What makes for a romantic ski weekend? My female friends say they look for a wonderful location near a big resort, good food and wine at the inn or nearby, a luxurious room with high-thread-count bed linens and down comforters, and as one friend put it, "360 degrees of aesthetically pleasing."
A male friend said all he needs is his wife. My husband concurs, although he did mutter something about a ballgame and big-screen TV before I swatted him with a pillow.
For me, it's a weekend uninterrupted by the constant refrain of "Mom!"
While romance is never guaranteed, each of these five inns in Vermont provides the ingredients: in-room fireplaces, whirlpool tubs for two, and sinfully comfortable king or queen beds.
Reluctant Panther Inn (near Stratton and Bromley): This establishment in Manchester Village is as much a country inn as a luxury hotel. This is apparent upon check-in. Hand-painted murals depicting Manchester's more notable structures subtly decorate the walls in the reception area.
Throughout Reluctant Panther's three buildings - the main inn (completely rebuilt after a fire in 2005), the circa 1860s Mary Porter House, and Carriage House - owners Liz and Jerry Lavalley achieve a well-balanced mix of Colonial furnishings with modern amenities. Each of the 20 rooms has at least one fireplace (either gas or wood-burning), flat-screen TV, wireless Internet access, Keurig coffeemaker, hydrotherapy spa tub, king bed with feather beds and luxurious linens, and microfiber robes. Pre-order champagne or chocolate-dipped strawberries, and they'll be waiting in your room.
The Panther Suite is the inn's signature room. The bathroom's centerpiece is a double-size whirlpool tub set off by four columns. A wood-burning fireplace is on one side, a two-person rain shower on the other.
"We wanted it to be more than you would ever have at home," says Jerry Lavalley.
The inn's restaurant alone is worth the stay. Executive chef Justin Dain came from the Boston Harbor Hotel and creates such delicacies as shrimp and chive tortello and Zinfandel braised beef short ribs.
The bustle of outlets is a mile down the road in Manchester Center, and Bromley and Stratton mountains are a few minutes away. But the inn's rooms are so spacious, comfortable, and tastefully furnished with antiques, you might be tempted to forgo skiing and shopping.
Stone Hill Inn (near Stowe Mountain Resort): Ten years ago, Amy Jordan left her job in the hospitality industry and built her "dream inn." Set far off busy Mountain Road on a tree-lined hill, Stone Hill feels like a comfortable, unpretentious retreat.