Smugglers’ Notch is a year-round vacation village and family resort in Vermont, close to Stowe. It’s about a 6 hour drive from NYC, 4 hours from Boston and 2 hours from Montreal. If you fly in, the Burlington airport is about an hour’s drive to the resort.

Accommodations

The village comprises of residential clusters of condo-style buildings ranging in size from studios to large apartments. The units are individually owned, and most are available as rentals to outside guests. They feature all necessary amenities from towels to full size kitchens. Everything, including housekeeping, is a la carte, so you pay only for services and amenities you use.

We stayed in Eagles, a building with 6 residences featuring numerous amenities including its own hot tub. Our unit, 4C, is a huge 3 bedroom, 2 bath home that can accommodate at least 8 people. The decor is typical of country vacation homes, with blond wood, durable fabrics and wall-to-wall carpeting. Everything is designed for comfort. The hub of the home is a spacious living room with plush sofas facing a gas fireplace and TV. The living room extends into a large open kitchen with an aisle and dining area for the entire family. The kitchen is fully equipped with everything from a dishwasher to wine glasses. The dining room leads to an enclosed terrace surrounded by windows and wicker furniture. A perfect place to relax and enjoy the scenery.

The master bedroom is private and spacious, and is appointed with a fireplace, terrace, TV and ample closets. The super sized en-suite bath has a double shower/steam room and built in whirlpool tub. On the other side of the living room there’s a bedroom with a double bed and another room with four single beds.

Village amenities and activities

In the Village Center, you’ll find the resort’s reception office, a grocery store, clothing boutique, pizzeria, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop and the resort’s main restaurants: The Hearth & Candle for fine dining, and the Morse Mountain Grill & Pub for family style meals.

Village amenities include outdoor heated swimming pools, one pool inside a bubble for winter, tennis courts, mini-golf, hiking trails, a zip-lining center, ski slopes on the property and on their own nearby mountain, cross country skiing, snow shoeing and more. There are so many activities offered that the resort publishes seasonal booklets to list and explain everything available.

The newest addition to the long list of amenities is the recently opened FunZone 2.0, a 26,000 SF activity center for the young and the young at heart. The top floor, suitable for younger kids, is equipped with inflatable obstacle courses, giant inflatable slides, a mini-golf area, supersized foam blocks and foosball tables. The main level features a 30-foot see-thru climbing tower for different levels of ability, a Leap of Faith Tower, Ninja Warrior style obstacle courses, a laser tag facility, a laser maze room and an arcade packed with video games. Your kids will never get bored here.

With so many family activities offered, it’s no wonder that the readers of SKI Magazine voted Smugglers’ Notch #1 for Family Programs for over 10 years.

Neighborhood attractions

During the warmer months you can drive through the breathtakingly beautiful Smugglers’ Notch cliffs and reach Stowe, a quintessential Vermont village, home to numerous art galleries, crafts boutiques, and eclectic shops. Stop at the Cabot Creamery, a store featuring Vermont’s famous Cabot cheese, and sample their large assortment of products. Also drive to Waterbury and take a tour of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory which ends with a 2 ounce free sample. While in Waterbury, visit the historic part of town and stop at the Green Mountain Coffee Café & Visitor Center, Vermont’s answer to the ubiquitous Starbucks.

If you have time for a day trip, head to Burlington, about an hour away. Stroll along the pedestrian streets and browse the specialty shops filled with unique Vermont crafts and products. Stop for a bite at one of the numerous restaurants that line the busy streets. Amble along Lake Champlain’s waterfront and explore this scenic area with a history that dates back to the American Revolution. Continue to the nearby Champlain Chocolate Factory and see how they create their delicious treats and, of course, sample a few pieces. A few blocks away, stop at Citizen Cider, a restaurant and hard cider tasting room, and order a flight of 5 ciders.

On your way back to the resort, visit the Boyden Valley Winery, a 20-year-old producer of wines and liquors. Try their top vintages and don’t miss their late harvest dessert wine.

If you enjoyed your vacation in Smugglers’ Notch, talk to the real estate agents on the property. They will show you how to get your own piece of Vermont.
For reservations, visit www.smugglersnotch.com or call 800) 419-4615.