Growing up, I was a huge fan of the movie Dirty Dancing. Kellerman Resort, the camp where Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Gray) and Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) met, always seemed like the ideal getaway to me. It was a family-friendly summer destination with plenty of activities, family-style meals, and entertainment. And it was located on a serene lake surrounded by natural beauty and peace and quiet. Fast forward to 2019 and season two of the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, another one of my favorites. Steiner Resort, a similar family retreat and camp in the Catskills, made me long for a similar getaway – a destination where you can park your car and simply be outdoors with your favorite people.

So when Basin Harbor, located on Lake Champlain, invited us for a stay this summer, we packed out bags and headed for the lake. We spend most of our summer weekends boating on Lake Champlain, so we were excited to experience a different part of the lake than we frequent. I, in particular, was so eager to live out my own Dirty Dancing meets the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel vacation and “have the time of my life…” (Okay, okay, enough with Dirty Dancing!) Read on to learn more about this special property and our memorable stay. We can’t wait to go back and make it an annual tradition (especially once we have babies in tow!).

It truly is the perfect balance of playtime, relaxation, and beauty, all in the most idyllic of Vermont settings.

The History of the Lake Champlain Resort: Basin Harbor

Set on Lake Champlain just outside of Vergennes, the smallest city in Vermont, Basin Harbor has been operating since 1886. Additionally, it’s been a member of the Historic Hotels of America since 1999. Quite amazingly, the property has stayed in the same family since its opening. It’s now operated by the fourth generation owners, Pennie Beach and Bob Beach, who strive to maintain the authenticity, legacy, and history of Basin Harbor.

Read about the full, in-depth history and transformation of the resort here. It’s so cool to think that families and couples have been enjoying summer vacations in Vermont for literally hundreds of years.

The Accommodations at Basin Harbor

The resort has 74 private, unique cottages, tucked away on secluded ledges overlooking Lake Champlain and in the woods, scattered around the property, as well as rooms in the main hotel. No cottage is the same as the next. Many of the cottages have been updated in the past few years. They now boast modern furnishings, while still maintaining a quaint cottage feel. I love that none of the accommodations include televisions. Instead, bring a book, a deck of cards, or sit outside by the bonfire and enjoy a rare moment of technology-free relaxation.

We stayed in Westwind, a one-bedroom cottage at the north-end of the property. There was a large sitting room with gorgeous views of the lake and the mountains. The waves lapping the cliff below us certainly would have lulled me to sleep if it hadn’t been in the high ’90s during our stay (yes, thank goodness there was air conditioning). I loved getting up early when the sun was just beginning to shine and doing a loop of the property. It was perfectly quiet and idyllic with just a flutter of birds in the distance and the occasional guest taking their dog for a morning stroll.

A Dog Friendly Resort: Basin Harbor

Additionally, many of the accommodations are dog friendly at Basin Harbor. The staff will give you a sign to stick on your door and a goodie bag for your pup. There’s no guilt in leaving your best friend at home for summer vacation with your family. If you’re not bringing your dog, ensure you meet the resort owners’ Golden Retrievers: Piper and Rosie you can see around the property.

Dining Options at Basin Harbor

If you’re a foodie, you’re in for a treat at Basin Harbor. There are a number of dining options, from the more casual, locals’ Red Mill Restaurant to Ardelia’s for a fancier meal to dinners at the North Dock throughout the summer. There’s even the Burgee Bar, where bartenders will whip you up a cocktail on the shores of Lake Champlain. I’ve frequented the Red Mill Restaurant many times as a Vermonter and look forward to dropping by every summer.

As a guest a Basin Harbor, like at many other summer camp resorts, you can pick a meal plan to suit you:

• BB – Breakfast only
• MAP – Breakfast and dinner
• FAP – All three meals

During our stay, we opted to have a late lunch at Red Mill after a morning touring near-by Fort Ticonderoga. After a morning on foot, I devoured a delicious lobster roll, overflowing with lobster meat, and a local beer to quench my thirst. Nick has a massive plate of Fish Tacos. Needless to say, we were happy we had a 7:30pm reservation for dinner and a few games of badminton to burn off some of the calories we consumed.

Red Mill vs. Ardelia’s at Basin Harbor

Although we were tempted by the Summer Saturday Buffet at Ardelia’s, we were tuckered out from our adventures during the day. So we went back to Red Mill for wingers, burgers, and chicken and waffles. I’m a big fan of casual eateries with homey decor. Red Mill delivers. There’s a distinct welcomeness and energy that I really enjoy. Red Mill’s servers, along with the entire staff at Basin Harbor, hail from around the world. I love hearing an accent and trying to place it. Our bartender at lunch was from Alabama. And our server at dinner was from South Africa. If it’s quiet, it’s fun to ask them about their lives back home and what brought them to Basin Harbor and Vermont for the summer. I love that Red Mill is a true locals’ spot in the summer months.

Ardelia’s is a beautiful, more elevated and sophisticated dining option located just off of the main building and is named after the founder of Basin Harbor, Ardelia Beach. On Saturdays in the summer, they offer an extensive buffer. Breakfast is also served in Ardelia’s. The North Dock Dinners feature fun dining al fresco during the summer, such as a Thursday night Old Fashioned Lobster Dinner and Tuesday night carnival games and s’mores at the campfire.

Outdoor Recreation & Activities at Basin Harbor

Every day of the year, there are over 132 activities you can partake in while staying at Basin Harbor. From a massage at the spa to a game of golf to water sports, tennis, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboating, and biking, there are plenty of fun family-friendly activities for sunny summer days (or the occasional rainy day for relaxation). Once we have kids, I can definitely see us coming for a week. Basin Harbor even offers a day-camp for kids, so the adults can enjoy some well-deserved “me time”.

We wished our trip had been longer to be able to take full advantage of all of the outdoor recreation opportunities at Basin Harbor. We did, however, play badminton for a few hours before dinner, a good way to work up an appetite for dinner.

Here are 9 ideas of activities to experience:

1. Play a Game of Life-Sized Chess

Don’t miss Basin Harbor’s life-sized chess board, located near the Gate House. Challenge your kids or partner to a game. The huge board and chess pieces make for fun photos as well!

2. Take Photos in the Oversized Adirondack Chairs

What’s more Vermonty than an oversized Adirondack chair overlooking Lake Champlain and the mountains? Basin Harbor has uniquely shaped Adirondack chairs scattered around the property. Don’t miss the two oversized ones in blue and yellow near the beach!

3. Go on a Shipwreck Tour on the EScape

Basin Harbor has their own boat that takes guests on leisurely tours of Lake Champlain. They even offer a special tour to visit a wooden shipwreck, one of 300 in the Lake, using a Remotely Operated Vehicle, essentially a robotic camera. Not into shipwrecks? They also offer a Narrated EScape Cruise, that discusses the rich history in the area and visits local eagle and osprey nests.

4. Love Honey? Take an Apiary Tour

If you’re interested in beekeeping, Basin Harbor offers bee hive tours with fourth generation host, Pennie Beach. Ensure you schedule a tour on a bright and sunny day when bees are the most active.

5. Challenge Your Friends and Family to a Game of Knockerball

For kids and adults alike, knockerball is a riot. Get suited in a large inflatable ball or bubble play until the last person is standing. Meet at the Red Mill Field to play!

6. Cool Off with a Creemee at the Harbor Store

Located by the beach and marina, the Harbor Store offers snacks, drinks, and a variety of sweatshirts, sunscreen, and other things you might be looking for while on site. They also sell creemees, which are a quintessential Vermont experience that can’t be missed.

7. Explore Lake Champlain

Basin Harbor offers so many options for getting out on the lake. You can rent a power boat or pontoon boat (just ensure you know how to dock a boat and heed buoys while out). If you’re up for some exercise, rent a kayak, canoe, paddle board, or paddleboat.

8. Swim in the Designated Beach Area & Enjoy the Water Trampoline

Not far from the beach, Basin Harbor offers two water trampolines, which are a hit for kids and adults alike. Get out and become a kid again by partaking in all of the water sports available.

9. Enjoy a Basin Harbor + Shacksbury Rose Cider While Enjoying a Sunset

Located in nearby Vergennes, Shacksbury is one of Vermont’s most popular hard cideries. They paired up for a unique collaboration that’s refreshing and just a hint sweet. It’s perfectly paired with a cheese plate and a Vermont sunset.

Tips for Visiting Basin Harbor Like a Local

• Before you go, check out the resort map so you can orient yourself with your cottage, the beach, the restaurants on the property, tennis courts, and the pool.
• In the height of the summer, the restaurants on the property get very busy. I would ensure you make reservations ahead of time, so you don’t get stressed over having to wait for dinner.
• Wondering how to get to Basin Harbor? You can arrive by plane in their airstrip or by boat – just let the marina know ahead of time to save you a slip.
• In staying at a green property important to you? Basin Harbor is striving to reduce their carbon footprint. They are a member of Green Hotels in the Green Mountain State. They also compost all food waste, heat the outdoor pool with solar panels, and have an efficiency program using solar and bio-fuel, among many other initiatives.
• In their commitment to being as local as possible, Basin Harbor supports local farmers by using their food in all of the restaurants on site.
• If you’re planning on dining in Ardelia’s, plan accordingly. Although they don’t require a blazer for meals any longer, shorts aren’t permitted.

BASIN HARBOR

4800 Basin Harbor Road
Vergennes, VT 05491
stay@basinharbor.com

*We received a complimentary night’s stay and meals at Basin Harbor. All opinions are our own.

Save this post for future reference on Pinterest!