Hotel at a Glance: West Mountain Inn
Built in 1809 as a farmhouse and gristmill, the West Mountain Inn is the picture-perfect Vermont retreat, with crisp white siding, green shutters, and a smattering of colorful Adirondack chairs on its sloping lawn. Its riverside location—it’s nestled between the Taconic Range and the Green Mountains—gives guests easy access to the ample outdoor recreation for which the state is known.
- Notable praise: Frommer’s calls it “a perfect spot for travelers looking to find that ‘real’ Vermont inn.”
- Wake up to a country breakfast each morning; buttermilk pancakes, with local maple syrup, is a popular dish.
- Farm-to-table: Head chef Jeff Scott prepares prix-fixe meals made from farm produce, seasonal game, local artisan cheeses, and homemade breads.
- Explore the property on hiking or cross-country ski paths, which weave throughout the expansive property.
- Alpacas: You can feed apples to the resident alpacas, which are kept in a neighboring barn.
- Guest rooms differ in amenities. Some come with rocking chairs, mountain views, fireplaces, screened-in porches, or quilt-covered beds.
Arlington, Vermont: 18th-Century History and Inspiring Landscape
Founded in 1764, the village of Arlington was a base for Ethan Allen’s famed pre-Revolutionary militia, the Green Mountain Boys. Today, the town is sprinkled with historical sights, including iconic covered bridges such as the 1870-built Chiselville Bridge and the 1852-built Bridge at the Green. More recent years have seen their own share of celebrated residents, including Robert Frost and Norman Rockwell, both of whom drew artistic inspiration from the local landscape.
Arlington lies just west of the Appalachian Trail, within the boundaries of Green Mountain National Forest. Nearby outdoor pursuits include alpine skiing at Stratton Mountain and some of the East Coast’s best trout fishing during the warmer months.
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