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So here it is loves…my first travel diary blog post. I’ve shared a ton of traveling with you on my instagram page (check my travel hashtag #trltraveldiary for just a few of the places that I’ve shared on my instastory) to check a few trips out. Sharing on my instastory has also been great way for me to share my traveling with you all and I love that so many of you contact me asking for advice on where to eat and stay when you travel to the places I have been. I figured, however, it was high time I found a permanent place (off my camera cards and onto my blog) to house and chronicle the many trips I share with you all. So today, take a trip with me to the lovely little state of Vermont. Besides their famous slopes for skiing, Vermont is a beautiful state for both a romantic getaway and a family vacation. I’ve been to several beautiful hotels there and I’ll be sharing another soon in which we previoulsy stayed, but first up is Top Notch Resort.
If you like the feeling of a luxurious intimate resort (only 68 rooms and 23 resort homes) then you will truly fall in love with Top Notch just as we did. As you drive up the long welcoming driveway, you aren’t quite sure what waits around the bend. Once you turn that bend, however, there it is. A little gem tucked away in the mountain side of beautiful Stowe. The outside architecture is very elegant but minimalistic in feel. My husband and I loved the intimate welcoming feel of the resort immediately upon arrival.
We were greeted promptly and given all the relevant information to enjoy our stay. Truly to our surprise we were given a little tour of the resort. I was like “what really, you don’t mind” to the manager that greeted us. I could tell she was very proud of the resort and all the couple/family friendly amenities and spa services it offered to their guests.
Once we checked in we went to our room and were very happy the room looked like it did on the website (please tell me I’m not the only that has been to a hotel to find it “not as advertised) LOL. I’ve been known to check out of places like that as quick as I checked in). Bright, clean and still, again so intimate. The room offered all the luxurious amenities a discerning traveler could ask for as well as those for the digitally plugged in modern traveler.
The beds, just an FYI so comfy. We slept really well!
That night we enjoyed dinner at the hotel’s intiamte restaurant Flannel. They however have two options to dine at the resort. The food, both dinner and breakfast, at Flannel (breakfast we enjoyed on the beautiful outdoor patio under the morning sun) is top quality and farm to table fresh. We particularly LOVED the open kitchen. We later enjoyed a cocktail, dessert and played a game at the shuffle board dining bar at the other casual dining space The Roost. Very cool and oh so fun! Who do you think won? I’ll keep you guessing 🙂 We didn’t take a pic of the dining area of The Roost because it was later that evening and I didn’t want to take dark photos.
Lounging by the pool in the sun for a few days…what better way to enjoy a relaxing getaway. The best part about the pool area is that they have TWO! One is smaller and it is heated and has the hot tub next to it. We met the nicest couples there. The poolside service was amazing! I felt so spoiled…and I loved every moment of it.
Cute pic of me poolside. I was feeling so cute at that moment 🙂
This path we walked often. The favorite place, beside the pool area in which it lead me was to the indoor spa/pool and waterfall hot tub. A waterfall hot tub? Yeeees….and after my massage (in their award winning spa which I didn’t want to EVER end) it felt amazing to get in there. The massage therapist was very professional and the place immaculate! There were light refreshments available outside the spa door and there were certainly no shortage of white plush robes to walk around the resort in.
Honestly loves, this is a new favorite spot of ours and we are so looking forward to revisiting it again.
I hope you enjoy this video tour.
Wherever you live, however you live, Sandra’s goal is to help you create spaces you want to come home to. Spaces that feel welcoming, effortless and ready for living.