Summer fun in the USofA
By Patti Pietschmann, Travel Diva
The Leta courtesy Spire Hotels
If you can afford it, or don't feel like the hassle of flying to a foreign destination this summer, here are a few sun spots from Sana Barbara, California to Vermont and Lake Placid, New York to consider.
The Leta--southern California comfort
If your idea of the ultimate Southern California retreat is longboards, poolside cocktails and coastal cuisine, you've found your place in the sun at one of the best Santa Barbara hotels around. At The Leta, they have a Golden State of Mind attitude, surf-inspired décor, and eclectic accommodations, plus a passion for music shared through their VNYL record shop and live music scene. All of their eccentric, laid back touches will no doubt have guests enjoying the good life, one day at a time.
The 158-room property is ideally located. It exudes a cool, hip, carefree Californian vibe with its artful, quirky and soulful vibes. Local art, music, food and wine are at home here and the hotel boasts 6,000 square feet of meeting space welcoming locals and out of town guests alike for one-of-a-kind meetings and events. The charming beach chic hotel in Goleta is also pet friendly.
High Peaks Resort sits in the heart of Lake Placid making it ideal for exploring the Adirondacks. Guests can choose from three unique lodging experiences overlooking Mirror Lake and the Adirondack mountains: The Resort hosts a traditional hotel with 105 newly renovated guest rooms; the modern retro-vibe Lake House with 44 rooms; and the private and serene 28-room, 10-suite Waterfront Collection, on the shores of Mirror Lake.
Health and fitness options include two indoor and two outdoor heated pools, an indoor Jacuzzi, a fully equipped fitness center and the Spa & Salon at High Peaks Resort. Dining is at the Dancing Bears Restaurant, which is rated one of the top restaurants in Lake Placid.
Hotel guests have private access to Mirror Lake with complimentary use of kayaks, paddle boats and stand-up paddleboards. There's also a myriad of activities such as yoga at the waterfront and birds of prey demonstrations.
An outdoor barbecue, a fire pit (with complimentary s’mores), lawn games, sweeping views of the Adirondack mountains and close proximity to the region’s top attractions and activities such as the Lake Placid Olympic Sites, Whiteface Mountain, The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, High Falls Gorge, Ausable Chasm, and numerous hiking trails, kayaking, boating and more in the Adirondack Park. High Peaks Resort is also within walking distance to shopping, dining and entertainment in downtown Lake Placid. Dogs are welcome, with special canine-friendly treats and amenities.
Topnotch Resort--this AAA Four-Diamond set on 120 acres of woodland at the foot of Mount Mansfield, is located between Stowe village and Stowe Mountain Resort. It's within 35 miles of popular ski resorts: Smugglers’ Notch, Sugar Bush, Mad River Glen and Bolton Valley).
The resort houses 68 guest rooms and 17 two- and three-bedroom resort homes that provide private and very socially distant experience. Guests enjoy Vermont fresh farm-to-table dining at The Roost.
There's also the Topnotch Tennis Academy (ranked one of the top 10 tennis resorts in the country, that offers more than 30 programs for all ages and levels of play on six seasons outdoor and four indoor hard courts. ]
Pampering happens at the 35,000 square foot Topnotch Spa while exercise is available on mountain bikes, hikes, in three indoor and outdoor heated pools or the Equestrian Center at Topnotch. The Fido-friendly resort offers with dog beds, CBD treats and special canine turndown service and spa treatments. Topnotch is a short drive away from Stowe Village, featuring many locally owned shops and an array of restaurants, music and art galleries.
About Spire Hospitality
Spire Hospitality, led by CEO Chris Russell, is a third-party operator of 7,033 room keys and over 350,000 square feet of meeting space across 20 states. The Spire portfolio, with a focus on large, full-service hotels, includes unique independent properties and premier branded assets across Hilton Hotels & Resorts (HLT), Marriott International (MAR) and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), including 29 hotels and resorts. Spire Hospitality offers expertise in all facets of hospitality management and is committed to preserving, protecting and enhancing the value of hotel real estate. www.spirehotels.com.
