a month shy of seven my little girl discovered the spa with Stowe’s signature kid-friendly service, Chillax. Chillax introduces kids to the spa with a warm coconut oil and cocoa powder face mask, complete with cucumbers to soothe the eyes (my daughter ate them instead). Up to four kids at a time can participate in Chillax in a special room that can be seen from outside the spa and lined with papasan chairs for pure relaxation. Since it was only my daughter and a 12 year old boy they both received paraffin hand and foot treatments as well as a head massage. Rough life! The whole experience is meant to be fun so there’s no pressure to be quiet and giggling and goofing-off are all part of Chillax. While she was Chillaxing, I had a wonderful 25 minute massage targeted on my back and shoulders. Afterwards we both met in the spa lounge where I enjoyed a delicious ginger tea and she and I just lounged. Anyone who has a spa treatment has access to the Spa and Wellness Center for the remainder of the day. So, if you need to escape for a little while, bring a book and enjoy!
The Stowe Mountain Lodge is an experience in the good life, but that experience does come with a price. The service and attention to detail make the Stowe Mountain Lodge stand out above all other family resorts as a true luxury getaway.
Adrienne Veglia Mazeau is the mom of two school age children, and loves taking them on adventures with her attractively geeky archaeologist husband. She writes about balancing a demanding full time career and family travel both close to her home in Upstate New York and beyond.
Although currently on a hiatus from blogging, her writing strives to inspire others balancing family and demanding careers to carve out time to travel together. Adrienne began skiing at age 12, but lost touch with one of her favorite pastimes when her career and family demanded much of her time. Now many years later, she is back on the slopes again and teaching her children to embrace winter and develop a love of skiing.