What to expect: Set in the heart of Vermont's Green Mountains, Cortina Inn and Resort occupies 32 landscaped acres with gardens, woods, and a pond. The two-story lobby welcomes guests with lounge chairs and one of five open-hearth fireplaces scattered throughout the hotel's public areas. Offering year-round recreation, the inn is popular with leisure travelers, motorcoach tours, and senior groups.

Amenity highlights: Leisure options include an indoor pool, eight tennis courts, and a fitness center with cardio and weight equipment. Tennis and fly-fishing lessons are available on site (surcharges). In winter, the inn offers sleigh rides, ice skating, and complimentary use of snowshoes. On-site dining options include a Mediterranean grill and a casual pub.

Insider tip: Completed in 1930, the Long Trail is the nation's oldest long-distance trail. The 270-mile footpath, with 175 miles of side trails, traverses the spine of Vermont from Massachusetts to the Canadian border. The Long Trail was the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail, with which it coincides for 100 miles in southern Vermont. The trails pass just one mile from Cortina Inn.