We stayed at Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa in February 2015 during the heart of ski season, and what a season it was with record snowfall. For skiers, snowboarders, and outdoor enthusiasts, Stowe is a winter paradise, and the Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, was the perfect base to call "home" whether we were skiing, dog sledding, exploring the shops in Stowe’s Historic Village, or discovering the nearby attractions.
Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa
The luxury 120-guest room and suite resort with an additional 58 meadows and townhouses owned by the Baraw family since 1963, goes the extra mile in hospitality to create a sumptuous yet comfortable ambience with thoughtful amenities throughout including cozy fireplace sitting areas to meet with friends or simply relax and soak in the ambience. In the afternoon, there is daily complimentary tea and cookies served in the main living room, and in season, they offer daily après-ski hors d’oeuvres in Charlie B’s.
Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa "Campus"
The Spa at Stoweflake is a luxurious dream with 50,000 square feet of well-appointed spa and state-of-the-art fitness space and amenities. For Spa aficionados, the Spa treatment menu is like a 3-star Michelin star restaurant menu for gourmands with its 150 enticing treatments that go well-beyond standard Spa menus.
The diverse spa treatment menu includes Stoweflake Signature Treatments, Stoweflake Body Treatments, Kurs, Eastern Bodywork, Ayurvedic Treatments, Sound Balancing, Traditional Massage & Bodywork, Stoweflake Signature Facials, Ilike Organic Facials, B. Kamins Chemist Facials, Eye Treatments, treatments Especially for Men, Couples Treatments, Salon Services, Make-up Services, Hair Services, Rejuvenating Salon Services, Special Occasion Services, Bridal Packages, and Fitness and Wellness programs.
Bingham Hydrotherapy Waterfalls
Then there is their co-ed Aqua Solarium in the Spa featuring their signature Bingham Hydrotherapy Waterfalls and Hungarian Mineral Soaking Pool that distinguishes this world-class Spa. Other wonderful amenities include indoor and outdoor pools, outdoor Jacuzzi, saunas, steam rooms, and indoor hot tubs, light filled exercise studios with views to outdoors, and their attractive sanctuary lounges to relax pre and post-treatments while enjoying complimentary fruit, juice, citrus waters, and tea bar.
During our stay at the hotel we experienced the Spa and had two of the Stoweflake Signature Treatments, the Vermont Maple Sugar Body Polish and the Green Mountain Coffee Body Treatment. After our daily consumption of two of Vermont’s famous products, maple and Green Mountain Coffee, it was only fitting to have Spa treatments using the products as well.
The Spa at Stoweflake – Green Mountain Coffe Body Treatment
The Vermont Maple Sugar Body Polish was 80 minutes of pure bliss and happiness and consisted of hot towel compressions, a full body maple scrub, and a moisturizing massage with body butter. The Green Mountain Coffee Body Treatment was also a heavenly 80 minutes and was designed to nourish, re-mineralize and help reduce and smooth cellulite. It included an invigorating exfoliation, an antioxidant Dead Sea Mud wrap, and a full body Coffee Oil Massage.
We enjoyed hearty breakfasts in Winfield’s, the main dining room, and especially enjoyed the Sunday Brunch where Banquet Chef Barry Schneider created made to order omelets at the Omelet Bar and expertly flipped them in the air back into the pan.
Chef Barry Schneider
We had excellent dinners at the award-winning Charlie B’s Pub & Restaurant where the focus is providing guests with a delicious taste of Vermont. As a member of the Vermont Fresh Network they use as many locally grown and New England produced products as possible. Executive Chef Mitch Jones is the creative talent in the kitchen where in addition to the regular menu he creates an inspired daily menu as well.
Chef Mitch Jones
A few of the many appetizer highlights we enjoyed were the Spicy Duck Ninja Roll, Cheddar Ale soup made with Vermont’s own Cabot cheddar cheese and local Switchback Ale, and the Switchback Steamed P.E.I. Mussels with garlic, shallots, and grape tomatoes in a Switchback ale broth.
Spicy Duck Ninja Roll
Delicious main courses included Vermont Honey Basil Seared Salmon served with wild rice and maple carrots, New England Crab Cake Dinner served with Mashed Potatoes, Haricots Verts, and Lemon Butter Caper Sauce, a 14-ounce hand-cut Ribeye Oscar served with lump crab meat, Cabot mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, and finished with a maple bacon relish, and Pork Medallions topped with roasted spiced apples and accompanied with wild rice, baby carrots and green beans.
Ribeye Oscar
Sweet dessert indulgences included the Chocolate Cake with Cabot Whipped Cream and fresh red raspberries, Apple Galette served warm with 3 scoops of local I.C. Scoop’s vanilla ice, drizzled with caramel sauce, and garnished with Cabot whipped cream, and fresh red raspberries, and the ultimate decadence of Chocolate Fondue.
Chocolate Fondue
Guestrooms are elegantly appointed, and our luxurious and spacious guestroom featured a gas fireplace to create the perfect romantic ambience. Nightstands flanked the king bed dressed with a plethora of inviting pillows to ensure sweet dreams, and a combination AM/FM/CD/Alarm Radio kept us on schedule.
Guestroom
In-room amenities included 2 closets, a mini-refrigerator and wet bar with a Keurig machine with a selection of Vermont’s Green Mountain Coffee and tea, spa bathrobes, iron and ironing board, complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access, a large HD flat screen television tucked discretely in the armoire, and a selection of magazines graced a round table flanked by 2 chairs. A writing desk tucked in the corner of the room was large enough for guests traveling with a laptop to work comfortably, as well as the perfect spot to write a postcard or two. The spacious marble bathroom featured double sinks, a walk-in shower, Jacuzzi tub, and enclosed toilet. Amenities included a vanity mirror, hairdryer, and assorted toiletries.
Relaxing, Romantic, Inviting Fireplace
In addition to excellent fitness and sports activities offered at the resort, there are wonderful "adventures" to be had on property. On Thursdays and Saturdays from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Umiak Outdoor Outfitters offers a 20-minute evening dog sled ride through their partner October Siberians, with an expanded schedule during holiday weeks, and for us, this was another highlight of our trip to Stowe and our stay at the luxurious Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, having the opportunity to enjoy a thrilling dog sled ride on the pristine trails on the resort’s property.
Musher Rob Farley, Edward, and Debra
Other on-property activities include horse-drawn sleigh rides, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, badminton, croquet, volleyball, horseshoe, tennis on Har-Tru Clay courts, bicycling, in-line skating, hiking, Nordic walking and a children’s play set. Golf enthusiasts will appreciate the nearby golfing.
We also greatly enjoyed skiing at the legendary Stowe Mountain, home of Mount Mansfield the state’s highest peak, located a mere 1.6 miles from the hotel. The Baraw family is avid skiers and the ski and race photos that line the entrance to the Charlie B’s Pub & Restaurant are a testament to that. As such, they have a valet ski storage program to store guests ski equipment overnight in cold storage to prevent "sticky skis." There is also a complimentary Mountain Road Shuttle pick-up at the resort to whisk guests away to Stowe Mountain.
Stowe Mountain
Although from the name, Stoweflake, one might draw the conclusion that Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa is a winter playground with its proximity to skiing at Stowe Mountain (1.6 miles), which it rightly is, however it is also a stunning year-round resort offering much to do in every season for both leisure and business travelers with its well-equipped state-of-the-art conference center, event facilities, business center, and game room.
Stoweflake resort pool
A few of the many special events throughout the year include: January offers outdoor sports, the Stowe Winter Carnival, and the annual Winter Rendezvous for the GLBT community. February is the Stowe Sweetheart Sale, and the famous downhill cross-country race, the Stowe Derby.
In May there is the 5k Craft Brew Race (road race), in June there is the Stowe Wine & Food Classic, July offers shoppers 7 Miles of Sales, and the Hot Air Balloon Festival. For motorcar enthusiasts, August features the Antique and Classic Car Meet, and in September there is the Annual British Invasion which is the largest all-British motorcar lifestyle event in the United States.
Hot Air Ballon Festival
Autumn is festive and fun with September’s Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival and Chili Cook-Off, and in October there is the Annual Oktoberfest, and Stowe Foliage Arts Festival, which are just a few of the many diverse monthly attractions.
Whatever time of the year you decide to visit Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, you will be sure to find a perfect experience waiting for you. Also of note to guests who like to travel with their dogs, Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa is dog-friendly.
However, no matter how stunning the resort is, it is the staff that is the heart and soul of a property and Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa is blessed with a dedicated, professional, personable, and knowledgeable staff. A big shout-out to: Concierge, Suzi MacLean Daley, who is a caring and knowledgeable expert at creating the ultimate Stowe experience, to Executive Chef Mitch Jones whose innovative and delicious menu tempted our palates daily, to Banquet Chef Barry Schneider who showed us how to expertly flip an omelet (this will require continued practice at home for us), and to Will at the Front Desk, whose gracious welcome makes guests feel at home the moment that they arrive.
Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa is easily accessible by car, air (Burlington International Airport), and Amtrak train. The resort is located 129 miles from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 178 miles from Albany, New York, 200 miles from Boston, Massachusetts, 220 miles from Hartford, Connecticut, and 335 miles from New York City, New York.
For additional information, please visit their website, www.Stoweflake.com.
Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa
PO Box 369
1746 Mountain Road, (Route 108)
Stowe, Vermont 05672
United States
Toll-Free: +1-800-253-2232 (US and Canada)
Toll-Free: 0500.892.522 (UK)
Telephone: +1-802-253-7355
Fax: +1-802-253-6858
Spa: +1-802-760-1083
Email: info@stoweflake.com
Email: reservations@stoweflake.com
Spa Email: spa@stoweflake.com
Website: www.Stoweflake.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Stoweflake
Read about our dining experience at Charlie B’s Pub and Restaurant in the Restaurants section, read the interview with Executive Chef Mitch Jones who shares the delicious recipe for Spicy Duck Ninja Roll in the Chefs’ Recipes section.
Read about our experience at The Spa at Stoweflake in the Spas section, and the Adventures section to read about our experience dog sledding and skiing.
Follow Stoweflake on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Stoweflake
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© March 2015. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com All rights reserved.
