Vermont’s Hawk Inn And Mountain Resort

The Hawk Inn, a Vermont resort, offers plenty of options for outdoor activity, or simply lounging around, across the four seasons.

Summer and Winter, Spring and Fall, the Hawk Inn & Mountain Resort in Plymouth, Vermont is an extraordinarily friendly year-round destination for families. On our family’s most recent visit over Presidents’ Weekend, there were hors d’oeuvres served at 6pm for guests, which followed a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream party for the younger set. While a clown made balloons and played games with kids of all ages during the evening hours, there was a quartet playing Celtic music in the Inn’s library. At the Hawk, there is truly something for everyone.

Sitting on 1,200 acres in the Green Mountains, the Hawk Inn offers both an abundance of activities and a chance to simply enjoy the beauty of Vermont. There are 50 rooms in the inn, and about 180 villas—45 of which are townhouses—which are privately owned but rented out and managed by Hawk. The wooden homes are built to blend in with the surrounding nature, so one can hardly notice them from the road that winds up the hill behind the inn.

Family Together Activities at Hawk Inn

Situated conveniently between Okemo and Killington mountains, Hawk is an ideal ski and snowboarding destination. And for other snow adventure, guests can enjoy winter sports and fun without ever leaving the resort. For a small fee, the resort’s recreation center provides sleds for guests to use on the sledding hill—lit at night for starlight sledding—snowshoes and cross-country skis to use on their well-marked trails (guided tours are offered every weekend), and ice skates to use on their outdoor skating pond. Guests can also sign up for a horse-drawn sleigh ride which winds around a snow-covered trail.

When it comes to warm weather, the Hawk has an enticing array of activities. The resort’s lake offers guests a chance to swim, kayak, paddleboat, canoe and fish. There are hiking and biking trails, tennis courts and horseback riding—with pony rides for the kids—on the property, and golf nearby. Over the 4th of July holiday weekend, there is the annual lobster bake and a fireworks display.

And nature lovers will want to see birds of prey up close during a visit from the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. The Hawk also has a new fitness center and sauna, and offers massages. A year-round highlight for families, there is swimming in an indoor pool, a heated outdoor pool (which we enjoyed during a snow fall) and a hot tub.

Spring and Fall are also beautiful at the Hawk. Aside from the above mentioned activities and a bit more quiet, autumn is also a chance to learn about sheep herding, apples, harvest time and of course, to watch the leaves change color.

For a bit of history, drive four miles to Plymouth Notch to visit the birthplace and childhood home of Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States. At this state historic site, children will enjoy peeking into the One-Room Schoolhouse, touring the Plymouth Cheese Factory, checking out the exhibit of old farm tools and horse drawn carriages at the Wilder Barn, and visiting neighboring farms.

Back at the Hawk Inn

Rooms at the inn are a cross of New England charm and modern comfort. Our double room had a king-size bed, covered in a pumpkin-colored floral comforter, a round wooden table with two chairs, a TV/VCR, and a coffee maker.

During a previous visit, we had stayed with another family in a Mountain Villa, which had four smallish, yet comfortable, bedrooms (one with bunk beds), a living room with a stone fireplace, a full kitchen, a dining area and an outdoor deck. Similarly, but priced higher and set back in a more isolated part of the grounds are the Ledges Villas, that run two to four-bedrooms each.

The resort's River Tavern, which looks out over the Black River, has a talented chef, a wooden bar, and a menu that includes pasta, beef, and fish. If adults feel like lingering and kids need to stretch their legs, the Inn has a recreation room with a large screen TV and a game room with billiard and ping-pong tables. For some after dinner respite, families can relax in the Inn’s library, a room with a large stone fireplace, and stacks of books and games to play amidst the various couches and tables.

If you are staying at the Inn, a hearty Vermont breakfast is included in the nightly rate. Our family was particularly fond of the pancakes and French toast with Vermont maple syrup.

Trip Planning Details for a Hawk Inn Family Vacation

At the Hawk Inn & Mountain Resort (800/685-4295), located at Route 100 , Plymouth, VT 05056, last minute special B&B rates during the winter season of 2009 (through mid-March) begin at $358/N for an inn room for two adults, with a surcharge of $10 per child over age 4. Peak seasons here are the October leaf-peeping and summer months.