Travel Joy - The Trapp Family Lodge
/For years I'd been wanting to go The Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, and like so many other times, my husband made it happen. (If you're visiting as a family, watch The Sound of Music before you go it helps keep up with the theme and gives you some history behind the VonTrapp family.)
A long driveway takes you past several buildings ending at a charming, Austrian style lodge.
We checked in around 7:30 PM, which was later than we'd hoped, and were initially disappointed that the pools close at 8 PM. (This is oddly early I thought.) Ice water was available in the lobby and I hear there are often cookies too.
It was drizzly during our two-night stay this summer. But the fog that settled was beautiful. When the sun did shine, it was bright and magical leaving me thinking, "the hills ARE alive!"
The Room
There were Lake Champlain Chocolates (their storefront is in Stowe) on our pillows upon arrival and plenty of K-Cups for morning coffee. Don't forget to check the desk drawer as complimentary post cards are hiding inside. A daily schedule is delivered to your room each night.
Our room was freshly remodeled and quite spacious. It was complete with TV, bathrobes and mini fridge. And the bathroom seemed Joanna Gaines inspired. The linens were white, crisp and clean. The only thing lacking was a mirror in the bedroom or makeup mirror in the bathroom.
Dining
For dining you'll need to plan. The lodge restaurant, reservation only, closes at 9 PM. The Kaffeehaus closes at 7 PM on the weekends, at 4 PM during the week, while the Bierhall stays open until 9 PM. You'll need to drive over to the Kaffeehaus or Bierhall unless you enjoy a bit of hike.
At the Kauffeehaus I had the best biscuit ever. Flaky, buttery perfection. The fruit tart was divine and the croissants tasted just like Paris. Their prices are slightly high, but then they do hold the market on breakfast. *winks* While the Austrian coffee was strong and fun to try, (it comes black) I say do it once, then have the free coffee offered in the lounge area every morning.
Did you know that sauerkraut is nasty? Did you know I ate a lot of it at the Bierhall? Uh-huh, their's was actually pretty good! The Chicken Snitzel was tender and crispy on a bed of apple-kraut and sauerkraut. My husband had an assorted sausage platter with their house Root Beer. The kid's meals are on the smaller side, but with a few bites from mom and dad it was enough. That was the first night. *grins*
Overall, our dining experiences - all four of them - were great. It's obvious the Trapp Family takes pride in serving quality food to their guests.
The front desk staff will also recommend other off-site opinions.
More Info
If you're interested, they have a kid's club. You can register for a half or full day. There is an additional charge.
Assisted, indoor rock climbing is available at $10 for fifteen minutes.
A Spa, Yoga classes, farm tours, family movie nights, hiking, ski and biking trails galore, a playground, tennis court and laundry facility are some other amenities offered.
The Lodge gift shop is downstairs near their "theatre."
Vermont's capital, Montpelier is just under thirty minutes away. It's walkable and offers several shops and photo ops. You can stroll through the capital building property and see the stature of Ethan Allen on the steps.
The Stowe area has much to offer too! You could spend an entire afternoon simply exploring the town and surrounding areas. Hiking, coffee, chocolate and apple cider tours, shopping and plenty more.
Conclusion
Truthfully if you're not an outdoorsy person, there isn't much for you to do at The Trapp Family Lodge. But then, if you want to enjoy the views from the deck of the Kaffeehause while you nibble on a savory breakfast sandwich, then go for a lengthy massage after which you hang by the pool with the Green Mountains surrounding you aaaaaand finish off your day with a scrumptious meal at the Biergarten down the road every day, you're good to go.
If the outdoors IS your jam, then you're in for a treat. The entire area is perfect for giving those new hiking boots, off road bike or skis a workout and reveling in God's creation. We visited in the summer, and were told the views in the winter and fall were breathtaking.
Overall, I somehow I felt like disconnecting from the world and just breathing during our short stay. Yay, it is that kind of place.
(All opinions are my own. I was not paid or sponsored by The Trapp Family Lodge.)
