It’s easy to get your Woodstocks confused, so full of them is
the Northeast. For the record, the one the music festival is named for is in
upstate New York. The one where rich Bostonians all
have ski chalets is in New
Hampshire. And the one where you can tee it up on a
classic Robert Trent Jones Sr., layout is in Vermont.
This is the one you should visit first.
The Woodstock Inn & Resort’s main building, which has
stood watch over one of the quaintest village greens in New England for more
than 200 years, was transformed into a modern resort by Woodstock habitué and
master hotelier Laurance Rockefeller.
The hotel is a white Colonial structure surrounded by
landscaped gardens and a white picket fence. Guest rooms are spacious and
comfortable and most have fireplaces, plenty more of which you will find warming
the property’s many common areas.
Off the hotel lobby are the inn’s two restaurants and a bar.
There is a library for reading, relaxing or postcard-writing and a shop selling
country-store items like maple syrup and homemade jams. At Richardson’s Tavern, home to Vermont’s finest
microbrews and a savory pub menu, guests regroup after sports and shopping. The
tavern’s dark wood, polished brass trim and leather seating encourage dawdling.
The Dining Room, as it is simply called, is known as a
favorite of culinary legend Julia Child. Its fine linens and tapered candles are
formal by Vermont standards, but the restaurant offers a menu worth dressing up
for, with contemporary interpretations of classic New England dishes such as
local rack of lamb with rosemary pesto, garlic and pan juices.
The more casual Eagle Cafe next door serves simpler fare, but
for those who feel like eating gourmet-style in their golf clothes, the full
Dining Room menu is also available.
