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The Mountain Top Inn & Resort-Chittenden, VermontBy Norm Goldman
It is here where Steve and Lauren Bryant in 2002 purchased The Mountain Top Inn & Resort placing its guests at the very heart of New England’s great romantic destinations with the exquisite combination of the Green Mountains of Vermont and a pristine mountain-top lake as its picture-perfect backdrop. Moreover, this tranquil haven in the heart of Vermont can boast of possessing not only some of the most stunning views in the world but also reigns as having one of the best equestrian programs in New England. The history of the inn dates back to the 1870’s when it was originally a barn for the Long family’s turnip farm. William Barstow, an associate of Thomas Edison, purchased the farm in the 1940s and turned into a lodging establishment. One of its claims to fame is that in 1955 it hosted President and Mamie Eisenhower and their entourage during a fishing expedition. Unfortunately, in 1977 the original inn was mostly destroyed by fire however the inn was rebuilt by the previous owners using traditional post and beam construction.
But it’s not just the location that makes The Mountain Top Inn & Resort stand out. It’s the staff’s warm personalities with their devoted service and sense of style that have turned this classic mountain lodge into a choice destination. Steve succinctly sums it up when he affirms, “My wife is the decorator, and my top critic. She also manages the wine program. She creates the ambiance in the property, with her meticulous attention to detail. I’m the one who mixes the pieces together, bringing in the best talent we can find. And I am a cheerleader to support the talent, so we can really maximize what we have here.” As soon as you enter the lobby there is an air of causal, contemporary elegance that permeates throughout including the rustically elegant dining room and the thirty-one guest rooms that range from one and two bedroom suites and lodges to five rustic cabins. The luxury rooms have one king or two queen beds, one with balcony and two with kitchenette, 2-person whirlpool bath, and television. All of the rooms feel more like bedrooms at home than hotel or resort rooms and most focus on pastoral views of the surrounding mountains and valley. When you consider the dizzying number of activity options the inn offers for everyone, it is little wonder that it is a very special place for a wedding destination or a romantic retreat where guests will surely find something to indulge in. Every change of season awakens new attractions. You can fly fish, swim in its outdoor pool or in its private sand-beached lake, boat, kayak, canoe, play some tennis, hike, mountain bike, or enjoy some leisurely lawn games. How about some clay bird shooting? You can trot on horseback, as the Equestrian Center has thirty-five or more horses and even offers instruction in English, Western, Dressage and Cross-Country jumping for riders of all skill levels. Perhaps, in winter some ice skating, sledding, or sleigh rides drawn by a team of Perchrons or Clydesdales. For cross-country enthusiasts, the inn’s Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Center offers 80km of trails (60km groomed). This should keep you occupied from sunrise to sunset as you glide through the thousands of acres with elevations of up to 2,175 feet. The well-known hills of Killington and Pico are a short drive away, where Alpine skiers will find some of the finest skiing in New England. Moreover, the inn’s fairly small size ensures an easy intimacy, and the knowledgeable and hospitable staff can easily arrange outings and activities. Romantic getaway packages are offered and if you can manage to visit during the off-season, you may even be able to have the entire inn virtually to yourselves and be catered to by all of the staff as if it were you own country resort. In season be sure to request the inn’s resident historian, Roger, to give you the wine and cheese pontoon romantic lake cruise-you won’t regret this experience! You may even get lucky and spot some of the wildlife that share their habitat with the inn such as loons, eagles, moose, deer, black bears, turkeys, coyotes, red and gray foxes. Roger, who is a native of the area, is an encyclopedia of knowledge about the inn and its surroundings and he will be delighted to fill you in on the fauna and flora of the area. Guests in the mood for dining can experience the culinary expertise of the inn’s own resident Chef Shawn M. Casey who brings his creative New American flair. Chef Casey graduated from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America and he treats guests with his unique and tasteful dishes as Cavendish Farms Quail with barbequed apples from Mendon Mountain Orchards, Legend Farms Venison drizzled with Kirsch Brandied Cherry Sauce and Baked Vermont Goat Cheese over local sprouts. All entrees are served with warm organic Vermont Artisan breads and as much as possible fresh local grown produce are used in all of Chef Casey’s dishes. In the end, no matter how many activities or amenities a resort offers, it means nothing without a feeling of ease and welcome, and The Mountain Top Inn & Resort’s personnel conducts all services with a delightful mix of New England hospitality and warmth. Additional Information
The Mountain Top Inn & Resort Paintings by Lily Azerad-Goldman Norm Goldman is the Editor of Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com. He and his artist wife, Lily Azerad-Goldman meld Norm’s words with Lily’s art work that appear in their articles. |
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Just minutes away from the peaks of Killington and Pico in
Central Vermont’s Chittenden County, you will discover an unsurpassed incredible
beauty that is comparable to the canvas of an impressionist artist. 
Since the Bryant’s acquired the four-season resort a few
years ago, the lodge has undergone a much-needed renewal. They have devoted a
great deal of personal resources in upgrading the resort’s facilities and their
painstaking emphasis to detail has made The Mountain Top Inn & Resort the prized
resort in the area. Beyond doubt, this inn is an ideal source of inspiration
for romantics and lovers of nature, as there is not a bad seat in the inn’s
intimate common areas or from most of its thirty-one rooms. Guests can sit and
gaze at the magnificent sweeping views where landscapes of the lodge’s three
hundred and fifty acres are constantly changing in all seasons, all weather, and
at all times of the day.