Essex Resort & Spa
We spent the coziest winter getaway at a Vermont Spa last weekend filled with delicious food, relaxing massage treatments and time exploring local businesses. The Essex Resort & Spa is located in Essex Junction, Vermont (about 3.5 hour drive from Boston) and is 20 minutes driving to downtown Burlington. Read more about our perfect spa weekend for inspiration for your next trip.
Hotel Amenities
Before we get into the details of our itinerary, it may be helpful to know that the Essex Resort & Spa is truly the type of place you could spend a whole weekend and not need to leave! They have two restaurants on site (the Tavern + Junction), a full Spa, indoor swimming pool, outdoor jacuzzi, fitness center, fire pit and cooking academy that offers classes. Check in is available at 4:00pm and checkout is at 11:00am. They also offer a shuttle that can take you to the airport or downtown Burlington for $15 per person upon request. The Essex Resort & Spa is truly a culinary hidden gem in the Northeast for anyone who loves food & relaxation.
Cooking Class
On Friday night, we were able to join one of their weekend cooking classes at their Cook Academy located inside the hotel. They are currently cooking around the world so we were lucky to attend during their German night. We were welcomed with a slice of German pizza and a choice of beer or wine. In the course of 3-hours we made schnitzel, spätzle and rotkraut (stewed cabbage). The chef had already prepared some mashed potatoes with sauerkraut in it and an apple strudel for dessert that we also enjoyed with our meal. At the end, we were able to sit down and savor the fruits of our labor. This was truly one of the best meals we’ve had in a long time and are already scheming to recreate it at home! Be sure to book your spot in advance here: Cook Academy.
Breakfast at the Tavern
On Saturday morning, we recommend snagging a breakfast reservation at the Tavern onsite for a slow start to your day. While breakfast is not included in your stay, having a sit down meal is sometimes much more enjoyable than a buffet. As far as breakfast goes, the menu is standard and the quality is solid – it’s an easy way to start your day before heading to the spa without needing to leave!
Spa Day
The spa is truly the star of this weekend! (After all, it’s called the Essex Resort & Spa for a reason!) As guests of the hotel, you have access to their spa amenities which include a large indoor pool, sauna, steam room, locker rooms, relaxation lounge and outdoor jacuzzi. If you are not staying at the spa, you can still book a day pass for $50. Since our couples massage wasn’t until 11am, we spent the morning reading our books in the relaxation lounge, sweating it out in the sauna and soaking in the jacuzzi. It’s easy to spend all day here and you are guaranteed to feel rejuvenated once you leave! It’s truly the best Vermont Spa. For more information on what services are offered at the spa, check out: Spa at the Essex.
Lunch at Black Flannel Brewery
While they do offer small plates at the spa, if you’re feeling like you need something more, we recommend venturing over to the Essex Experience (a 2 minute drive from the hotel) to visit Black Flannel Brewery. We knew we were going to love it there when we walked in and saw the staff wearing shirts that said “Work Hard, Drink Beer, Pet Dogs”! They have traditional pub food, with a German twist (picture lots of pickled veggies). If beer is not your thing, they also have a distillery onsite and offer cocktails (as well as a few N/A options too).
ArtHound Gallery
After lunch, we had some downtime so explored a few shops at the Essex Experience. One that we really enjoyed was the ArtHound Gallery – filled with curated Vermont products from over 350 Vermont artists. From paintings to pottery, you’re sure to find something to bring home!
Burlington
One of the nice things about staying in Essex Junction is that you have the heart of Burlington just 20 minutes away. If you’ve got your car, you can find parking downtown or you can take the shuttle from the hotel! If you don’t spend all day at the spa (or the Essex Experience), it’s worth heading there to do some additional sightseeing. We recommend Church St. – it’s quintessential Vermont!
Dinner at Junction
Junction is the type of place you walk in and just know you’re going to have a great meal. In this interactive restaurant the kitchen faces the diners. If that intrigues you, be sure to request a spot at the “chef’s table”. This is basically like sitting at a bar but behind the bar is the kitchen! It was so fun to watch the chef bring these meals to life from prepping to cooking to plating. Mark had an incredible filet for his meal, while the highlight for me was their hazelnut cake for desert! The menu rotates seasonally but a lot of the food is locally sourced. For more information or to make a reservation visit: Junction.
Breakfast at Uncommon Coffee
If you’re like us, you’re going to wake up on Sunday morning still full from your culinary experience at Junction so will be looking for a lighter breakfast before departing! Located at the Essex Experience you can find the coziest coffee shop called Uncommon Coffee. We fell in love with this spot for a few reasons: 1. it’s eclectic furniture & feel, 2. it’s female owned and 3. it’s a place for community to gather. The baristas take their coffee seriously so you can’t go wrong by starting your Sunday here.
Essex Resort & Spa Review
It’s safe to say that these relaxing type of vacations are not usually our style but we appreciated the balance of R&R and additional activities provided at the Essex Resort & Spa. Whether you’re local to New England or traveling from out-of-town, this affordable resort is the perfect spot for a Vermont spa weekend away!
