It was a first visit to Stowe, Vermont, and well worth the 5 ½ hour drive from the frantic pace of New York City! A perfect getaway to cap off summer and welcome in fall, Labor Day weekend found Alan and I exploring this charming and quaint Vermont town. Walking through the village we were instantly transported to what felt like another era – warm and wonderful mom & pop shops, delectable markets filled with artisan cheeses and handmade chocolates, handicraft and art galleries, and, thankfully, no chain store in sight. We hiked around the ridgeline of Vermont’s highest peak, Mount Mansfield, took the tram up the mountain for a terrific lunch at The Cliff House, overlooking the beautiful vistas and mountain terrain and enjoyed wonderful meals all weekend long at such standout restaurants as the highly coveted Michael’s On The Hill (well deserving of its awards and accolades), Norma’s at Topnotch At Stowe, Trattoria la Festa and The Dutch Pancake House for every type of pancake imaginable.
A thrill for us being lifelong “Sound of Music” buffs was an afternoon visit to Stowe’s Trapp Family Lodge and a historical tour of the family history. We had no idea we would be seeing the actual cemeteries of Maria and Captain Von Trapp and their family which lies within the setting of this 2,500 acre resort’s magnificent grounds. The highlight came at the end of our tour when we met an actual Von Trapp! Maria Von Trapp’s lovely granddaughter, Kristina (daughter of Maria’s youngest son, Johannes) participated in Q&A with our historical tour group and posed for photos and autograph signings as well. She even brought along her young daughter, Stella. We were thrilled Kristina took photos with us and she signed a Trapp Family Lodge Christmas ornament which we will proudly hang on this year’s tree. Kristina and her brother Sam run the resort which has been in their family for 70 years. Without a doubt, it was a fun and fascinating experience for us.
Our home for the weekend was the delightful and welcoming Stowe resort favorite, Topnotch Resort & Spa, with our top floor executive room overlooking the large pool and a bird’s eye view of Mount Mansfield. Topnotch boasts a friendly, gracious, service oriented team who share in their passion for the beautiful environs of Stowe, their love for snow, ski and the outdoors and most of all always helping their guests with a smile. I indulged in a massage at their glorious 35,000 square foot spa – one of the top rated in the country. With over 120 treatments offered, their spa menu selection is outstanding. Other activities offered at Topnotch include a renowned, award-winning Tennis academy, nature walks, kid’s programs and much more.
