We recently kicked off our summer vacation in Vermont at the Basin Harbor Club, located in Vergennes on Lake Champlain. We picked up the boys from school and headed north to Vermont, and fell in love with the Basin Harbor Club from the moment we drove onto the property! Many families return year after year to the Basin Harbor Club, and I think we are going to be one of them! 🙂
About Basin Harbor Club
The Basin Harbor Club (BHC) is a seasonal resort located on the shores of Lake Champlain. Open from May through October, the resort has 77 individual cottages and 47 guest rooms on 700 acres! The BHC is owned by the Beach family (the fourth generation of its original owners!). The family ownership definitely gives the resort a warm, welcoming feeling– like returning to a home away from home!
Accommodations
When you visit the Basin Harbor Club, you can opt for a guest room or your own individual cottage. The cottages were built in the 1920s and 1930s, and they were inspired by floor plans contributed by BHC guests! What you will find in your cottage: complimentary WiFi, refrigerator and coffeemaker and in most cottages a fireplace and deck or screened in porch. One thing I was excited NOT to find in our cottage: a television!
One of the many things I love about Vermont (and BHC!) is the focus on green living. At the Basin Harbor Club, they have their own sustainability initiative: the B.A.S.I.N. Project, which is focused on composting, providing charging for electric vehicles, forestry planning, energy efficiency and renewability.
We loved having our own little cottage with a view of the lake, it was so relaxing and peaceful, in addition to being within easy walking distance to everything we wanted to do on the property. If you have pet, the BHC is pet-friendly. We passed so many great little areas for exercising your dog– they can even swim at their own beach (Fanny’s Beach). If you want to bring your pet, there is a $15 daily fee.
Outdoor Activities
I could go on forever with the list of outdoor activities available at the Basin Harbor Club. With 700 acres of outdoor space, there are so many things to do. You can rent bikes to get around the property, and it’s a great way to get exercise throughout the day! There is swimming in Lake Champlain– where you can head out to the trampoline!
When you head down to the lakefront, you can use paddle boards, paddle boats, kayaks and canoes. There are also tennis courts and a golf course (18-hole championship course). For the kids, there is an AWESOME play area near the kids’ camp that has several playground structures, large ride-on toys and a sand box!
If mountain biking is your thing, there is a great mountain bike trail, in addition to many trails for hiking.
We took a trip on the EScape for a 90-minute trip around Lake Champlain. The tour was guided by Captain Jeff, who shared with us the history of Lake Champlain and guided us along the Palisades, pointing out interesting sights along the way. We even got to see a bald eagle nest (complete with eaglets!) and a peregrine falcon perched on the palisades.
Kids’ Camp
If you want to send the kids (ages 3 to 17) to camp while you are on vacation, there are daily options for five different age groups. You can choose from 9:30-1:30 p.m. and/or 5:30-9:00 p.m. The afternoon is left open to encourage families to spend time together on the property. Kids’ camp runs from mid-June through Labor Day, and your child(ren) will enjoy making arts and crafts, fishing, hiking and so much more!
Dining
There are several different dining options available at the Basin Harbor Club. If you prefer a more formal dining experience, you can dine in the Main Dining Room, under the culinary direction of Executive Chef Christian Kruse. If you’re looking for a more casual (yet equally tasty!) option, try the Red Mill restaurant.
During our stay, we took full advantage of the morning breakfast in the dining room– a full breakfast buffet with everything from hot items to yogurt to pastries and cereal. You can enjoy a beautiful morning view of Lake Champlain while having breakfast. It was picture-perfect!
We had dinner at the Red Mill our second night at the resort, and we absolutely loved the fact that there is a playground right outside the large picture windows of the dining room! The kids can play while they wait for dinner and the parents get a little peace and quiet while they enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail. Does it get any better?! The food was great, as was the service. The menu had a little something for everyone.
Nearby Attractions
If you want to explore other nearby attractions, you can visit the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, the Dar John Strong Mansion Museum, Crown Point State Historic Site, Fort Ticonderoga, Mount Defiance, the Mount Independence Historic Site and Chimney Point State Historic Site. The town of Vergennes is also a great little spot for shopping and dining, and it’s about a 5-10 minute drive.
Overall Impressions
We absolutely loved our stay at the Basin Harbor Club, and we can’t wait to go back to Vermont next summer. I can see why families return year after year to make memories there. Not only does it offer beautiful scenery, it encourages all of its guests (including the kids!) to get outside and enjoy nature and each other. We had a wonderful time as a family, and everyone wished we could have stayed longer!
I think the Basin Harbor Club is a great option for all types of families, especially those with younger children– there is something for everyone of all ages, whether it’s playing with sand toys on the shores of Lake Champlain or playing 18 holes of golf! For more information on booking a stay at the Basin Harbor Club, click HERE.
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