Experience a Vermont Inn to Inn Walking Tour

Focus on All Things New England! [New England Focus Logo]( Inn-to-Inn Walking Tour in Vermont An inn-to-inn walking adventure lets travelers discover a side of Vermont that you just can't see by car. [Logo-See-Plymouth]( Imagine if you had the time to walk through a Revolutionary War cemetery, time to sit high upon a hillside overlooking one of Vermont’s glorious Green Mountains, Okemo Mountain. The scenery is spectacular, the air is fresh, the trees are lush green. All seems so peacefully refreshing, inviting and serene. Imagine weathered granite stone walls dividing rolling hillsides and 200-year-old forests. I have time to write in my journal and savor my walk through the Vermont countryside. I have time to daydream. [Inn to Inn Walking Tour] Photo Credit : Kathy Krueger "Travelers, there is no path; paths are made by walking," said Spanish poet Antonio Machado. I'm walking in southern Vermont, from inn to inn, following a specific route carved out by four innkeepers. It's a walk designed to deliver the full Vermont experience: red barns, sunlit fields, babbling brooks, old Capes, and a bit of backwoods funk -- not to mention a broad spectrum of dining experiences and four unique inns. The "Vermont Inn to Inn Walking Tour'' is a four-day, self-guided meander averaging 10 miles a day, mainly around the villages of Chester, Weston, Ludlow, and tiny Proctorsville. The four historic inns - Inn Victoria, Golden Stage Inn, The Governor’s Inn, & Colonial House Inn & Motel - are linked by their owners' shared love of Vermont and a commitment to their niche walking tour experience. It's simple and efficient. The innkeepers transport your bags inn to inn, “Vermont Sherpa” style, greet you at the end of the day with refreshments and a home cooked meal (possibly a feather bed or Jacuzzi, too), and, in the morning, send you on your way with a hearty breakfast, snacks for the road, a map of your walking route, and best wishes for a pleasant day. A final feature that sets this tour apart from so many others? You're on your own, so you can set your own pace along these back country dirt roads. Walk alone or with friends; do as much or as little of the walk as you like. In fact, if you choose to drive the route by car, it’s up to you. 98% of this tour is accessible by car for those that are reluctant or unable to walk. The routes are indeed on back country roads, with private homes, ponds, views, and a slow country pace. Arranged in a large circle, the walk may start from any of the four inns, thus returning to your starting point four days later. Inn Victoria to Golden Stage Inn (13 Miles) Consider an artful sprinkling of Victoriana, with extras like a full-blown English tea in the Parlor, several Thomas Kinkade paintings reminiscing days of old, a breakfast that runs the gamut from home-baked bread / French toast to a baked frittata, and friendly innkeepers Penny and Dan Cote, whose warm welcome tempts you to forgo walking and just wait for afternoon tea & cookies. Step out the front door of their 1851 Victorian mansion, and you're in the heart of Chester village, home to [MacLaomainn's Scottish Pub](, a rare book bindery, [Sharon’s on the Common](, and plenty of lingering French and Indian war history. [Inn to Inn Walking Tour] Photo Credit : Roxanne Mason Beyond the village border, you'll walk through an historic stone village which was the original Chester stagecoach stop / pony express route that continues to Proctorsville. From here you will depart the village and continue onto back country dirt roads. (The Green Mountain State is home to more dirt roads than paved.) As you walk into deep countryside, suddenly it feels as though you're stepping off the map into uncharted Vermont. Red barns sprout up, ubiquitous as milkweed in late summer, along with enough winding stone walls to defend a medieval village. By the time you amble off the dirt and across the Black River into the village of Proctorsville, you are ready for some relaxing time at [Outer Limits Brewing]( and taproom for refreshment or at [Singleton's General Store](, where if they don't have it, you won't need it. Now on to [Golden Stage Inn]( where one wants to simply relax by the outdoor swimming pool and sip on honey ginger lemonade, awaiting the dinner bell. Golden Stage Inn to The Governor’s Inn (10.7 miles) Originally a 1788 stagecoach stop, this beautiful country inn is home to Michael and Julie-Lynn Wood, their honeybees, sheep, chickens, a bottomless cookie jar, and great hospitality. Your bags have arrived and are placed in your room. You are in for a relaxing evening, and a great meal. After a luscious hearty breakfast, the walking trail awaits. Alas, it's time to depart for the day's adventure offering great views of Okemo Mountain. The walk begins through the small village of Proctorsville, passing the town's post office, church, library, and elementary school, and becomes more rural as you leave the village below. As you ascend the hill and the pavement turns to dirt, your efforts will be rewarded with grand views of the pastoral and mountain landscapes surrounding you. Continue to a gorgeous overlook the locals call “The Pinnacle”. Take time to breathe in the sweet air and scenery. Relax and enjoy snacks while absorbing the stunning world around you. Then you'll descend the other side of North Hill, barely noticing at first that your surroundings are transforming from rural to village once again. You will emerge in the village of Ludlow, an acclaimed ski village supporting the [Okemo Mountain ski resort](. Take your time to browse the shops, galleries, and pubs, or you can head directly to the [The Governor’s Inn](where a warm greeting and refreshments await you. [Vermont Inn to Inn Walking Tour]( Explore historic sites, antique shops, and mountain streams while enjoying fresh air and green grass on the Vermont Inn to Inn Walking Tour. Every day a different walk, inn, and adventure. Experience the real Vermont! [PLAN YOUR VISIT]( SPONSORED [Inn to Inn Walking Tour] Photo Credit : Kathy Krueger The Governor’s Inn to Colonial House Inn & Motel (6.7 Miles) Your hosts Rosi and Holger Stoltze will offer you a very special German heritage welcome…you are in for a real treat! Relax in the parlor and marvel at the original woodwork and fireplaces, sit in one of the rocking chairs on the front porch watching everyday life go by, or retreat to your elegant, well-appointed guestroom to rest up for the next day. Yes, your bags have arrived and are neatly placed in your room. The Governor’s Inn was built in 1890 by Vermont Speaker of the House William Wallace Stickney for his wife Elisabeth. Mr. Stickney went on to become the governor of Vermont in the year 1900. Located on Main Street in Ludlow, it was turned into a B&B in the late 1970s and has welcomed guests for almost 50 years. Prior to departing on your next day's adventure, the morning breakfast is absolutely amazing. Today's walk starts at the [Weston Priory]( (a scenic Benedictine Monastery) just a few miles from the village of Weston. Due to the mountainous terrain between the village of Ludlow and Weston, Holger will give you a ride to the Priory where you will start your walk. This active monastery receives countless individuals on pilgrimage. Peace settles like mist on the Priory grounds. The monks have restored the once-abandoned farm site with a pond, fruit trees, and lush vegetable gardens that they're watering by hand, a scene with the simplicity and beauty of a Millet painting. [Inn to Inn Walking Tour] Photo Credit : Kathy Krueger With the Priory at my back, I set off under a canopy of broad-leaved greenery. The road ambles along, and so do I, until a few miles later I arrive in Weston's shady village green where the historic [Weston Playhouse]( sits dominant over the green’s gazebo and lawns. (Make arrangements to take in an evening play!) In this quintessential Vermont village, you can take a dip in the stream beneath one of the two waterfalls, or enjoy browsing art galleries, a Christmas shop, and the ever so popular [Vermont Country Store]( and [Weston Village Store](. Extend your walking reprieve by enjoying an ice cream cone – or a full lunch if you choose. After enjoying village life, it's time to move on to [Colonial House Inn & Motel](, just a few miles ahead. This stretch of road encompasses incredibly gorgeous views of magnificent homes within a farm country setting, [Magic Mountain Ski Resort](, and more than a few cows. Upon arrival at the next inn, your eyes look up to the heavens with anticipation of the night sky offering zero light pollution for the incredible star gazing you will enjoy just a few hours after dinner. Innkeepers Jeff and Kim Seymour are eager to welcome you. Colonial House Inn & Motel back to Inn Victoria (11.8 miles) A former Cape-styled farmhouse dating back to 1810, Colonial House Inn & Motel is nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountain National Forest on Scenic Bi-Way Route 100 (rated one of the top ten scenic routes in the country). Second generation family owners, Kim and Jeff are indeed master innkeepers. The 14-room property offers comfortable guest rooms, a charming living room and spacious dining room. Chef Jeff is a graduate of Johnson & Wales school of culinary arts. His breakfasts (hailed as "Vermont's Favorite" by Yankee Magazine) and dinners are delicious New England country fare, and they include home-baked breads and desserts from the family bakery, [Grandma Miller's](. You can look forward to their incredible Morning Glory muffins – dark and delicious! [Inn to Inn Walking Tour] Photo Credit : Dan Cote Today’s walk begins a few miles outside the historic village of Grafton. Due to terrain and distance, you are provided a ride to the start of today’s walk. Meandering through vistas of the Green Mountains on this rural county road is a special experience; at one time this was the main route used by travelers between Chester Village and Grafton via stagecoach. Even today the road is of dirt construction. You will be delighted by the quiet, peaceful environment that at one time was the back settlement / farming community adjoining Chester. At one point you will cross Popple Dungeon Road, its name derived from the large groves of Poplar trees that once grew here. They were very dense and close to the road, blocking out much of the light, giving the feel of being in a dungeon. Your final leg of this journey, Dodge Road, will take you through the same route school children walked daily from the farm to their schoolhouse in Chester. That schoolhouse remains today just as you cross the suspension bridge over the Williams River into Chester toward the [Inn Victoria](. A favored challenge of many who walk the route is to experience a cool water back-rub within the ripples of the Williams River Once you enter the village, only one decision remains: should I take a right to [MacLaomainn's Scottish Pub]( or a left to [Inn Victoria]( where the hot tub, afternoon refreshments and owners Penny & Dan await. [Inn to Inn] Photo Credit : Dan Cote It's a meditative walk. Long before the village of Chester appears and I've come full circle, I realize that my life has become breathtakingly simple in the last few days. I walk; I look at wildflowers; I take a deep breath and listen to nature singing; I wonder what's up ahead; I try to remember to look back from time to time. The last four days have indeed been simplified; my meals have been cooked for me; my time is entirely my own, peaceful. To top it all off, my bags have arrived ahead of me at each Inn…Vermont sherpa’s have magically made the bags appear at each inn awaiting my arrival. Just Imagine! 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