Vacationing Close to Home

Now that stay at home order has been lifted in Massachusetts, and some businesses are beginning to open, most everyone is thinking of getting out of the house and have a change of scenery. 
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If a road trip is in your revamped vacation plans this summer, there are some great options within driving distance.  This will be the first in a series of spotlights on United States resorts that may be a great option to travel to since we do not yet know when we can travel overseas.  

In Vermont, there is a great property, The Equinox, A Luxury Collection Golf Resort and Spa located in Manchester. This luxury resort offers many amenities and activities for the entire family.   You can try Falconry here too and then enjoy a beverage at the Falcon Bar, which features an outdoor fire pit.  The village of Manchester has many dining with outside dining, or you can visit one of Vermont’s Farmers Markets. 

Twin Farms in Barnard, VT, is an experience all to itself. This luxurious romantic retreat with a small number of accommodations. This adult-only property is a great retreat where you can relax and unwind.  This property is all-inclusive, which includes all meals and beverages. With my agency Select amenities, you will also receive a $100 spa credit to pamper yourself.  Activities include a bee tour and bicycling around the area. The dining experience is farm to table with options for wine pairing with your lunch or dinner, and the menu is always being updated.

If you like to ski and want to experience a great family resort in Stowe, The Lodge at Spruce Peak is a great option.  Situated at the base of Mount Mansfield, this resort offers so many outdoor activities that you can easily social distance.  The dining here is also farm to table and prides itself on authentic dining experiences.   

The state of Maine is a favorite of mine, and if you want to visit the city of Portland and feel comfortable with a little more people than Vermont may have, the Press Hotel is in the heart of Portland.  The Press Hotel is located in the former Gannet Building, which was the original printing plant for the Portland Press Herald.  When I lived in Maine, the newspaper was run out of this building until 2010 when it moved locations, and a few years later, the property was purchased to house Portland’s first boutique hotel. The hotel is in the heart of the Old Port within walking distance to many restaurants, both fine dining and several excellent pubs, including Gritty McDuff’s, which is a local favorite.  

If you want a resort a little smaller, there is Hidden Pond Luxury Resort in Kennebunkport.  The luxury cottages are set on 60 acres set off the beaten path from the bustling downtown.  At Hidden Pond, you will be self-contained in your own cottage or treetop lodge, so social distancing is easy while you relax.  The resort offers many activities from mixology, watercolor lessons to meeting the Hidden Pond gardner for a stroll through the Farm.  
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All of these beautiful properties are within a few hour's drive from Massachusetts and offer a pleasant change of scenery that many of us are itching to get after being cooped up for all of these weeks.  When you book your local vacation getaway with Darby’s Destinations, you also get added amenities of resort or spa credits, upgrades, and more that you cannot get by booking online.   All of these properties, as of today, are expecting to accept reservations beginning on July 1st, though this could change as we start to open up states and businesses.  I know that I am so ready to get out and explore our world again soon.  I hope you are looking forward to your next adventure.