Staying at the Basin Harbor Inn
📍 Basin Harbor Inn, Vermont

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Whenever I travel, I find joy in discovering historic waterfront hotels and resorts. There is such an abundance in Florida, but I’ve yet to explore all that New England had to offer. Since we would be spending two weeks in Vermont to visit David’s family, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to begin. I can’t exactly pinpoint how or when the Basin Harbor Inn was placed on my radar, but it’s thanks to Sarah Patrick, Julia Harpe, and Kristy New England for it staying there. If you ever wondered what a Vermont rendition of the Gasparilla Inn would look like, here’s your answer! David and I had an anniversary mini-vacation here, and it has instantly become a family favorite! 

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The History

Originally opening as a resort in 1886, the Basin Harbor Inn is currently under the 5th generation of ownership with the Beach Family. They are incredibly hands-on, and you’re almost guaranteed to see at least one member of the family throughout the day. While you stay here, be sure to take advantage of one of the activities personally hosted by the hotel owners: a history talk, an apiary tour, campfire chats, the list goes on! The original owner was Ardelia Beach, the namesake of Ardelia’s Restaurant. After her fiancé died in the Civil War, she purchased 200 acres of land and built a lodge along Lake Champlain near her hometown of Vergennes, Vermont. Soon, she began inviting summer boarders, and as they say, the rest was history. Today, the resort has grown to 700 acres. I suspect some original families still visit each year.

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The Location

The quiet town of Vergennes, Vermont, is located about 40 minutes south of Burlington, the state’s capital city. As you drive down Ethan Allen Highway, you’ll begin to get sneak peeks at the Adirondack Mountains and pass through the notable town of Shelburne. Keep driving! Because highway billboards are banned in Vermont, don’t expect any huge signage to guide your way. Instead, a small sign with the iconic Adirondack chair will point the way. As soon as you arrive, be sure to grab a chair and admire the views of Lake Champlain and New York State. Since most of my readers will probably need to fly, I recommend flying into Burlington Airport (BTV). It’s small, and you’ll most likely need to make a connection, but daily flights from the bigger airlines are available each day.

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The Experiences

Envision the Basin Harbor has an over-scaled summer camp for adults. Nearly every outdoor activity imaginable is on the menu for your visit. Go for a hike, rent a boat, or spend the afternoon canoeing. More typical leisurely pursuits are also available, including golfing, tennis, and croquet. After your full day of adventure, don’t forget to schedule some downtown at the pool or lake. With so much on the agenda, you’re sure to have a good night’s sleep in one of the 74 cottages or four styles of guest rooms. Each venue has its own personal style, from nautical to rustic, and is the perfect destination to lay your head for the night.

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The Dining

Always important to know, the Basin Harbor Inn offers several different dining options for whatever you’re craving! Since we were only there for one day, I sadly didn’t get a chance to sample each one. The ones I did dine at were all incredible! The most noteworthy would have to be Ardelia’s Dining Room for a romantic anniversary dinner. Their wine list is one of the most extensive in the state of Vermont, and the restaurant’s manager is well-versed in all of them. If you have the opportunity, try visiting the Basin Harbor for a North Dock Dinner experience. Hosted three times a week, you can dine directly on the lake for one of three regional options: Vermont Picnic, Shore Dinner, or Lakeside Cookout. Don’t forget to save room for dessert by grabbing a Vermont-style maple creemee from the Harbor Store. 

Caught somewhere between a Kiel James Patrick photoshoot and Wes Anderson movie set, it’s safe that I fell in love with all that the Basin Harbor Inn had to offer. If you ever find yourself in this semi-remote corner of Vermont, I highly recommend booking a stay for one night, one week, or even one summer!

Love from Vermont,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Our 3rd Anniversary in Vermont
📍 Basin Harbor Inn, Vermont

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On July 7th, David and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary in Vermont. Our wedding day feels like it was only yesterday, and I’m baffled that three years have already flown by. With all of the ups and downs that life can throw your way, there is no one I would rather ride the waves with. David is such an incredible partner: supportive, kind, and hard-working. I recognize each day how lucky I am to have him in my life.

During our anniversary, we were in Vermont, visiting David’s family. We hadn’t seen them in nearly two years, which was the main focus of our trip. We still decided to make our anniversary feel a little special by taking a day trip to the Basin Harbor Inn. Only a 90 minute drive away from where we were staying, it seemed like the perfect destination to have a moment to ourselves. I am so thankful for family time, but this was a special trip indeed!

While I’ll go in-depth about our stay at the Basin Harbor Inn later this week, I want to give a quick overview of our romantic anniversary. The weather was less than ideal, with constant clouds and intermittent showers, but we made the best of it! We relaxed waterside in lounge chairs that overlooked Lake Champlain. David grew up with frequent trips here, but the view is fresh to me. I still marvel at the views and can only imagine how beautiful it would be on a sunny day. When the rain did finally arrive, we took shelter under what else, the bar! Conversing with the resort’s staff while we sipped Vermont ciders and beers seemed perfectly on track for our life together so far.

After a quick lunch and a short disco nap, David and I got ready for dinner. We had some time to kill and decided to stroll through the grounds. Although still cloudy, it looked like the rain was over for the day, creating an intimate and moody feel. This resort is very family-friendly but still feels like a summer camp for adults. There are two separate tennis venues and an 18-hole golf course. After admiring all of the quaint lakeside cottages, we grabbed a pre-dinner cocktail at the hotel lobby’s bar.

Dinner for the evening was at Ardelia’s, Basin Harbor’s on-site fine dining venue. Their wine list is one of the most extensive in the entire state of Vermont, and we shared an incredible Venetian red. It paired perfectly with the duck David had ordered, but I couldn’t say no to the Meyer lemon ravioli. All I can say is simply delicious! I would love to recreate the recipe at home. With a full bed of white hydrangeas, our wedding flowers just outside, it was an incredible setting to celebrate our third year together.

With such wonderful, new memories created at the Basin Harbor Inn, it’s a Vermont destination I can’t wait to revisit soon. As David and I discuss our future, I think we can both agree that we can find some new family traditions at this lakefront resort. It makes me even more excited about what’s next for the Kennedys!

Love from Vermont,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Travel Guide: Northern Vermont

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Obviously, I love David for a whole laundry list of reasons, but a major perk of him being from Vermont. Before we started dating, I had never been to the Green Mountain State and seriously doubt I would have ever made it up there. Specifically, he’s from the northern part of the state, up towards the Canadian border, and I’ve learned that there’s just so much to love. Since we’ve made many trips together over the past few years, I finally ready to give you a quick guide on what to do in Northern Vermont.

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Go Skiing

Vermont is a ski-lover’s paradise. From north to south, you will find a ski resort with exactly what you’re looking for. In northern Vermont, the big name to know is Stowe. Because of it’s proximity to Burlington, it’s extremely popular. The town itself has so much to offer, including a ski museum, boutiques, and great dining options.

Brewery Hop

While you’re in Vermont, it’s hard to escape the brewery scene. Vermonters are extremely passionate about their beer, I would know because I married one. There’s also a sort of cult following when it comes to VT brews. Whenever we visit, we are loaded with requests to bring some home because it’s hard to get elsewhere. Names to know are The Alchemist and Von Trapp in Stowe, 14th Star in St. Albans, and Switchback in Burlington. If you’re not much of a beer drinker, they also have great cider options.

Pilgrimage to Ben & Jerry

Is there any better ice cream than Ben and Jerrys? You may not know this, but this ice cream power house also calls Vermont home. Their original shop was at a converted gas station in downtown Burlington. When they grew, they moved into a huge factory, a few towns away in Middlebury. There, you can see the whole production learn, the history about the company, and even get to sample a limited release flavor. It’s a must do for any dessert lover.

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Exploring the Charming Towns

New England, in general, is absolutely flush with quaint little towns and Vermont is no exception. Even when you’re driving around aimlessly, you’ll stumble upon cute boutiques, local places to eat, and so much character. Since no two towns are alike, it pays to stop and get to know each one.

Von Trapp Family Lodge

Long before the Sound of Music became an internationally cherished movie, the Von Trapp family escaped Nazi-occupied Europe for the United States. They ultimately made Stowe, Vermont their home because the Green Mountains reminded them of home in Austria. Today, you can visit the family home, which has been turned into a cross-country ski lodge. Next door to the property, you will also find Von Trapp Brewing, another nod to their homeland.

Burlington and Lake Champlain

If you are flying to Vermont, you’ll have to make a pit stop in Burlington, the largest ‘city’ in the state. Why not stay for a quick visit? Situated on Lake Champlain, this is another opportunity to take in the Vermont beer culture. Although very small compared to other cities in New England, it’s still a great place to recharge and shop before the flight home.

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Since I’ve yet to experience a summer in Vermont, when it’s the perfect time to hike and mountain bike, the bulk of this list is with winter in mind. I also can’t fail to mention visiting for the changing leaves in the fall. Whenever you decide to visit Northern Vermont, you’re going to have an amazing time! Enjoy spending time with nature and a quiet trip away from the chaos of the everyday.

Love from Florida,
Katie

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