Topnotch Resort is the Stowe pick for couples who put the spa first. The resort sits on the Mountain Road a few minutes below the ski area at Mount Mansfield, with a spa it bills as one of Vermont's premier resort spas, a solarium pool and hot tub that stay warm in any weather and rooms with valley and mountain views. Book one of the fireplace suites with a private deck and you have the Vermont honeymoon most people picture: a day of color or snow, a massage, then a fire.
It suits couples who want comfort and a little polish on a trip built around foliage, skiing or hiking. The village, with its white steeple and restaurants, is a short drive down the road. The gondola, the Notch and the Recreation Path are all close by. It is not a quaint country inn and it is not slopeside, so skiers will drive or ride the shuttle to the lifts. Dining on site is casual. If you want creaking floorboards and a host who bakes your breakfast, choose a small inn on a side road. If you want a spa day built into your trip and a choice of room styles, Topnotch makes sense.
Highlights at a glance
- One of Vermont's best-known resort spas
- Solarium pool and hot tub warm in any weather
- Fireplace suites with private decks
- Minutes from Mount Mansfield and Smugglers' Notch
- Resort homes with kitchens for longer stays
Why Couples Love Topnotch
The spa is the anchor. On a cold January afternoon or a damp October day, being able to walk from your room to a treatment, a steam and a soak in the solarium pool changes the whole rhythm of a mountain trip. The pool and hot tub are kept warm whatever the weather, which makes them as appealing in a snowstorm as on a summer evening.
The location helps too. You are on the Mountain Road between the village and the lifts, so Smugglers' Notch, the gondola and the trailheads are minutes away. The village restaurants are an easy drive for dinner.
The resort has a relaxed, outdoorsy feel. There are tennis and pickleball courts for summer. Staff can point you to hikes, bike routes and ski rentals. It is the sort of place where you come back muddy or snowy and nobody blinks.
Rooms, Suites and Homes to Book
The fireplace suites are the honeymoon choice.
- Cottonbrook, Goldbrook and Moss Glen suites each have a separate living area with a gas fireplace and a private deck. Moss Glen's deck is on the third floor, with the best outlook.
- Executive rooms sit on the top floor under 13-foot cathedral ceilings and feel airy and bright. They are a good middle option.
- Deluxe and Premier rooms are close to the spa and restaurants, which is handy in winter. Many have valley or mountain views.
- The 13 resort homes have one to three bedrooms, full kitchens and gas fireplaces. A one-bedroom home suits couples on a longer stay who want to cook.
Rooms have tile and granite bathrooms. A resort fee is added to the rate and covers Wi-Fi, parking and the pools. Dogs are allowed in some first-floor rooms, so ask for an upper floor if that matters to you.
Food, Drink and the Spa
Topnotch Spa is the reason to choose this resort over Stowe's inns. Book couples' massages and allow time before and after to use the facilities and the warm solarium pool. In peak foliage and ski weeks, reserve treatments when you book your room, since the best times go early.
Dining on site is casual. Flannel handles breakfast and The Roost serves relaxed meals that you can eat in or take away, which is useful for a picnic before a hike.
For dinners, head down the Mountain Road or into the village, where Stowe has a good spread of farm-to-table restaurants, taverns and fine dining. Make reservations on fall and holiday weekends. Save a stop for Vermont craft beer. Taste cheddar and cider doughnuts at Cold Hollow Cider Mill during the day.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
In fall, drive Route 108 through Smugglers' Notch in early October, stopping at trailheads to walk among the boulders and color. The road through the Notch is narrow and closes in winter, so check conditions. Ride the gondola up Mount Mansfield for a lunch with a view and a short walk along the ridge.
In winter, Stowe Mountain Resort is minutes up the road for skiing and riding. The cross-country trails at Trapp Family Lodge are close by. A horse-drawn sleigh ride followed by a long dinner is a classic.
In summer, bike the Stowe Recreation Path, a riverside greenway from the village, swim in mountain streams and hike to Sterling Pond or the summit ridge. Mountain weather changes quickly, so carry layers. Mud season in April and May is the time to avoid.
Getting There
Burlington International Airport (BTV) is about 45 minutes away by car, with flights from major East Coast and Midwest hubs. Boston is about three and a half hours by road and New York about six.
A car is the easiest way to get around Stowe, since the village, the resort and the ski area are spread along the Mountain Road. Parking is covered by the resort fee. In winter, bring a car with good tires or all-wheel drive and allow extra time after storms.
Three or four nights is a good length. Pair Stowe with Burlington and Lake Champlain or with a drive south through central Vermont's villages. Peak foliage weeks and holiday ski periods book up months ahead, so reserve early if your dates are fixed.
Is It Worth It?
Yes, if a resort spa matters to you. Topnotch gives you treatments, a warm pool in any weather and fireplace suites at prices below the top slopeside lodges, with an easy drive to everything Stowe is known for.
The trade-offs are character and dining. Couples who dream of a historic inn with a crackling wood fire, a four-poster and a home-cooked breakfast will find more charm on the side roads around the village. Serious skiers who want to walk to the lifts should look at The Lodge at Spruce Peak. Those who love Austrian alpine style and cross-country skiing may prefer Trapp Family Lodge.
With a fireplace suite, at least one long spa afternoon and dinners in the village, Topnotch delivers a comfortable, easy Vermont honeymoon.
Insider tips
- Book the Moss Glen suite for the third-floor deck and fireplace.
- Reserve spa treatments with your room during foliage and ski peaks.
- Ask for an upper-floor room if you prefer to avoid dog-friendly floors.
- Check that Smugglers' Notch Road is open before planning a drive through it.
