Comfy Cozy

Hi, Friends! Today, I’m thinking back to 10 years ago when I traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark with two of my best pals, Kim and Gina. The three of us were celebrating our 40th birthdays and we thought, “let’s go to Scandinavia in the winter time!” What can I say, tickets were on the cheaper side for that time of year! We traded the typical tropical beach celebration for a cozy, winter wonderland, and it did not disappoint. 

Hygge is best experienced with friends

Copenhagen is a lively, beautiful city filled with colorfully painted buildings along canals populated with houseboats. Home to Hans Christian Andersen and the LEGO headquarters, it’s where I learned about the concept of hygge, the Danish word for…well, it doesn’t have an exact English translation. The Danish will tell you it’s like a cozy, warm gathering of friends and the feeling that evokes. It’s a state of mind, one that particularly resonates in cold weather. Notice the definition Gina captured in a shop window during our trip.

A Danish shop window

Winter in Vermont has its own language of comfort. It’s the way a snowy morning slows the world just enough to notice the steam rising from a mug, or how neighbors linger a little longer in doorways when the cold sets in. Vermont’s version of hygge is shaped by the comfort of a well-worn flannel, the ritual of tending to the woodstove, and the promise of a hard-earned après ski hangout on the mountain. It’s not about escaping the cold so much as welcoming it in on your own terms.

A hygge hug in Copenhagen

As I thought about ways to capture the hygge spirit here in Southern Vermont, my friend, Renée, told me of a newly opened spa in Dorset. Hygge Wellness Spa is translating Vermont’s brand of cozy contentment into a space designed for deep exhale moments. To me, it’s the perfect name for a spa, because I’m looking for cozy, comforting contentment all year long, not just in the height of winter. Massages, skin care, an infrared sauna, and more. All that sounds pretty snug and cozy to me!

A Copenhagen canal

Before or after the spa, pop over to The Dorset Inn & Restaurant for effortless comfort. It’s upscale dining in a super-relaxed, classic Vermont inn. Get a spot by the fireplace in the Tavern or in the historic Main Dining Room and indulge in delicious seasonal fare.

Or, gather at the homestead with loved ones to have a snack, a beer, or a hot chocolate. Relaxation, ease, warmth, and smiles…that’s the hygge way!

Hygge Wellness Spa

Seasonal comfort food by the fireside at The Dorset Inn & Restaurant