It should probably be mentioned that the two of us are currently in a long distance relationship – not terribly distant, and luckily it’s between two of the biggest cities in the Northeast (translation: we are Amtrak regulars!) While we love the bustle of city life, some of our best weekends together take place in the sleepy, mountainous towns of New England. A perfect example was our recent trip to Vermont, where we stayed at the Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm. Tom is a big fan of snowboarding, and so it was the perfect excuse for a romantinc getaway. This establishment is advertised as “Vermont’s Best Wedding” location, but is luckily much more modest than that title would suggest. The location and facilities were ideal, and we couldn’t have had a more romantic experience. Additionally, it was our first time visiting Vermont…and we realized how much we LOVE the state (and maple syrup, because it really is better there).

Where History Meets Comfort
Quechee Inn has been around for a long time – the owners are quite proud of the Inn’s history, and have kept the facilities in great condition. The home was originally built in 1793, and belonged to one Colonel Joseph Marsh (the state’s first Lieutenant Governor). Today, it has been refurbished with what we lovingly call “mod cons” – each room has a private bath, television, and a temperature control panel. WiFi was practically nonexistant, but we didn’t mind – the mountains are no place to be checking your Facebook newsfeed. The front lounge is reminiscent of a hunting lodge – the ceiling is vaulted with wooden rafters, and comfortable chairs of varying sizes are casually arranged around the room. A stone fireplace is situated near the entrance, and is kept burning all winter long. It’s the perfect place to unwind with your S.O. and a glass of wine by the cozy warmth.

Hitting the Snow
The Quechee Inn is just 30 miles away from one of Vermont’s largest Ski Resorts: Killington Mountain. For those who don’t want to hit big resort crowds and even bigger ticket prices, there’s Killington’s “baby brother” resort, Pico Mountain (pictured at the top of this article). Thanks to a Gilt City voucher, we learned all about Pico: with 7 lifts, 52 trails, and steeper runs towards the summit. The lodge has standard cafeteria-style ski food, but a charming A-frame bar on the third floor with good live music (local guys, no doubt). We warmed up by the large stone fireplace with Irish coffee, before hitting the slopes again…

The drive to the resort is breathtaking – you pass a wide stream bed, hemmed in by snowy mountains and the lingering aroma of maple syrup. As far as the Northeast goes, this is isolated as you can hope to get a mere 2-hour drive from Boston.  Coming back from Pico, we stopped by the Long Trail Brewery – Tom had a tall IPA, and Anne grabbed an amber ale. The cold was a little brutal, but it was a wonderful way to build excitement for a cozy room and a warm bed at the end of the day.

“Food, Food, Glorious Food”
We purchased a packaged deal that provided us two nights, two breakfasts, and a three-course meal for two. We are both huge foodies, so we’re often critical when in comes to in-house eateries. This place was by and far one of the best experiences we’ve had – to start, the breakfasts were stellar. Fluffy eggs and perfectly round pancakes can’t be beat on a cold winter morning. Friendly mountain service complements your buffet-style, maple syrup-laden breakfast – and the coffee is bottomless…which was dangerous for our purposes. As for the dinner, it exceeded all of our expectations – Tom ordered a rack of lamb, and Anne ordered the Bouillabaise (Fish Stew). We were so stuffed after the fact that dessert seemed like too much…but we ate our respective cheesecake and tiramisu with eventual panache.

Summing it all up
This a great way to trade the rigors of city life for the wholly more enjoyable rigors of a fireplace, bottle of wine, and a king bed. All too often we’re bombarded by information, the sensory overload, and the tyranny of social media, smart phones and email accounts. A weekend adventure like this can wash away all those superfluous HD screens and narrow the focus to what really matters: your connection to that most significant other. Definitely check this place out if you’re headed to (or interested in visiting) Vermont. Click HERE to visit their website.

Earlier this month, we traveled an hour shy of Arcadia National Park for a two-night stay in the Lodge at Camden Hills. Camden, Maine is a small, coastal town with plenty of character and tons to offer. The two of us have stayed at a lot of B&B’s over the past year – we’re always on the lookout for a good deal, and sites like Groupon and Living Social are often our best friends. We happened across a deal for the Lodge at Camden Hills in Camden, ME and thought it too good an offer to refuse. It was a memorable weekend, and the perfect way to spend a romantic weekend. Here’s the rundown of what’s included:

Like a Home Away from Home
The room was amazing – larger than most, and perfectly comfortable for two (or three, if that’s your style). One thing worth noting is the separation of bedroom and living space. For some this may not be of importance, but it’s a major perk if you or your S.O. is an earlier riser. The space was what one might call “New England chic” – it’s essentially an apartment with a B&B flair (decor-wise: food is not included in your stay). The layout is ideal – it doesn’t feel crowded, and the delineation between the living space, bathroom, and bedroom is well-organized.

Things to do outside of the bedroom…
Inevitably there will come a time when you and your partner need to recuperate, replenish or rekindle the romance before the evening ahead. Camden boasts a small ski hill called Camden Snowbowl very close to the town, which is set up for tobogganing and many other fun ways to tumble around in the snow together. In Spring/Summer Camden Hills State Park offers 30 odd miles of hiking trails and more than a few campsites, in case you feel like sticking around. The nearby towns of Rockport and Lincolnville can also arrange deep sea fishing trips. For the more casual excursion, we found a great little pub named Cappy’s, with a very friendly atmosphere and weekend seating with bay views. The bartender was extremely welcoming, and had nothing but great things to say about Camden. We got free popcorn (which Anne loves!) and buffalo chicken wings as well.

Moral of the story – we absolutely recommend this getaway! Everything from the amenities to the hospitality (Kelly is fantastic!) to the adorable town of Camden made this the perfect escape. You can access the website for the lodge HERE. 

We love to get away as a couple. It can’t happen every weekend, or even every month – but when it does, we know it has to be unforgettable. Whatever stage your relationship is at – whether you are just discovering one another or have been married for years – getting away from it all is a magical experience that lends perspective to your partnership. We all relish the possibility of shutting out the world, and take an adventure with the one we love. Seclusion and comfort are the ideal, and the options are many. This blog, Bed & Breathless, was inspired by the romantic getaways that the two of us have had over the past year and half, and the desire to share those insights with other couples. This blog is about sharing ideas for getting away – we believe that the experience is worth the investment – in fact, we often choose romantic getaways over traditional gifts on special occasions. If this sounds like your relationship, check back for regular postings of possible romantic adventures in 2014!

– Anne & Tom