Country Inn at the Foot of Stratton Mountain
In 1890, a white clapboard farmhouse was built at the base of Stratton Mountain in rural Vermont. Later expanded and made into an inn and tavern, the building underwent a full restoration in 2010, when it reopened as Stone's Lodge under Stratton Mtn. The wide porches of the whitewashed structure look out on a landscape that has changed little since the house's construction at the end of the 19th century. Surrounded by the Green Mountain National Forest, the inn stands amid countryside dotted with wildflowers and crossed by old-fashioned wooden fences.
Each of the lodge's spacious rooms is named after a precious metal or gem and is decorated accordingly. In the Diamond room, for instance, a color scheme of blues, whites, and grays subtly calls to mind the namesake rock. A fireplace and hardwood floors warm the space as light slants in though a large window. When it's time for dinner, you can head to the onsite eatery—the Fat Spy Tavern and Steakhouse—for upscale pub fare, such as duck pot pie and Painted Hills Farm strip loin, then wash it all down with draughts of local craft beers on tap.
Bondville, Vermont: Tiny Village Surrounded by Green Mountain National Forest
Located in the southwest corner of Vermont, Bondville is actually a tiny village within a slightly bigger town called Winhall. The Green Mountain National Forest surrounds the community on all sides, providing lots of beautiful scenery and outdoor recreation. Winhall is part of Vermont's preternaturally picturesque Bennington County, an area notable for its rolling meadows, thick pine forests, and hobbit infestations.
Stratton Mountain is situated along the famous Appalachian Trail, which stretches all the way from Maine to Georgia. A few miles away, the West River beckons to kayakers and whitewater rafters alike. About 12 miles from Stone's Lodge, meanwhile, the city of Manchester draws daytrippers from New York and Boston eager to try out its quaint restaurants and shops and learn more about its rich local history. A historical Georgian Revival mansion known as Hildene was once home to Robert Todd Lincoln, first son of Abraham Lincoln and chairman of the Pullman Company. You can explore the house and gardens on daily tours.