Highbrow Hygge at this Bucolic Vermont Farm.

The Main House at Twin Farms, built in 1795.

My husband and I are your typical Type A personality types. He's a lawyer. I'm a former lawyer turned freelance writer. A normal weekend with our two kids under five involves alternating runs on the Capital Crescent trail, jaunts to the playground, toddler birthday parties, a never-ending list of house projects and the occasional, though mostly illusive, date night à deux. So, when we get the chance to sneak away for a weekend (thank you, grandparents and nanny), we go all in.

Our bucket list includes some luxury all-inclusives in the U.S. and we've been fortunate to try many of them. Twin Farms, however, is the only one we keep coming back to—five wedding anniversaries and counting. Maybe it's Brenda, the activities director, who remembers our names and handpicks a Stave puzzle for us to try while we sip handcrafted maple old fashioneds by the warmth of the fire. Or connecting with mother nature in the quiet backwoods as we cross-country ski or snowshoe to a gourmet picnic at a secret location set up by the staff. Or even the simple tête-à-tête while devouring plate after plate of exquisitely prepared dishes, designed to our preferences, that are placed in front of us.

With no dress code (more on that here) and an everything is possible attitude, Twin Farms is the ultimate in all-inclusive luxury—a home away from home that we never want to leave.

Leggings and a sweater is about as fancy as it gets at Twin Farms.

ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE FARM

This 300-acre farm offers 20 accommodations: four rooms in the Main House, a two-suite Lodge next to the Main House, the four-suite Farmhouse at Copper Hill, and ten freestanding cottages. Designed by leading architects and interior designers, each accommodation offers a unique aesthetic ranging from the Japanese-inspired Orchard (our personal favorite) to the two-story modern Aviary pictured below. Come fall 2023, there will be eight additional treehouses to choose from as well.

Views from bed in Aviary, a contemporary Peter Bohlin designed two-story cottage.

Opt for a standalone cottage for ultimate privacy, but take comfort in knowing that every room is spacious with cozy sitting areas, wood-burning fireplaces, comfy king size beds and large spa-like bathrooms with powerful showers and freestanding soaking tubs. Amenities include Out of the Woods bath products, complimentary wine and local treats, complimentary same-day laundry, twice-daily housekeeping, and handcrafted chocolates at turndown.

Rates begin at $2,600 and are inclusive of accommodations, all meals, beverages and activities. Spa treatments and certain private guided activities are available at an additional cost.

DINING AT THE FARM

Twin Farms, like many a Relais & Chateaux property, is a hotel for foodies. Helmed by Chef Nathan Rich, formerly of the Mandarin Oriental in Boston, the kitchen churns out creative New England cuisine sourced with local, seasonal ingredients. Vermont has no shortage of farms and dairies, and the menus reflect that heritage.

The legendary soufflé pancakes with a side of locally made bacon and fresh fruit.

Breakfast can be taken either in the Main House or in-room. There’s a menu of 4-5 dishes that rotates daily, but the kitchen accommodates most requests. We love their dark roast coffee and the freshly baked pastries that get better each time we visit. If you happen to be there on a Sunday, don’t skip the soufflé pancakes.

On the day of arrival, we love savoring a long lunch in the Dining Room at the Main House to help us ease into vacation mode. I’m talking about the perfect caesar salad and a fried chicken sandwich with wine pairings followed by cider donuts and a bourbon. But Twin Farms really shines when it comes to their picnics, which can be set up anywhere from the fishing shack at the pond to the lift shack at the top of the ski hill or the three-sided lean-to with a fire pit.

A picnic for two set up at the Lift Shack, which can be reserved for lunch and/or dinner.

A typical evening begins with canapés and cocktails over backgammon by the fireplace in the Main House followed by a four-course candlelit dinner with wine pairings. Guests dine without menus, yet courses are designed to their preferences via an online concierge form that is completed in advance of one’s stay.

For example, a recent dinner for my pescatarian husband and me included a kale, orange and feta salad, orecchiette with black garlic and shaved truffles, and wild striped bass with sweet potato puree and swiss chard followed by a citrus panna cotta with olive oil sponge cake and grapefruit segments.

A salad course featuring locally grown greens, blackberries, Vermont made chèvre and crushed pistachios.

Accompanying wines are selected by Wine Director Morgan LaCroix from the 15,000 bottle cellar, which contains a compelling range of well-known vintners and emerging labels from around the world. And if you’re celebrating a special occasion, reserve the wine cellar for an intimate five-course dinner that comes with your own private server and elevated pairings like caviar tarts and vintage champagne.

Prefer a lighter meal? Take a seat at Twiggs, the property’s latest dining venture. The decor is farmhouse chic with a blend of green, white and tan with gorgeous exposed beams and a double height window overlooking the wraparound bar. Twiggs serves cocktails and snacks beginning at 3pm and dinner later on with a menu featuring Argentinian wood-fired meats, soups, salads, stews and housemade pastas.

The inviting interior of Twiggs, open for afternoon snacks and à la carte dinner service.

ACTIVITIES AT THE FARM

The hardest part about staying at the farm? Working up an appetite for all that delicious food! Spring, summer and fall offer opportunities for archery and axe throwing, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, lawn games, swimming, tennis and pickleball. Once snow hits in the winter, enjoy cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, fat-tire biking, ice fishing, ice skating and sledding. Culinary endeavors such as cooking classes, charcuterie tastings, and garden tours are also available.

Want to try an activity you don’t see on the menu? Just ask Brenda, Jake or Kyle and they’ll do their best to make it happen.

While we love an active morning, afternoons are best spent relaxing. Curling up by the fire with a novel. Putting the finishing touches on a Stave jigsaw puzzle. Playing blackjack over cocktails at Twiggs. Relaxing with a massage or Biologique Recherche facial at the Spa. Warming up in the Japanese style Furo. Or simply taking a nap.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Twin Farms is, admittedly, a once in a lifetime experience for most. But the unique accommodations, elevated cuisine and wine pairings, superior service and natural beauty of Vermont make it worth every cent.