Vermont in winter brings to mind the classic Courier and Ives postcards set to the soundtrack of Bing Crosby crooning "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas." For several centuries, Vermont residents and visitors have enjoyed riding in horse-drawn sleighs through the snow. Although this activity evolved from a necessity of travel into a tourist special, visitors still travel across the country to reenact the beloved carol "Jingle Bells" while on a weekend getaway.
Just 11 miles from Killington, visitors revel in the "moonlight in Vermont winter romantic getaway" offered by the Mountain Top Inn and Resort. As of May 2010, a fee of $995 covers two people for three nights, including country breakfasts, a three-course dinner in Highlands Dining Room and an indulgent one-hour massage for two. Visitors are free to use the resorts' facilities and outdoor skating rink and sledding hill along with 60 kilometers of trails.
Take a moonlit horse-drawn sleigh ride before coming back to the Classic Lodge Room, where you'll find chilled champagne and chocolate truffles waiting. Visitors can also upgrade to a Mountain Cabin or Luxury Lodge room. This package is not available during certain blackout dates, so check with the staff before booking. Also, guests may bring pets at an additional charge.
The Mountain Top Inn & Resort
195 Mountain Top Road
Chittenden, VT 05737
802-483-2311
mountaintopinn.com
Made famous by "The Sound of Music," the von Trapp family retains its ancestral property in Vermont, which they renovated into a resort 33 years after they began welcoming families to their lodge in 1950. Still family-run, the 2,400-acre property has grown to include 96 rooms and suites, 100 two-room time-shared guest houses and 16 upscale three-bedroom villas, all Austrian-inspired. As of May 2010, visitors may choose from seven two-night specials and packages ranging from $329 to $430 per person, all of which can include a horse-drawn carriage or sleigh ride for an additional fee.
Trapp Family Lodge
700 Trapp Hill Road
Stowe, VT 05672
800-826-7000
trappfamily.com
Escape for a weekend to the AAA four-diamond rated Inn at Ormsby Hill in Manchester, Vermont. Featured in 25 vacation guide books, this upscale bed and breakfast boasts multiple awards, including the three-time "Editor's Pick" by "Yankee Magazine." Ormsby Hill offers three romance getaway packages, including the "horse-drawn carriage or sleigh ride for two." Visitors find a plate of freshly-baked cookies waiting in their rooms, each of which features individual fireplaces and private baths with two-person Jacuzzis. Prices for this weekend package range from $655 to $1055, depending on the suite booked, as of May 2010.
The Inn at Ormsby Hill
1842 Main St.
Manchester, VT 05255
800-670-2841
ormsbyhill.com
