I’m mesmerized as I watch the guitarist weave a beautiful acoustic melody into the dimly lit bar, his fingers expertly navigating the chords. The live music is the perfect soundtrack for an après ski crowd, sipping cold beers and noshing on carb-heavy small plates after a day on the slopes. My tired legs lift me for one last effort of the day, as I twirl away to the happy hour music with my mustard and plum plaid scarf streaking across the room. It is already dark outside; night comes early in winter in Vermont, but the evening is just getting started at my favorite après-ski gathering spot, the Roost.
This cozy, contemporary bar at Topnotch Resort is a favorite hangout among ski vacationers, like myself, who have ventured north for some fresh powder. Mid-way through my second pint of craft beer, my friends finally trot down from their rooms. While my fellow skiers are tired from a day on the slopes and could fall right asleep, hunger wins out. Luckily, this hotel bar never fails us on serving hearty, satisfying treats in a fun, lively atmosphere. And so, we all gather around a wooden lounge table to share Reuben spring rolls, duck and mushroom flatbread, and a cheese and charcuterie plate loaded with chef favorites. Sitting by the crackling fire and listening as the band hit their stride, I can’t think of any place I’d rather be.
But Topnotch Resort is just one of the many wonderful Vermont resorts waiting to welcome visitors come winter. Vermont’s snowy slopes provide some of the best skiing and snowboarding on the East Coast and once you arrive in the Green Mountain State, you won’t have to look far to find lobbies lined with sheepskin throws, rooms adorned with fluffy robes, and bars serving quality local craft brews. From maple syrup soaked pancakes in the morning to marshmallow-topped hot chocolate by the fireside at night, Vermont resorts know how to do cozy right. If you’re looking for a winter wonderland getaway on the East Coast, along with some excellent skiing, check out these top Vermont ski resorts.