When designing A Stone Wall in the 1970s, architect Robert Foote Shannon marched to the beat of his own drum. Instead of focusing on antiques and Victorian decor like a typical bed-and-breakfast, he went with the more contemporary aesthetic of solar reflectors and curving, kiva-style walls. True to the principles of modern architecture, the inn blends with its surroundings in southern Vermont’s Green Mountains. One of the buildings climbs a hill, set atop rough masonry cavity walls that form an artificial cliff inspired by the dwellings of Mesa Verde, and wood from local mills and recycled pines make up most of the exteriors.

Ten rooms house guests on 12 sprawling acres of lush gardens, streams, and, ponds. The Corner House and the Long House divide the rooms between them—each flaunting its own defining characteristics. The Corner House's confines feature solar heating supplemented by wooden stoves as well as access to a large, mountain-view deck and meditation room for concentrating on inner peace and divining the winners of upcoming horseraces. Rooms in the Long House, on the other hand, have private patios and access to a spacious hot tub. Both buildings host shared kitchens and dining rooms for meal preparation, and all stays include a daily continental breakfast.

Activities near A Stone Wall Inn include hiking in surrounding state parks and the Green Mountain National Forest, canoeing, kayaking, and dreaming up the best treehouse ever. Roughly 30 minutes east of the inn, the town of Manchester entertains with outlet malls, art galleries, antique shops, and music and theater options.