Vermont mini-vacation

A few weeks ago Philip and I packed up the truck, with MM and Georgia in tow, and headed to what we thought would be a Berkshire's vacation. If you follow along on Instagram, you know we had a slight change in plans last minute, and ended up making a game day decision to head to Vermont. Good thing both our human and fur baby are excellent travelers, and quite resilient when it comes to these things. And Philip was more than happy to visit one of his very favorite towns in VT.

We ended up at the amazingly beautiful, albeit possibly haunted, Equinox Resort & Spa in Manchester.  The town is absolutely adorable- complete with a quaint little yoga studio right across the street. After several hours in the car, we were quick to get a bite to eat at the resort's Marsh Tavern, where they served feel-good food like meatloaf {MM loved it} a hearty burger smothered in Vermont cheddar,  and house-made tater tots that are an absolute must. They also served some of the most delicious local beers- which I very much enjoyed sampling during our stay. 

Upon check-in I was happily surprised to find out they partnered with American Express's Fine Hotels & Resorts package, meaning we earned a free upgrade upon arrival, complimentary breakfast each morning, and a very generous restaurant credit redeemable in the resort. If you're a cardmember, take advantage!

A quick two minute drive led us into the main part of town, where there were amazing shops, eateries, and general stores. I was in outlet heaven, doing some damage at Pendleton, Vineyard Vines and Yves Delorme to name a few. 

After shopping around we stopped by Mother Myrick's, an adorable throwback confectionary serving some of the very best Buttercrunch toffee I've ever tasted. And I couldn't help but grab a little slice of their pumpkin spice fudge. Because, October.

We then headed to nearby Dorset to visit H.N. Williams General Store, which really left me wondering why we don't have a general store here in Greenwich, CT. Seriously, this store had everything you could possibly want. Gourmet food, apparel of all kinds, kids' toys, farming equipment, everything you'd ever need for pickling, and of course maple syrup. Our little family could have stayed for hours. And we got some great Vermont-made goodies to bring home.

We spent the rest of the day playing around at the resort- MM loved their playground, and Georgia ran around to heart's content while mom and dad enjoyed a nice glass of wine. All with the fall's foliage burning bright in the background.

The next day we enjoyed a highly recommended breakfast at Up for Breakfast. It was one of those adorable mom-and-pop places that only accepts cash and serves gluttonous food that is worth every calorie. I had the Avocado Benedict and Philip had a traditional breakfast with bacon and eggs. And we of course had to share a nice, fluffy stack of pancakes with some delicious Vermont maple syrup.

It was raining pretty hard our second day of the trip, so we spent a little time back at the resort enjoying their indoor pool. Lunch was had at the- again highly recommended- J.J. Hapgood, which is equal parts gourmet eatery and general store. We indulged in their house made pizzas and local beers on tap, and grabbed some of their boutique candy for our friends back home.

The next morning we took full advantage of the continental breakfast before hitting the road home. I fell so in love with this little town- the sweet little stores, the beautiful fall leaves, and the amazing food and drinks; and I can't wait to visit again soon.