Woodstock, Vermont is the quintessential New England town and one of my absolute favorite places to visit, especially in Autumn when the trees light up in bright hues of red, orange and yellow. Given that I have family in the area, I typically don’t have the opportunity to stay at the Woodstock Inn & Resort, but I was incredibly lucky this year to have won a three-night stay at the hotel in a raffle fundraiser!

About the Inn

The original Woodstock Inn was built in 1892 in response to the tourism boom of the mid-19th century. Located in the heart of Woodstock Village, the Inn quickly became a popular vacation destination for affluent travelers looking to escape city life for a week or two, particularly during the winter season.

In 1967, Laurance Rockefeller, a Woodstock resident and owner of RockResorts, purchased the original hotel, planning to completely rebuild the facilities; and in 1969, the Inn reopened as the resort we know today. Since then, the Inn has been extended on four separate occasions and just recently completed a beautiful renovation to the lobby and main shared areas to maintain a modern yet traditional design.

The Rooms

The current Inn has 142 rooms and suites, each carefully designed to reflect Vermont’s signature style of rustic comfort. The rooms feature large-frame wood beamed beds with plush comforters, mountains of white pillows and hand-dyed blankets. The furnishings brilliantly blend modern elegance with Laurance Rockefeller’s historic vision.

Amenities

One of my favorite places to sit at the Inn is in the main lobby in front of the huge fireplace. Especially on a chilly fall day, this is the perfect place to warm up.

My second favorite place to sit is in the Conservatory enjoying the complimentary afternoon tea and cookies (served daily at 4 pm).

Just across from the Conservatory, the Inn has one of the best Gift Shops you’ll find in any hotel, featuring iconic local artists such as Simon Pearce, Andrew Pearce and Farmhouse Pottery.

Finally, the Inn has two game rooms – one on the lower level catered towards kids which features a pool table, a giant scrabble board, pinball machines and shuffleboard. The ‘adult’ game room (or Library) on the main floor is situated to the right of the lobby and includes tables with puzzles, backgammon and chess.

The Spa at The Woodstock Inn

Do not miss the spa! Every time I visit Woodstock with my family, we take a group outing to the spa at the Inn. The 10,000 square foot LEED-certified facility is state of the art, with fully outfitted locker rooms (including steam rooms and showers), a gorgeous lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows (third favorite place to sit!), an outdoor seating area with a jacuzzi and pool access, and 10 treatment rooms. The spa therapists are top-notch and you’ll leave your treatment feeling perfectly relaxed. You can also order food and drinks in the lounge area – I recommend having a mini bottle of prosecco post-treatment.

Dining: The Red Rooster

The Red Rooster, which is the main restaurant at the Inn, offers some of the best dining Woodstock has to offer. As a hotel guest, you can dine here for breakfast with a full buffet on weekdays (including an omelet station) and a choice of breakfast menu or buffet on weekends. On my recent trip, I had the most delicious fluffy blueberry pancakes!

I also definitely recommend making a reservation here for lunch or dinner, which features delicious craft cocktails and farm fresh cuisine.

Activities

There are so many activities available to guests of the Woodstock Inn! Beyond afternoon tea, the game rooms, and the spa, the Inn also has a beautiful outdoor pool, as well as access to the tennis courts, fitness classes, and golf course located next door at the Woodstock Athletic Club and the Woodstock Country Club. One of the newer activities, is the Inn’s falconry program, which allows guests to get up close and personal with these beautiful birds. Resort guests also receive complimentary admission to Billings Farm and the Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historic Park.

And finally, the town of Woodstock offers plentiful outdoor activities such as hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter – not to mention the great shopping and restaurants only a stone’s throw from the hotel.

Planning a stay at the Woodstock Inn? Check out my full guide to Woodstock, Vermont!