The Windham Hill Inn in Southern Vermont is one of the most charming inns I’ve come across. Set amongst the rolling hills of the Green Mountains, the Inn enjoys spectacular undisturbed views down the West River Valley. In addition to the 160 acres of property, meadows and woodlands, their grounds include a network of hiking and skiing trails, a heated swimming pool, tennis court, gardens and many places to lounge and relax in the main house and the nearby barn, which has been renovated. Below is one of the lounge areas in the main house and yes, the black bear is as big as he looks.
Traditionally decorated in true New England style, it’s as if you travel back in time as you meander from one room to the next.
As they say, it’s all in the details and the team at Windham Hill Inn have mastered it.
The Inn is part of the exclusive Relais & Châteaux collection, which as luxury travel buffs know, is a directory of the finest hotels and gourmet restaurants in the world. It is also a sister property to the White Barn Inn and Spa Relais & Châteaux in Kennebunk, Maine.
Let’s travel outside the main house, shall we?
Marion Goodfellow Suite in the White Barn
Located on the third floor of the White Barn, this light and airy suite offers a large deck in addition to a private cupola window seat with a 360-degree view. The combination of country prints, textures and décor blends with gorgeous hardwood floors and a carved wood bookshelf. This large loft suite is fitted with a locally crafted cherry king size bed, writing desk, sitting area and brick surround gas fireplace with carved wood mantle. The room is fitted with a spacious en suite bathroom with soaking tub and shower.
North Loft: White Barn
Our weekend was spent in this expansive loft room on the third floor of the White Barn, which is the most secluded room on the property with the exception of the standalone cottage (photos below). The North Loft has its own private staircase and entrance on the second floor. It is decorated in soft peaches and cream tones with Victorian shades of blue and gray and has old fashioned books, games and a sitting area, with a deck that faces view of the valley.
The suite is fitted with a four-poster king size bed, a sofa and arm chair and brick surround gas fireplace, which we used every night. One of the best features of the room is the large sunken en suite bathroom; fitted with a skylight, Jacuzzi and separate shower.
One of their most popular rooms, the Meadowlark is a loft is located on the third floor of the White Barn and offers wraparound views. The room exudes pure rugged beauty and is decorated in a luxuriously rustic décor of red and green tartan, fitted with a king size handcrafted canopy bed, raised stone hearth gas fireplace, comfy sitting area and a large private deck.
The Cottage (Inside the House)
Fine bath toiletries by Molton Brown are provided and thick terry robes, bath towels, and hair dryers are available. Guests may engage the inn’s Executive Chef for cooking demonstrations in their kitchen, enjoy the fine dining restaurant on property, and hike, snowshoe, bike or ski the 4.8 miles of unruffled trails. The cottage is ideal for families with children over the age of 8 years.
Outside the Inn is just as charming as inside, especially right after it snows.
Surrounded by Nature:
The Inn is surrounded by nature, so regardless of season, the views are stunning. If you’re after a little serenity, this is an ideal place to go. I felt as if I had escaped the rest of the world and all of the stresses that go along with it. Given that I tend to think of Vermont as a summer and fall destination, I was pleasantly surprised just how beautiful it was during the winter months.
The Windham Hill Inn Restaurant:
There’s no need to get in your car when you have access to restaurant with a culinary team like this one. From fois gras, fish and lamb to filet mignon, duck and rabbit, there’s plenty on the menu to get you excited about dining here. Be sure to check out our extensive write up on the restaurant with photos and dishes, a post you won’t want to read when you’re hungry.
The dining room is charming and where they serve breakfast as well as dinner every night.
They also offer a private dining room if you wish to reserve it in advance for a small party or your family. Both are located in the main house on the property.
Snowshoes & Nearby Skiing:
Stratton Mountain is only about a 20 minute drive (we did it twice), so while the inn isn’t around the corner from the main village, it’s close enough to make it an option for a ski weekend getaway or a romantic one. In addition to skiing, Stratton Mountain offers scenic gondola rides to the top of the mountain with spectacular views, particularly in fall foliage season.
Windham Hill Inn has complimentary snowshoes on site for guests who wish to explore nearby trails. And, no they’re not the old fashioned wooden kind that are draped to the outside of the snowshoe shed :-)
Their snowshoes are modern and durable, but it doesn’t mean it’s any easier to use them if you haven’t done it in awhile. Trust me, I made a clown of myself on more than one occasion making the attempt, but it was ohhh so much fun!
Even without the snowshoes, it’s hard not to be filled with gratitude when surrounded by such stunning nature and wildlife.
Other Activities:
See our round-up on things to do and where to go in Southern Vermont which outlines everything from museums and art galleries to theaters and country stores. (Thanks to Katja for providing us with this list and a host of other ideas – she is by far one of the most gracious and helpful innkeepers and hosts you’ll ever come across in your travels).
Downtown Brattleboro is only 22 miles south on Route 30, where you can visit the Brattleboro Food Co-Op, which offers a variety of delicious food, including Vermont cheeses. Downtown, there are also dozens of shops, galleries and restaurants and on the property, they have a small gift shop in the main house where you can purchase crafts from Germany’s Erzgebirge region.
Windham Hill Inn offers afternoon tea in the sunroom from 1 to 6 pm daily and their cocktail hour begins at 5:30 pm at the bar where you can sample various cheese selections from Vermont. (great news for dairy sufferers – they offer goat cheese as well as cow cheese). Yum!!!
Have a Massage:
While they don’t have a full spa on-site, they do have an area dedicated to massage with two massage therapists (a husband/wife team with decades of experience) on the premises. Located in the barn in a downstairs rustic wing, two full rooms and a bathroom are dedicated to treatments.
They offer Swedish Massage designed for those seeking to relax muscle tension and free the mind and reduce stress as well as Deep Tissue Massage which is designed as a strong invigorating massage to ease muscle soreness and tired joints. Both are offered in 60 and 90 minute increments.
Getting There:
Windham Hill Inn is located north of West Townshend on the road to Windham, approximately 1 1/2 miles from Vermont Route 30.
Northbound on Route 30
From northbound I-91, take Exit 2 at Brattleboro. Follow the “To Route 30″ signs into Brattleboro and take Route 30 approximately 23 miles northwest to West Townshend. Three-tenths of a mile beyond the Windham Hill Inn sign you see entering West Townshend, turn right (opposite the West Townshend Post Office) and continue 1 1/4 miles to the access road on your right, just after the mailboxes.
Southbound on Route 30
1/2 mile beyond the Windham Hill Inn sign entering West Townshend, turn left (opposite the West Townshend Post Office) and continue 1 1/4 miles to the access road on your right, just after the mailboxes.
- New York City – 200 miles, 4 ½ hours
- Boston (Logan Airport) – 140 miles, 3+ hours
- Hartford (Bradley Airport) – 100 miles, 2 hours
- Albany – 90 miles, 2 hours
- Rutland Airport – 60 miles, 1 ¼ hours
- Springfield,VT Airport – 25 miles, ¾ hour
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
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