Field Guide

Hotels in the Northeast tend to be a fairly traditional lot, stylistically speaking, and you can’t fault them for being proud of their heritage. And Stowe, Vermont trades heavily on tradition as well, with a history that long predates the bigger ski resorts out west. There are some hoteliers, though, who are willing to swim upstream. Lark Hotels is a regional brand, but one with national ambitions, and Field Guide is proof that their concept works: its colorful, contemporary, modernist-inspired design turns out to be a perfect fit for this classic New England mountain town.

It’s a renovation of an existing hotel, and while its exteriors don’t make a fuss, it’s all about the interiors. The rooms and suites are a sort of rustic-chic, with high-end comforts like plush linens and in-room iPads; as you move up the scale you’ll accumulate extras like AppleTV, gas fireplaces, or soaking tubs.