As featured in Conde Nast Traveler (1/21/22)
We are close to Vermont's premier skiing, hiking, and outdoor adventures. Burlington and Montpelier, as well as the beer, coffee, and ice cream mecca of Waterbury, are nearby. You’ll love the sunset views (6 of VT's highest peaks), the atmosphere (calming and uplifting), the coziness (huge sheepskin in front of the fireplace), and the attention to detail (live-edge wood details, spa-like bathroom). This is an incredible retreat for couples (families too), solo adventurers, and business travelers.
Our Space
Above the Clouds, a stand-alone guesthouse with private entrance, was built with attention to every detail and a commitment to creating a peaceful, uplifting environment. While you're likely to travel to Vermont to partake in its natural beauty and outdoor adventures it's so lovely here that you may never want to leave. Located at the end of a quarter-mile-long driveway that passes through birch and hemlock woods you'll find yourself perched at the top of the world overlooking a 180+degree mountain vista. Other than the adjacent main house (located nearby but placed so both houses have privacy), the only signs of life are lights twinkling across the valley at night and the wildlife that shares the land and soars over the valley.
The 1000+ square foot open-concept second story can sleep up to four, while the 250+ sf main room downstairs can sleep another two. Upstairs the hand-crafted wooden headboard, made from local maple, is a one-of-a-kind work of art that creates privacy for the queen-size master bed. It situated so it has incredible views of the surrounding mountains and enjoys morning sunrises and evening sunsets. At the opposite end of the room, the reading nook has a sheepskin-covered daybed that can be separated into two twins or turned into a king-sized bed at night. The couch in the lower living room converts into a comfortable queen size bed (plus a memory foam topper for those who want it). Though the room downstairs is only separated by the staircase, the downstairs sleeping area is private because of the layout of the house. All bed linens, towels, and pillows are hotel quality with both down and non-down options.
Our spa-like bathroom has a shower large enough for two with both rainfall and hand-held shower heads, plus a pebble floor to massage your feet. The sink is made from a hand-carved boulder and sits atop a spalted maple live-edge counter held up by a birch tree base harvested from our property. For those who want to bathe in the midst of Vermont's great outdoors, there is an outdoor shower that affords complete privacy and absolutely amazing views.
For food prep and dining, the kitchen -- with a KitchenAid dishwasher and Euro-fridge under-counter fridge/freezer (plus a full-sized fridge/freezer downstairs) -- is equipped with gourmet appliances, including 2 high-efficiency portable induction units, a full-sized microwave oven, a countertop oven large enough to roast a chicken, an 8-cup Instant Pot, a Cuisinart Griddler, an 18" All Clad electric skillet, a Ninja food processor/blender, a fondue pot, a waffle iron (with waffle mix), an abundance of herbs, and a well-stocked pantry (including organic EVOO and 18-year balsamic vinegar). Plus we provide locally roasted organic coffee beans, a grinder, and 3 ways to prepare coffee (drip, Aeropress, and french press), and a milk frother. An assortment of teas is provided too, of course. Best of all, however, is the dining atmosphere because there are incredible views from every window and a beautiful granite counter surrounded by comfortable leather bar stools. On the other side of the room, the Italian cherry dining room table with leather chairs amply seats 4 (and can seat 6 in a more cozy way). Note: The table is new and is not shown in the photos.
The living room, with a large propane fireplace and views in every direction, adjoins an 8'x20' deck with clear walls, providing an amazing place for outdoor living high up in the trees.
During warm weather, sleep under the stars on the sumptuous deck furniture; BBQ and dine the garden patio.
For your entertainment, the TV hooked is hooked up to DirecTV and has a Roku and DVD player. There is a high-quality Bluetooth speaker for your digital music. For some old-fashioned fun, there is a generous store of board games, books, and puzzles.
Guest Access
The whole guesthouse, including the deck, outdoor shower, and private side garden and patio are yours alone. Parking is available for up to two cars. Ask me if you need to bring more than two cars.
Interaction with Guests
During COVID-19, we are offering self-check-in. We live in the adjacent main house. While the homes are close to each other, both have complete privacy. We are semi-retired and work from home, so we're generally available to answer questions and provide any support you may need.
Additional Services
- Complimentary EV charging.
- We can help you arrange private, in-house massages and/or yoga classes. Extra cleaning and laundry services are available, at a fee, with 24-hour advance notice. We can also arrange to have your refrigerator stocked with fresh local delectables, including the much-sought-after, #1-rated beer in the US -- Heady Topper by the Alchemist -- which is brewed nearby and only sold in Vermont.
Things to Note
We have two tiny, young dogs (Waldo and Beso). They may bark when they first see you, but they are otherwise just bundles of wagging tails and soft, hypoallergenic fur. Sorry, we are not able to accommodate any visiting pets.
Neighborhood
While you'll feel like you're at the end of the world, Above the Clouds is conveniently located 10 minutes off I-89, 20 minutes from Sugarbush, 30 minutes from Stowe village (the ski area is another 10 minutes up the road), 20 minutes from Montpelier, and 45 minutes from Burlington. Plus the beer, coffee, cheese, and ice cream mecca of Waterbury is only 20 minutes away. Come summer, the food artisans and talented crafters at the Waitsfield Farmers Market attract people from far and wide, and there are many points of access to the nearby Long Trail and Catamount Trail. The Mad River, Waterbury Reservoir, Lake Champlain and more are nearby for water sports and world class fishing. Or you can start your outdoor adventures closer to home; paths that start on the property lead all over the mountain and are great for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Bicyclists have easy access to Vermont's picturesque Route 100 and many more off-the-beaten paths, roads, and trails. We maintain an extensive collection of books, magazines, local papers, maps and handouts about sites, tours, events, hikes and restaurants you can visit/enjoy while you are here. Plus, of course, we are always happy to make suggestions.
Getting Around
You'll definitely need a car to get here. Winter visitors will certainly want at least front-wheel drive and snow tires. Four wheel or all wheel drive cars are best for the winter but not always needed. During Vermont's mud season (generally from mid March through early April), however, AWD or 4WD are essential. If you're willing to put up with the mess of the mud, fresh maple syrup (and sugar on snow), as well as quiet-mountain and spring season skiing definitely make a mud season trek worth the adventure.
Additional Services
We can arrange private, in-house massages and/or yoga classes. Extra cleaning and laundry services are available, at a fee, with 24-hour advance notice. We can also arrange to have your refrigerator stocked with fresh local delectables, including the much-sought after, #1-rated beer in the US -- Hedy Topper by the Alchemist -- which is brewed nearby and only sold in Vermont.
Other Things to Note
Three tiny, elderly dogs live in the main house with Bob and me. They may bark when they first see you, but they are otherwise just bundles of waggling tails and soft, hypoallergenic fur. Sorry, we are not able to accommodate any visiting pets.
