They Can't Take My Adirondack Chair Away From Me.....the Basin Harbor Club
Written: Sep 27 '01 (Updated Feb 01 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The atmosphere of a garden party
Cons: As with all good things, this place is not inexpensive
The Bottom Line: The Basin Harbor Club is an old-fashioned family resort, but they have rules. Be sure to dress for dinner. The place is casual, but don't buck the dress code.
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| tombarnes's Full Review: Basin Harbor |
The Basin Harbor Club must be preserved for posterity. It perfectly evokes what a New England vacation should be-and has been for over 120 years. The main building is a clapboard, three storied inn with a big porch overlooking the lawn that slopes down to Lake Champlain.
Lobby
The lobby is very comfortable, but also very busy. It is filled with nice Vermont country pieces and one desperately wants to sink down into one of the couches and take a rest and enjoy the room. This isn't really the place to do it, because there are too many people passing through. For peace and quiet, you will have to go to your room.
Rooms and Suites
Most of the rooms are in the cottages which line the lake shore. They will give you a map to find yours, or you can follow the bellman as he takes you there in a golf cart. Rooms are rustic, but offer great comfort. Ours was a private cottage with a big stone fireplace. As it was the middle of October, the fireplace was most welcome. The bed was firm and the chairs good as well. The decor might best be described as rustic elegance. The rooms are straightforward and do not have the preciousness of some of Basin Harbor's five-star cousins. They realize here, that one wants only comfort, not designer excess in this extravagantly beautiful corner of Vermont. Baths do come with most of the amenities you would expect, but please do not go there and be disappointed that they do not have marble in the bath. I will never understand the Mobil guide's fixation with marble baths-fine in Manhattan, but unnecessary in Vermont!
Dining
There is only one dining room here. It is a large, open room with something of a campy feeling (if you can think of a camp with starched linen and heavy silver!). The kitchen is a very accomplished one. I do not see how you could have room for dessert after one of their dinners. Meals are included in most of their rate plans. A very good value really, but hardly in the bargain basement. RECREATION- With so many acres of pristine grounds to roam, and lake Champlain right out the door, there is no need for much else. Thee is a pool (too cold to swim when we were there), tennis courts, youth activities like ping-pong etc.. and water sports of all kinds. Small sailboats and rowboats are available for rental at a nominal fee. Bicycles are also available. This is a great place to get outdoors and simply roam the grounds. On your perambulations you might come across the museum of boats and other pieces of local history at one corner of the property. There is also a reconstructed old vessel available for tours.
General
The Basin Harbor is beautifully maintained and they run a tight ship with everything they do. The evening lawn party is a good way to meet the other guests. There are lots of children, but that is to be expected in a family resort. Grab one of those red,yellow or blue Adirondack chairs and just sit down with a book and enjoy the great atmosphere.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tombarnes
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Thomas Barnes
Location: Fort Lauderdale & Washington, DC
Reviews written: 688
Trusted by: 444 members
About Me:
With Barbara in Miami, 2004
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