Small Town Charm: Quechee and Woodstock, Vermont
I’ve had this location on my to-do list for a while. It all started with the idea of a road trip across New England. Last year I visited all along the East Coast to include North and South Carolina, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island (here and here). I love carving out travels into my schedule and if you plan ahead you can easily take a four-day weekend to view more than one state. I’ll be sharing more about the trip in future posts, but wanted to start with my favorite city during the stay.
Woodstock is a really charming city. As we drove in from New Hampshire we went ahead and stopped at the Quechee Gorge which is a vast and expansive site to see. You literally drive over the bridge and can park right there. Since it was snowing up to the knee I sported my Hunter boots to trek through the snow. I’ve worn these guys a bunch through rain, snow up in Rhode Island last year and the last camping trip I went on. I even wore them on my last sister trip in early September. They are a bit of an investment, but are warm with socks and still look brand new.
Outfit #1: Shop the Look:
After taking many pictures, it was time to head into the city to check into the inn. When planning accommodations, I thought it would be fun to stay at historic places. The Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm about 6 miles north of Woodstock is actually the home to the Governor James Marsh from 1793. It has 24 rooms, a bar and full restaurant. The property is magical with a roaring fire in the lodge and the snow covered like a white blanket over the earth.
That evening after a quick change of clothes we drove into Woodstock for dinner and a little sightseeing before the chill of the night set in. The Butternut Squash Ravioli and Robie Farm Bacon Cheeseburger were the most delicious selections at Bentley’s Restaurant right in the heart of the village square. After a short walk we headed back to the inn for late night dinner and desert. The lodge area was decorated with rustic wooden beams and lots of plaid. After ordering delicious sea salt caramel ice cream and berry cobbler it was time to retire for the evening.
Outfit #2 - Shop the Look:
The next morning, we arose to a lovely made to order breakfast complete with the most delicious pancakes. Seriously, probably some of the best I’ve ever had. The lighting in the place was beautiful and the staff was really helpful. After stuffing my belly, we headed out to explore the property before packing up. The red barn is not part of the inn, but was lovely. The inn has an upstairs balcony with rocking chairs and easy access no matter when you are to reach outside.
Heading back to Woodstock to see it during the daytime we stumbled upon a really adorable bookstore, souvenir shop and then took pictures of the delightful town. After doing some research I noticed that Sugarbush Farm kept showing up over and over on blogs, trip advisor and is listed as one of the top things to do! I had to see what all this talk about cheese was. The farm is about a 15-minute drive from Woodstock and was the highlight of my trip. They offer free tastings of cheese and the cheese will last at room temperature for a few days if you are traveling. They also have a few trails you can take up or down the hill with beautiful horses and scenic views.
Outfit #3: Shop the Look:
The next stop along the way was the Vermont Antique Mall. I love spending hours searching up and down antique shelves looking for something rare. The antique mall is connected to the Cabot Cheese Store with lots of goodies to take back. Finally, we made it to the Vermont Sprits Distillery. They offer a free gin, vodka and whiskey tasting but you can’t ship anything over state lines. Wishing I had packed another suitcase to fly it home with me, instead I enjoyed learning about the process and different fruits they use to make their distinct flavors. If you are in Quechee or Woodstock give them a chance! Lisa spent ample time talking about each type of liquor and the process it was undertaken to create. This being the last stop before heading out of the state and I have to say I’ll be returning back to Vermont!
