Every year, before Christmas, I get the itch to get out of town for a night or two to see another town decked out for the holidays. It's also a good time for Tom and I to get away from the (sometimes stressful!) holiday prep, and just spend some time relaxing. We didn't have quite as much time this year, but we did sneak in a quick 24 hour trip to Vermont, and it did not disappoint.
This trip, for the first time, we decided to head off the beaten path a short way to check out Plymouth Notch, Vermont. This charming little town is the birthplace of Calvin Coolidge, and it is perfectly preserved. From the general store, to the church, to the cheese factory - everything looks like it did in the early 20th century. We were bummed to see the Visitors Center was closed that day, but we still enjoyed a gorgeous walk and then went to warm up and sample some Vermont cheese at Plymouth Artisan Cheese (the Smoked was our favorite)!
Back on the road, we were more than ready for lunch, so we made our way to Simon Pearce in Quechee and as luck would have it, they were still serving brunch (yess!) AND we scored a table windowside overlooking the covered bridge and the waterfall.
Pretty sure I've said this before, but if you go, get the Vermont cheddar soup. It's the best. We also got the quiche, which was amazing, followed by the maple crème brulee AND some eggnog ice cream. It's vacation, right?
After making our way back to Woodstock, we walked around town a bit before checking into the Woodstock Inn for the night - our favorite hotel in town! Cozy rooms, a giant fireplace in the lobby, and two great restaurants. If you're looking for another great option, we've also stayed at On the River Inn (just a bit out of town, situated on the river - great rooms, décor, and food!).
The next morning we awoke to a few inches of fresh snow, and it was still coming down! We jumped out of bed (well, I did anyway ;)), put on our boots and went for a wintry walk before breakfast at The Red Rooster. Pretty sure I didn't wipe the smile off my face for our entire stroll around town.
With our two big pups waiting for us at home, we had to get out of town shortly after breakfast. We took one more cruise around town, and had to stop when we saw this bright red barn covered in snow.
When we have a bit more time, we love to stop in to Farmhouse Pottery (you'll want one of everything), go snowshoeing at the Nordic Adventure Center, or hike Mount Tom. Top on my list for our next trip is a Sleigh Ride at Billings Farm! Any other suggestions for our next trip?
See you oh so soon, Vermont!
In my bag this trip: Black Puffer Jacket / Fair Isle Sweater / Bean Boots / Camp Socks