What to Expect at Equinox Resort & Spa : Founded in 1769, this historic property is a prime New England destination for a romantic country getaway. The resort’s 1,300 verdant acres are bordered by Mount Equinox. The main building and restaurant, Marsh Tavern, exude Early American charm. Many guests spend a day at Gleneagles 18-hole championship golf course or Country Pursuits’ outdoor programs. A resort fee covers valet parking, Web access, and daily newspaper.
Guest Rooms at Equinox Resort & Spa : Run-of-house rooms are plain at the Equinox Resort, with utilitarian pine furniture and stark bathrooms. (The exception is #137, a model for much-needed décor upgrades.) Beds are very comfortable. Seven Presidential suites are worth the extra bucks for their classic 19th-century furnishings, oil paintings, and burgundy walls. The Charles Orvis Inn, a gracious, on-site boutique hotel, has 15 suites offering Yankee comfort, patios, concierge, bar, and billiards nook.
Dining at Equinox Resort & Spa : Historic Marsh Tavern in the Equinox Resort is one of Vermont’s finest restaurants. It was the meeting place of Ethan Allen’s Green Mountain Boys, who became Revolutionary War heroes. Today the authentically Colonial-look Marsh Tavern serves tempting dishes including a memorably rich lobster risotto, a juicy burger, and a definitive filet mignon. House wines are reasonably priced. Room service is available. Sunday brunch in the Colonnade Dining Room is known for delectable desserts.
Destination Weddings at Equinox Resort & Spa : An on-staff wedding planner at the Equinox Resort helps brides mastermind Vermont weddings. Ceremonies and receptions may be held in a variety of photogenic venues including the crystal-chandeliered Colonnade, rustic Pond Pavilion, and elegant Rockwell Room. The Marsh Tavern provides superb in-house catering. Many Equinox wedding parties book the entire Charles Orvis Inn, a gracious, on-site boutique hotel. Group rates may be available.
Honeymoons and Romantic Getaways at Equinox Resort & Spa : Wedding couples may qualify for a free four-night honeymoon stay at the Equinox Resort. The resort’s separate Honeymoon/Anniversary Package includes Champagne, flowers, and two 50-minute massages. Most ‘mooners and getaway couples book into the main building’s suites or the romantic, private-feeling Charles Orvis Inn, with its own helpful concierge. While the Equinox’s cozy New England-style hotel rooms are made for nesting, the resort’s many outdoor activities provide further excitement.
Activities at Equinox Resort & Spa : Guests may hike, bike, kayak, ride horses, fly-fish, play tennis or snow sports. Equinox’s Avanyu Spa is first-rate; so are fitness facilities, including a lap pool. Scenic Gleneagles Golf Course is sister to Scotland’s famed links. Country Pursuits runs a fun Archery School. In its Off-Road Driving School, you charge up hills in a steel-frame Land Rover. For something truly different, its British School of Falconry gives lessons in hawk handling. Country Pursuits packages are good values.
Nearby Equinox Resort & Spa : Equinox Resort is set on the outskirts of Manchester Village, a charming, historic New England hamlet now known for golf and outlet shopping. Disguised as barns, outlets favor preppie labels such as Coach, J. Crew, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Timberland. Manchester houses Hildene, an estate owned by Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert that is now a museum of country life. Fly-fishing streams, recreational trails, cafés, and steepled white churches abound near Manchester.
What Could be Improved at Equinox Resort & Spa?: The Charles Orvis Inn and the main building’s Presidential Suites are lovely, but run-of-house Equinox rooms are plain and need upgrading. (Renovations are underway.) If you’re happy with your room at The Equinox, not much else, beyond unreliable wakeup calls, can be criticized. The setting is storybook New England, service is warm, the place clean and quiet. The Equinox allows children.
Is Equinox Resort & Spa Right for You?: If you like New England, you will love this dignified, relaxed Vermont hideaway. The Equinox Resort offers a classic country getaway to the laid-back Green Mountain State. Until room renovations are completed, go for a Presidential Suite, room 137, or the Orvis Inn. Bring your Top-Siders, not your stilettoes; Vermont is rural and The Equinox’s recreational options dazzling. Gleneagles golf, Country Pursuits activities, Avanyu Spa and gym, and Marsh Tavern dining all get an A+.
Where to Find More Information About Equinox Resort & Spa :
Equinox Resort & Spa
Historic Route 7A
Manchester Village, Vermont 05252
Reservations: 1-866-346-ROCK (7625)
Official Equinox Resort & Spa Web site
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