Mountainside B&B with Gourmet Restaurant and Antique Furnishings
Before taking over The Doveberry Inn, Michael and Christine Fayette worked as trained chefs in restaurants across the country. Now, the Fayettes—who were recognized on Condé Nast Traveler’s list of 25 American B&Bs with excellent chefs—employ their culinary skills to prepare gourmet breakfasts and dinners for their guests. Their rotating menu highlights Northern Italian specialties such as wood-grilled veal chops and shrimp-and-radicchio risotto, which was recommended by Bon Appétit magazine. In the summer and fall, Michael and Christine grow and handpick their own veggies, and year-round, they pair all meals with wines from local vineyards.
Set in the rural countryside and surrounded by mountains, the Swiss-chalet-style inn is the picture of tranquility. A fireplace glows in the sitting room, where you can linger over cookies and hot cocoa and where the Fayettes host complimentary wine-and-cheese tastings in the evening. Individually decorated guest rooms reflect the house’s quaint New England charm with hardwood floors, quilted comforters, and early-American rocking chairs. Enjoy a complimentary bottle of wine in the West room, which is decorated in romantic floral patterns, or practice hurdle jumps by stacking double beds in the East room.
The second option includes The Doveberry Inn’s Murder Mystery package. The classic whodunit affair plays out over the course of the weekend as costumed guests—all of whom are suspects—use bribery, fake money, and detective skills to solve the “murder” of a fellow cast member. The package also includes a four-course candlelit dinner, a wine-and-cheese reception, and a breakfast awards ceremony.
West Dover, Vermont: Rural Countryside in the Mount Snow Valley
West Dover is a small town in Vermont's Mount Snow Valley, a rural area that's becoming increasingly popular with out-of-towners, as evidenced by its more than 30 B&Bs. Local attractions include abundant farm-to-table dining and a slew of outdoor activities at Mount Snow, which stays open year-round. Skiers and snowboarders take to the slopes in winter, and summer brings hikers and mountain bikers eager to take on more than 20 miles of trails. The mountain also has an 18-hole golf course and chairlift rides offering views of southern Vermont and New York state. West Dover is the commercial center of the larger Dover community. Antique stores and sporting-goods shops are scattered throughout the country town, and there are a handful of eclectic art galleries nearby displaying intricate paper art and metalwork.
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