Topnotch Resort & Spa
Stowe, Vermont
800.451.8686; www.topnotchresort.com

Nestled in the heart of the magnificent Green Mountains, the Topnotch Resort & Spa lives up to its name by providing first-class accommodations, endless recreational opportunities, a terrific restaurant and above all one of the largest and most comprehensive spas in the country.

Located on a beautiful 120-acre wooded estate in the charming town of Stowe, Vermont, Topnotch offers 68 newly refurbished guest rooms and suites, furnished in an appealing European country manor style. An additional 40 luxurious resort homes, each with their own unique décor, are spread throughout the property offering greater privacy and comfort for larger groups.
Vermont's spectacular natural beauty is the perfect backdrop for the exceptional array of recreational activities offered at the resort. The nationally ranked Tennis Center has six outdoor and four indoor courts and offers more than 30 programs for all levels of play. Horseback riding, cycling, in-line skating, canoeing, fly-fishing and skiing are all options. Or simply relax by one of the two new outdoor pools and enjoy the stunning views of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont's tallest peak.

All that activity builds up an appetite. Luckily, Norma's, the resort's new signature restaurant offers satisfying options all day long. Wonderful dishes such as homemade vegetable burger with root vegetable slaw, emphasize locally grown organic ingredients.

The focal point of the resort is the recently renovated 35,000-square-foot spa. Hardwood floors, hand selected tiles and crackling fireplaces help to create an ambiance of calm beauty. There are 30 treatment rooms, as well as saunas, steam rooms, Jacuzzis and comfortable lounges.
With over 120 treatments and services, the spa menu truly offers something for everyone. In addition to every conceivable type of massage, body treatment and facial there are numerous acupuncture and oriental medical treatments, lifestyle coaching sessions, and a Medi-Spa that offers Botox and Restalyne injections.

The spa's six signature treatments are the height of pampering. One of the best is the Hammam Foot Ritual ($105, 50 minutes) a deeply detoxifying and nourishing treatment for the lower leg and foot that will have you walking on air. Other winners include the Mount Mansfield Saucha ($160, 75 minutes), a luxurious three-stage custom-blended herbal body treatment; the Little River Stone Massage ($160, 75 minutes), a deeply relaxing massage using hot stones, cold stones, massage and aromatherapy; and the Ayurvedic Cleansing Ritual and Massage ($210, 110 minutes), which includes an herbal sea salt dosha massage, a body wrap, a scalp and forehead massage, and an ayurvedic full body massage.

Stressed-out teens will attain a perfect state of bliss when they indulge in such offerings as the Total Teen Facial ($120, 50 minutes), offering deep cleansing, extractions and facial massage; the Super Sugar Scrub ($70, 25 minutes), a fabulous exfoliation treatment made from pure maple sugar; the Teen Massage ($70, 25 minutes), a full body massage using a light citrus aromatherapy oil; and Teen Time ($317), a package that includes the Total Teen Facial, a Super Sugar Scrub and a Citrus Massage.