Smugglers Notch Resort, Vermont

• A May 2004 travel journal by Tenia
• Type of Trip: Pleasure
• Last Updated: May 31, 2004

Depending on when you go, there are different activities offered at the resort. Before going, check out Smuggler's website to see what activities will be going on at the resort while you will be visiting.

Smugglers Notch Resort, Vermont

by Tenia on May 31, 2004

The units themselves were exceptional, from cleanliness to comfort with all the extras. The staff is amazing. By the end of the first day, all my girls (who can be shy) were calling the lifeguards by their first names. ${QuickSuggestions} Bring your walking shoes. Most of the units are up the hill from the Village Square, so you get a great workout just walking around the resort. If you're not a walker, you can call for pickup off-season or during peak season; they have a shuttle service to take you around the resort. There are flower beds everywhere and you can get a walking tour of them for anyone interested in gardening. In season, there are great organized activities for all ages groups. In the Spring and Fall it is a bit quieter, so it's perfect for those looking for an exceptional accomodations to explore the countryside.${BestWay} You really need a car to fully enjoy the area. There are so many great out of the way places to visit, from wineries to over 20 covered bridges within 20 minutes of the resort. Pick up the Vermont map at the front desk, which marks all the covered bridges on them. You will not find signs on the highways indicating that a covered bridge is down a particular dirt road.

Smugglers Notch Resort

by Tenia on June 9, 2004

The two-bedroom units at Smugglers Notch are excellent. Our unit was done in a Mexican theme. As you came into the unit, there was a kitchen with a full size refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave. In our unit, we had a gas fireplace (although I did see wood piles for wood fireplaces at some of the other buildings). There was also a large TV in front of a sectional coach that actually would have sat eight if need be. In the living room, there was also a stereo, including a CD player. Off the living room was a private balcony (with furniture) that looked over the ski lift. The master bedroom had a king size bed with a private bath off it. In the bathroom, there was a stand-alone shower and a jacuzzi tub. Above the tub was another television. In the second bedroom was a double bed and two captain’s beds (many of the units apparently have bunk beds instead of captain’s beds). There was another television in this room. In total, there were four televisions in the unit. The second bathroom had a shower/tub and a stackable washer/dryer. We were able to walk right onto our floor (even though it was on the third) from the parking lot. In all, we found the unit spacious with lots of room for the five of us to spread out. It's hard to say whether the fact we had so many televisions or our own jacuzzi tub was a bigger hit with the family. Perhaps the jacuzzi tub with the television mounted above it was the biggest hit of all.

Smugglers Notch Resort

by Tenia on June 1, 2004

Best Things Nearby:
Smugglers Pass (not open in the winter) for an interesting drive, great walking, and a challenging bike trip. In Stowe for great food, walking trails, and the Von Trapp Family Lodge. Of course there are some great skiing runs in the area.

Best Things About the Resort:
The rooms were extremely clean and spacious. The service at the resort was exceptional; every staff member we met was extremely friendly. They actually have an international exchange program so you may meet staff members from other countries. Off-season, it is a very peaceful place to stay. During peak seasons (winter and especially summer), they run some great program activities for all ages.

Resort Experience:
What a great place for a family reunion or a romantic get-away! We stayed in a two bedroom unit that most of the resort consists of but had an opportunity to tour one of the three-bedroom units. The pictures below are of the three bedroom unit. The way the three bedroom unit was set up was: The master bedroom, of course, had a king-size bed and an adjacent bathroom with a jacuzzi tub. Also, in the master bedroom was a second fireplace. One back bedroom had no less than four captain's beds in it. The kitchen was spacious and part of the main living room area. One highlight of this unit was a gazebo off the living room that was completely screened in. Another highlight had to be the size of the living room television. I have never seen one larger outside of a store. There was also a huge stone fireplace in the living room.

• Unit Type: 3 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Very Good

Hearth & Candle

by Tenia on May 31, 2004

This place was very cozy and romantic. The menu featured steaks, chicken, and seafood. The food was good, with nice sized portions and a good selection of wines and desserts.

Swimming at Smugglers Notch

by Tenia on May 31, 2004

There are at least eight pools at Smugglers Notch with two substantial water parks. Depending on the season, different areas will be open. They have one of those temporary roofs over one pool for the winter months. It’s hard to describe the temporary roof, but below is a picture of the tennis courts in a same type of building (in the winter, the tennis courts become the fun zone). Even in the slowest of seasons, both the big pool and the hot tub with a slide were open. Most days, we had the pool to ourselves in the morning and in the afternoon, we were often joined by a couple of other families.

Everything you needed to know about Smugglers Notch Before you go

by Tenia on May 31, 2004

First check the website of Smugglers Notch Resort to see what is open when you will be there.

Places to Eat at Smugglers:
Hearth and Candle is an intimate, romantic restaurant great for a grownup night. Reservations are recommended.
Also on site is Riga Bello's Pizzeria, Bootleggers' Lounge, Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop, Green Mountain Deli, and, of course, the Village Store with quick snacks.
In the area, there are lots of restaurants both in Stowe (20 minutes through the Pass) and towards Jeffersonville, Johnsonville, and Morrisville in the other direction.

Swimming at Smugglers:
Bring your own towels. There are a number of pools and two main pool areas that are guaranteed to entertain the kids. There’s Notchville Park, Little Smuggler's Lagoon, Rumrunner's Hideaway, waterslides, and even a giant rapid river ride.

Children's Programs
These are offered primarily offered in the summer and the winter months, which are prime times for the resort. The programs are divided by age group. Treasurers, the daycare on site, is amazing, with some of the largest fish tanks I have ever seen in each of the rooms.

Tennis:
Various surfaces are available. In the summer, an indoor tennis court is also available. In the winter, the indoor tennis court area becomes the Fun Zone. Petting Zoo:
According to the note, the petting zoo animals went to Florida for the winter but would be back in Mid June for the season. By the pictures it looked like they had half a dozen animals for the kids to enjoy.

http://www.igougo.com/journal-j32632-Stowe-Smugglers_Notch_Resort_Vermont.html

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