Woodstock: A Perfect New England Holiday

Having never been here before, I decided to treat myself to a night at the Woodstock Inn & Resort. The elegant hotel is furnished with authentic New England décor and has a quiet ambience that’s graceful and serene. After I checked in to my glorious room, the only plan for the day was relaxing and enjoying the resort. To start, I visited the spa, which was exquisite and rejuvenating, followed by a dip in the heated, salt-water outdoor pool, which was sparkling and inviting. After having lunch at one of the restaurants and taking in the beautiful grounds, I made my way to the immaculate golf course and enjoyed fresh summer air.

After a wonderful night’s sleep, I headed to the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Vermont’s only national park, which was dedicated to the public by benefactors Laurance and Mary Rockefeller with a vision to preserve the 222 hectares of delicate woodlands surrounding Woodstock. I took a fascinating tour of the glorious mansion and grounds and followed the crowd to the adjacent Billings Farm and Museum. I watched cows being milked, pet the horses and learned how life was in the 19th century. I ended up staying for quite some time; like everything in Woodstock, it is peaceful and surrounded by beauty.

Before dinner, I decided to hike to the top of Mount Tom, which is just over 4 kilometers round-trip. I was blown away by the panoramic view of Woodstock and the surrounding green mountains that met my eyes when I reached the top. It is truly breathtaking, so I sat and soaked in the splendor for a while.

While talking to some fellow visitors, I learned they were staying at a fabulous hotel called 506 On the River Inn. When I finally forced myself to leave the mountain, I decided to see what the inn was like and found a charming boutique hotel with wonderfully eclectic décor, definitely worth extending my stay a night or two. After looking at a room, I immediately knew why they have so many repeat guests: All of the rooms have a view of the river with balconies to enjoy the fresh air and magnificent scenery. I especially loved the quirky antiques and vintage furniture, so I decided to stick around for dinner at The 506 Bistro, where I tried a variety of delicious seasonal dishes and a cocktail from the vintage bar.

Between these two incredible properties and all the charms of Woodstock, I could see myself coming back to holiday here again and again.