This might sound cheesy, Vermont cheddar cheese joke, but we find Vermont skiing to be romantic, invigorating, fresh and fun. Stay in a luxury inn or a slope side mountain hotel, ski by day in the Green Mountains blanketed in white snow, then après ski at a brew pub, Vermont distillery or a fireside inn, enjoy a spa, a local sourced dinner from Vermont farms. Vermont is the perfect meld of homespun and upscale, with gorgeous scenery, friendly people and the biggest mountains in New England skiing.
Here are our top Vermont ski resorts with luxury lodging, charming villages, and the best ski terrain.
Stowe is the Ski Capital of the East, and the most luxurious ski resort in New England, with some of the best terrain for experts. We love the classic steep and time-honored terrain on Stowe’s Mt Mansfield, and the beautiful mountain village at Spruce Peak anchored by The Lodge at Spruce Peak at Stowe – which feels more Beaver Creek Colorado than Vermont. This is a “grand ski hotel” with ski valet, concierge, full service spa, and you are steps to the lift and the centerpiece ice rink. Après ski enjoy the Hourglass bar or WhistlePig, indulge in The Spa spa, or explore the charming town of Stowe and all the Mountain Road shopping and dining in Stowe Village – which dates back three centuries. We find Stowe romantic and challenging for a ski vacation, maybe because it was the sight of our first ski date. We love Stowe. Stowe is now owned and operated by Vail Resorts, part of the Epic Pass, along with sister resorts in Vermont Okemo and Mount Snow.
Okemo Mountain Resort is the best ski resort for families and foodies in Vermont. Located in central Vermont, Okemo has well groomed trails like World Cup, fierce snow making but a frienldy staff, and lovely views of Ludlow Valley … along with some of the best on mountain cuisine in ski country. Stay at the massive mountain hotel – The Jackson Gore Inn has hotel suites with fireplaces. Jackson Gore’s lobby has a great bar, with field stone fireplace, Wine Room and Tavern for dining, and an outdoor heated pool & hot tubs. Ski to elevated on mountain dining at 43 North or Robin’s Roost at the summit. Okemo’s other resort amenities include covered ice skating in the Ice House, and indoor swimming all winter in the Spring House, and the Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster. See our review of an Okemo ski vacation. Off mountain, The Castle Hill Inn and Spa in Ludlow is a luxury place to stay (ask for a room in the castle) with a gorgeous Aveda spa, and stunning views of Okemo’s ski trails from your elegant suite.
Sugarbush is a legendary ski resort, once the cool ski place for celebrities and extreme ski film stars, now this Vermont ski resort still rocks with great terrain – from earthy Castlerock to beautiful groomers and tons of glades. Sugarbush is now owned by Aspen’s Alterra, on the IKON pass. For a unique experience, ride in the Lincoln Limo snowcat to moonlight skiing after a chef’s dinner on the mountaintop at Allyn’s Lodge, or explore the Slide Brook glades with extreme skier John Egan in a private off-piste tour. The Village at Lincoln Peak has everything a ski family needs – The Clay Brook Hotel with ski in ski out suites, steps to the lifts, Skinny Pancake for breakfast, an outdoor spa and pool, après ski at Castlerock Pub, and Rumble’s restaurant for casual slope-view dinner. Sugarbush’s best b&b is The Relais and Chateaux Pitcher Inn in Warren – with luxury decorated suites – each with its own personality just minutes from skiing – but worlds away. Ask for the Ski Room. Also, visit Sugarbush’s best ski shops (Sportiv is our favorite for elegant European ski clothes), and Vermont country stores in Waitsfield too.
Hermitage Club is a private ski club, the only exclusive skiing membership resort in the East. It was brilliant and well-received, until the owner (in a trashy business) allegedly embezzled and neglected to pay taxes too. Now its member owned with a high speed six-pack chairlift and 200 acres of skiing not open to the public.. read: private! With 1500 members vested in this Vermont resort community, on Haystack Mountain, privileges included a magnificent Clubhouse, concierge service and ski valet. Like the Yellowstone Club of the East, this ski resort offers the well-heeled in ski boots a place to play and belong without lift lines or crowded base lodges, instead its modern lifts and beautiful lodges, and residences. This elite ski club, having survived bankruptcy due to a corrupt owner, similar to the founder of the Yellowstone Club, is back in the black. If you want white-corduroy membership at New England’s exclusive ski and golf resort Hermitage in Vermont, near Mount Snow, is your place.
More top luxury Vermont ski vacation reviews for luxury mountain hotels, great skiing and après ski.
Stowe Mountain Resort
Okemo Mountain Resort
Hermitage Club
See also reviews of skiing Maine and New Hamsphire and The Top Ski Hotels in The East
