It’s rare that you get a chance to disconnect (well, not totally) and enjoy some family time that is truly wholesome. Fortunately, a few hours north of Boston is Smugglers’ Notch Vermont, a family resort for all seasons. When I think of resorts in Vermont, I think of skiing (which I’ve never done, but I après ski with the best of them), so I was a little worried about spending three full days at Smuggs — I was convinced there would be nothing to do.
I was so wrong.
Smugglers’ Notch is truly “America’s Family Resort.” There is something for everyone, no matter their age or their interests. Smuggs has a jam-packed schedule of art, yoga, hiking, and other activities, as well as amenities to pique every interest. Kid friendly, parent friendly, and family friendly is a win in our eyes.
Accommodations
Smugglers’ Notch isn’t a hotel. Instead, it’s a cozy resort village with condominiums ranging from studio to five bedroom, giving families a home away from home. We had a kitchen (full kitchen, not a kitchenette), fireplaces, a washer and dryer, and so much more in our cozy condo. My kids deemed it “the best hotel ever” (they don’t quite understand how condos work) and were devastated to leave. My husband and I were happy to have a home base, plenty of room for us all to spread out, an opportunity to have meals in our room, and, most importantly, a coffee maker.
Fun
Like I said, I didn’t think there was going to be much to keep us busy in Vermont in the summer. I mean, it’s a ski resort, right? Honestly, it was almost overwhelming trying to figure out what to do. Our family spent a lot of time just wandering around and exploring. There are all sorts of sports available, from volleyball to basketball. There are eight pools on the property, along with waterslides, a water park, and nearby freshwater reservoirs packed with water-based activities. My kids could basically spend the whole day in the pool, so there was more than enough to keep us busy!
On top of all of these great options is FunZone 2.0, a 26,000-square-foot entertainment center for the whole family. My husband and I took my oldest and youngest while the middle one was at camp. The oldest had a blast going through the obstacle course (and competing against me!), the bouncy slide, doing the Smuggs Warrior course, and playing ping pong. My little guy explored the giant Legos and had so much fun in the bouncy house. There’s also an arcade, laser tag, and snacks available. We all had so much fun.
Family
Above all, our time at Smuggs was about being together as a family. We did take advantage of camp one day and sent all three of our kids to age-appropriate programs. They played, ran, swam, and had fun with kids their age (there was even an option for my 1-year-old). My husband and I had some time to be together — just us — which made the rest of our family time even more enjoyable. There were all different kinds of families all over the resort, from couples to multigenerational groups to cousins and siblings all enjoying their time together. There’s truly something for everyone.
And to top it off, there’s a family feel across the whole resort. The resort is a huge employer of the local residents, it’s family owned and operated, and the owner of the whole resort is accessible to everyone. That’s pretty rare.
Now is a great time to plan a summer trip to Smuggs! Check out some of the great packages they are offering, round up the family, pack up the car, and head up to Vermont! You’ll get access to all the amazing amenities, make some great memories, relax, and have a blast!
