Hotel at a Glance: Wildflower Inn

When innkeepers Jim and Mary O'Reilly purchased a former 50-cow dairy farm in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom in 1984, the 500-acre plot of land consisted of a handful of barns and one old farmhouse, which dated back to the 1700s. The O'Reillys renovated those structures to turn them into Wildflower Inn, a B&B surrounded by pastoral New England scenery. In 2013, the family-friendly lodge was voted the winner of the Boston region's "Totally Awesome Family Escapes & Getaways" category by readers of Red Tricycle.

• Notable praise: The inn has received high marks from a number of publications, including National Geographic Traveler and Yankee Magazine
• Individually decorated rooms: Each guest room has its own unique decor
• Gourmet breakfast: Locally made bagels, cream cheese, homemade maple granola, cereals, fruit, and homemade breads and pastries; you can also order organic eggs and buttermilk pancakes.
• Winter activities: Go skiing at nearby Burke Mountain Ski Area, just four miles away, borrow snowshoes from the front desk to explore trails on the property, or rent a fat bike at Kingdom Trails to check the sights on a bike equipped with extra wide tires for traction in the snow
• Summer activities: Try hiking and mountain biking on nearby Kingdom Trails, a Vermont trail system . The heated outdoor pool also opens Memorial Day weekend, as do the batting cages, horseshoe pits, and badminton court.
• Family- and pet-friendly lodging: The inn offers supervised children's programs, as well as pet-friendly rooms
• Encounter local wildlife at the animal petting barn

Lyndonville, Vermont: Outdoor Recreation in the Northeast Kingdom

Lyndonville belongs to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, a region praised as "the Vermonters' Vermont" by National Geographic Traveler due its remote location, picturesque scenery, and relatively few crowds. The best way to explore this region is via the Kingdom Trails, a popular network of multi-use trails frequented by snowshoers and cross-country skiers in the winter, and hikers and bikers in the summer.

In the colder months, downhill skiers flock to Burke Mountain Ski Area. Burke Mountain is divided into two halves: the lower is home to green trails designed for beginners, while more advanced skiers can head up to the top for blue and black paths. Snowmobilers can hop on the extensive trail network known as the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers which wends near Lyndonville as well.

There's plenty to do indoors as well. Head to the nearby Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, Vermont's only public planetarium, to browse its natural history collection or learn about the cosmos. You can also sample award-winning cheddar cheese at Cabot Creamery, a farming cooperative that dates back to the early 20th century.

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