I have been meaning to write this review for a LONG time, as we stayed at the Hartness House during Christmas of 2008, but as far as I'm concerned, better late than never, because I MUST honor this place.
My husband and I are huge on Christmas and really prefer to spend it with family and "traditions," however, that particular year we could not afford to fly to California (where our family was) from NYC (where we lived at the time), so we decided to do something within New England.
Cue the Hartness House.
I found it by researching highly rated B&B's in the general area. I hadn't been to Vermont since I was in high school, but remembered how much I had loved it, so thought it would be a great time for us both.
You know how sometimes you get so excited for something you think you might be ruining it for yourself because it probabley won't live up to your expectations? Well, this was one of those times where the experience exceeded our expectations.
It wasn't that a bunch of super swank things happened; it was the total package experience of pure relaxation. It's so hard to find that feeling now adays and it only exists in a few places anymore in America.
When we first showed up, the Christmas splendor hit us full force. A beautiful snowfall blanketed the exterior, and huge icicles hung from all of the over hangs. As we entered the thick front door with a Christmas Wreath, we were greeted with lovely decorated trees and all kinds of other festive decorations, not cheesey and hideous, but ones that totally fit into the feeling of the house. As we checked in, we were in "New York Mode" to the max, speaking quickly and being intense. The woman at the front desk was so chill that as she walked away to grab our room key we looked at each other and said, "Damn, we're being a*&holes! She's giving us the clue here that it's time to relax!"
She took us to our room and let us know that the morning coffee, which is brewed at 6am, was right next to our door. HELLO?? Thank you.
Our room was complete tasteful New England Country goodness and it made a person relax immediately.
Thereafter, we went into bliss mode. We kind of glided from one experience to the next, time began to have no meaning, and those 3 short days felt like a small lifetime. We had lovely breakfasts, lovely dinners, lovely walks in the forrest. We read in the parlor, watched The Nutcracker and Christmas in Yosemite on the television in our comfortable room. They even give a super fun tour of the subterranian lair and telescope built by the namesake, James Hartness!
The service, the food, the decor, the enviornment, the whole thing was such a fantastic experience that we still bring it up all the time AND are planning on spending a week there next year. For two people who were at first worried it wouldn't feel like Christmas because it was just the two of us and we were not used to that, I tell you to anyone who is listening: magic can happen when you least expect it!
Thank you Hartness House; we will return! read more