AAA Four Diamond Culinary Resort Nestled in Vermont Countryside
The Essex Resort & Spa stretches across 18 forested acres between the wooded shores of Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains foothills. But the picturesque setting is just part of the draw. This AAA Four Diamond resort also features an award-winning full-service spa as well as a culinary school that offers classes ranging from professional cake decorating to Italian feasts.
At the resort's cooking academy, seasoned chefs can teach you how to mix, knead, and roll pasta or how to cook dishes with Vermont cheese. Check out the schedule for details and prices.
Executive Chef Shawn Calley, two-time winner of the region’s Top Chef competition, shows off his talents at The Tavern, which offers upscale pub fare such as beef nachos and wild-mushroom cannelloni.
The full-service Spa at The Essex features saunas, relaxation lounges, and a 25-yard indoor lap pool. The spa’s menu of services includes volcanic-clay purifying facials, body wraps, and manicures and pedicures. In addition to accommodations in a traditional guest room, this Getaway includes daily spa access for two adults.
Lake Champlain, Vermont: World-Class Skiing Between Adirondacks and Green Mountains
The Essex Resort & Spa is located just outside Vermont's largest city, Burlington, right between the mountains. Burlington is also home to a handful of renowned breweries as well as boutique shops at Church Street Marketplace, a pedestrian mall.
The Burlington Bike Path is a 7.5-mile recreational trek that skirts the Lake Champlain shoreline and features panoramic views of the lake and the Adirondack Mountains to the west. Lake Champlain is also a popular spot for kayaking, swimming, and fishing for catfish, northern pike, walleye, and more than 80 other fish species.
About 10 miles from the hotel, the University of Vermont sits on a hill overlooking the city. Take a stroll through the leafy campus to Fleming Museum, a striking Beaux Arts building that houses works by John James Audubon, Andy Warhol, Winslow Homer, and other American artists.
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