If your idea of the perfect Vermont day involves colorful foliage or snow-covered ski trails, well…you’re not wrong. And while we love those iconic experiences as much as the next person, summer there—when the weather is near perfect and the outdoor experiences practically endless—feels under-the-radar in the best way.
“Summer in Vermont truly embodies outdoor living!,” says Elaine Olson, Interim President at the Woodstock Inn & Resort in Woodstock, VT. “From the endless activities to the comfortable relaxation, the fresh food and drinks to the beautiful weather and landscape, during a Vermont summer, you’ll want to enjoy this all while spending time outside.”
And the 142-room hotel itself, which is about a four-hour drive from Fairfield County, offers plenty of those activities. That, along with its ideal location in Vermont’s Green Mountains, make it a great option if you’re looking for an easy-to-get-to escape. Want a few more ideas for what to do? We’ve got a closer look.
Get out in nature.
As the aforementioned skiing and leaf peeping makes clear, the outdoors in Vermont are good—and same goes for summer activities. To take full advantage, try everything from fly fishing to hiking (Woodstock has over 60 miles of trails, including wider, carriage trails) to playing pickleball and tennis. At the Inn, for example, tennis-minded guests can get in on weekend games or Wednesday intro classes. And if you want to experience nature without breaking a sweat, don’t miss the incredible Sunflower House. New every year, it’s typically open from the end of July through September at the nearby Billings Farm & Museum (farm admission is free with your stay) and features over 100 types of the pretty summer bloom.
Spend the day at the spa—and pool.
If relaxation is more your jam (we get it), consider setting aside a day to head to the Inn’s LEED-certified, Forbes 4-star rated spa. There’s a whole range of treatments, like the Sweet Summer, which incorporates a strawberry and blueberry sugar scrub, aloe wrap and scalp massage and, if you opt for the 90 or 75-minute version, a full massage as well. For full-body wellness, there are fitness classes like yoga and barre, or you can get in your cardio with a swim at the resort’s full-service Athletic Club. If a casual dip is more your speed, head to the heated saltwater pool located alongside the Inn’s back lawn. But you don’t have to stay at the hotel to swim: There are places along the Ottauquechee River, both in Woodstock itself and in Quechee (about 15 minutes away) where you can hit up the impressive Quechee Gorge.
Make it a family trip.
The upside to Vermont—and a place like Woodstock Inn—is that it’s an ideal spot for a trip with kids or if you want to bring along the grandparents and make it an extended family trip. We love some of the family-centered experiences, like s’mores at the Inn’s large stone outdoor firepit, and the opportunity to try fun things together, like biking (they’ll even provide Strider bikes!) or golfing at the resort’s 18-hole course. Kids can take lessons while the elder statesmen in the family can get a round in. You can also try your hand at new-to-the-family activities, like getting up-close-and personal with animals like falcons, owls or eagles.
Eat locally.
Vermont is known for its great food, much of it locally grown—and that shines at Kelly Way Gardens, a program that brings farm-grown vegetables and more straight from the resort’s Vermont certified Organic garden to the Inn. And if you stay at the Inn, you can visit the Gardens and Billings Farm throughout the summer for free. But a truly can’t miss experience? The Red Barn Dinner series, from the Inn’s chef, Matthew McClure. Running through September, it includes a 4-course dinner and wine pairings and centers all things locally made. (For example: The August 9 dinner features Vermont Slopeside Seafood.)
For more info on staying at the Inn, where rooms start at $429, visit woodstockinn.com.
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