Planning and Visiting tips during COVID-19
- Check Vermont's Cross State Travel Map weekly on Tuesdays leading up to your trip to know whether you need to quarantine, then plan accordingly (NOTE: effective on November 10, 2020, the State of Vermont has suspended its leisure travel map and implemented a mandatory quarantine for anyone returning or traveling to Vermont):
- If traveling to Vermont in a personal vehicle (including a rental vehicle or private plane), you may complete either a 14-day quarantine or a 7-day quarantine followed by a negative PCR test in your home state and enter Vermont without further quarantine restrictions
- If traveling to Vermont by public transit (bus, plane, train), you must quarantine in Vermont. You may complete either a 14-day quarantine or if you haven't had any symptoms of COVID-19, a 7-day quarantine followed by a negative PCR test, in a Vermont lodging establishment or with friends and family. You must stay in your quarantine location for the duration of quarantine other than to travel to and from a test site.
- Click here for a cross state travel FAQ
- Review these holiday celebration guidelines from the CDC while planning your trip
- Abide by mask ordinances while within Woodstock and maintain a six-foot distance between others
CHECKING IN
NOTE: Please confer with your hosts about safety precautions and guest certificates of compliance
Village living: The snow-dusted sidewalks of Woodstock’s quaint village—lined with the mullioned windows and vibrant overhangs of sundry mom-and-pop shops— will beckon just outside your door when you book a room at…
- The Woodstock Inn & Resort: Stately, welcoming, and bursting with every amenity under the sun
- The Ardmore: A B&B with historic architecture that’s as drool-worthy as the breakfasts
- The Blue Horse Inn: No detail is overlooked in this spectacular B&B
- The Charleston House: A bed and breakfast that’s better than home
- The Shire: Pet-friendly riverside accommodations in the village? Yes, please!
- The Village Inn: You’ll find firelit rooms awash in Victorian elegance at this convenient B&B
- The Woodstocker: Where local meets luxurious… and fresh-baked desserts await
In the country: If you crave peace, where all you can hear is the sound of snow falling, or just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of it all, choose from the following accommodations:
- 506 on the River: Riverside inn with farmhouse chic style to spare, located just outside town (plus an indoor pool available by reservation)
- The Apple Hill Inn: Homey accommodations with hilltop views of Woodstock and Taftsville
- Braeside Lodging: Less than a mile from the village, these rooms offer charm and convenience
- Deer Brook Inn: Hospitality, style, and decadent breakfasts—they've got it in spades
- Farmhouse Inn: Spend your stay on a Vermont farm with river views and a quintessential red barn that's the perfect backdrop
- Jackson House Inn: Envelop yourself in New England charm as you sit by a roaring fire, relax in your expertly decorated room, or dine in style
- Kedron Valley Inn: Classic, cozy, and even pet friendly! There's no better way to stay in stunning South Woodstock
- The Lincoln Inn: Come for the food (this B&B is also home to one of Woodstock's best restaurants), stay for the Ottauquechee views!
- Sleep Woodstock: A classic 1960s roadside motel that's affordable and right outside town (and dog-friendly, too!)
- Woodbridge Inn: Your destination for a quaint riverside experience
- And vacation rentals
Day 1
You’ve made it. Breathe in that fresh air seasoned with pine and woodsmoke, then mask up and stretch your limbs with a stroll through a village scene straight from a snow globe.
Woodstock’s center—hugged from all sides by the curve of the Ottauquechee River, the gentle peaks of Mount Peg and Mount Tom, and charming Georgian, Federal, and Greek Revival homes—is a getaway guaranteed to revive.
Between admiring historic architecture and popping into family-owned establishments like Yankee Bookshop, maintain social distancing as you grab a quick bite at Soulfully Good (for their award-winning buttermilk chicken salad) and The Village Butcher (hot cider is a perfect add-on).
Feeling energized and ready to drink it all in? Conquer the Mount Tom peak (standing at an attainable 1,357 feet and easily accessible from town) for panoramic views that turn the town into a miniature wintertide display and a chance to see the Mount Tom Star—a trail-side beacon illuminated during the holidays—up close and personal. Or if you prefer to rest your weary legs, head to South Woodstock for 45+ minutes of dashing through the snow on a horse-drawn open sleigh!
After that invigorating outing, it’s time to freshen up at your lodging, bundle up, and head to dinner! Looking for prix fixe perfection in the country? The Lincoln Inn and Cloudland Farm are two excellent options for a culinary feast you won’t forget. Want to stay within the village? Stake your claim on an oversized lounge chair and get cozy in front of the fire as you dine at Richardson’s Tavern or visit The Prince and the Pauper for a mouthwatering meal in the charming, socially-spaced dining area. But be sure to call ahead at all the venues listed above, as reservations are required!
DAY 2
When the snow begins to sparkle in the morning sun, it’s time to rise and dine! Breakfast at Mountain Creamery is just the ticket—with organic eggs and local, farm-raised meats gracing the menu, you can’t go wrong. Got a sweet tooth? Grab a slice of mile high apple pie for the road. In a rush? The Woodstock Farmers’ Market and Mac's Market are perfect for quick-and-tasty breakfast sandwiches to enjoy in the car.
Now you’re prepped for an action-packed day in the great outdoors, with your choice of activities that suit you best:
- Skiing and snowboarding: Don’t let the name fool you! Suicide Six Ski Area, in neighboring Pomfret, offers alpine adventure for even the smallest skier or snowboarder in your crew. Open and ready for business December 16, 2020 (conditions permitting), this local gem is taking safety seriously, with a new, socially-spaced ski shop setup, increased sanitization, and more. Come for the skiing and stay for the tasty grab-and-go food, local small craft brews, well-spaced seating (30 minute limit), and a crackling fire that can be found within the comforting confines of the slope-side lodge featuring Perley's Pourhouse. Click here for their modified operations plan. Want more action? The Beast of the East, Killington, is just 30 minutes away with adrenaline-fueled skiing and riding via 155 trails, 21 lifts, and 1,509 acres across six mountain peaks, but be sure to book your lift tickets and parking passes in advance!
- Nordic skiing or snowshoeing: Explore the majestic quiet of woods padded with snow in Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (Day or season passes are available at the Woodstock Inn & Resort Nordic Center) – then take a much-deserved break featuring a hot meal in town!
- Fat tire biking: These bikes adapted for cold weather are sure to make an impression! Equipped with extra-wide, low-pressure tires, you’ll be floating atop a crisp surface of snow – but make no mistake, you’ll break a sweat traversing miles of trails maintained by the Nordic Center.
- Ice skating: Hit the ice any month you like at the indoor rink at Union Arena (click here for COVID protocols) or wait till the Vail Field rink in Woodstock Village or Silver Lake in Barnard freeze over for the outdoor treatment! Afterward, a lunchtime takeout pit-stop at Pizza Chef is sure to satisfy the whole crowd.
- Ice fishing: Or you can your reel even after the temperatures drop thanks to spectacular ice fishing conditions on 84-acre Silver Lake. Click here learn how to purchase a fishing license.
- For more information on these and other snowy ventures, click here!
Phew. After that doozy of a morning, are you still searching for a mid-day meal spot?
If you’re heading back toward town from Killington, Ramunto’s Brick Oven Pizza in Bridgewater is serving up New York pies to-go, and we have to admit, they're hard to resist!
With a full belly, now’s the time to check in at your home base, then hit the spa for a bit of R&R for your sore après-ski muscles. A Himalayan Salt Stone Massage at the Spa at the Woodstock Inn & Resort as the snow swirls outside is just what the doctor ordered.
If you’re visiting around the holidays…
Next, head to the main entrance of the inn for a jolt of childhood magic, because a life-sized gingerbread house awaits in the lobby! Mask up and snap photos in front of this fragrant backdrop... while the ingredients are good enough to eat – resist!
Then, dinner is served! Order takeout from Angkor Wat for fresh, vegetarian-friendly Asian Fusion or make reservations to dine at The Daily Catch for seafood straight from the docks of Boston, Melaza Bistro for can’t-miss Caribbean tapas, or Ransom Tavern (featuring private room dining!) in South Woodstock’s Kedron Valley Inn for delectable Neapolitan-style pizza.
Finally, its back to your accommodations you go, to revel in snug indoor amenities like an on-site pool (506 on the River) and game room (Woodstock Inn & Resort) till its time to get some shut eye.
DAY 3
Last but not least: It’s your final day in Woodstock. If you awake to a whirling dervish of snow, fill your morning with snowflakes that stay on your nose and eyelashes, plus a few of our other favorite things: Mon Vert Cafe has got your order for takeout breakfast – whether you’re craving challah french toast, lox and schmear, or just a cup of joe to go.
If you’ve got little ones in tow, there’s no question, Billings Farm & Museum is your next destination (click here for safety policies)!
Open Saturdays and Sundays (and some special holiday and vacation dates) during the frosty season, you’ll find a range of barnyard happenings like:
- Visits with the Jersey herd, draft horses, oxen, chickens, and sheep tucked into their stalls
- Take-home crafts
- Snowshoe treks around the farm fields (bring a pair of your own or rent one from the Nordic Center)
- Special activities during Thanksgiving at the Farm, Christmas at the Farm (complete with ornament-making and a decorated 1890s farmhouse), Winter Weekends, and even Maple Celebrations in February
As the noon bells toll, it’s time for lunch! Chow down in the farm-diner comfort of Worthy Kitchen (reservations coming November 2020) for a casual meal or the Woodstock Inn’s Red Rooster (reservations recommended) for understated elegance – and a hearty stew to warm you from the inside out.
Cue the sad Charlie Brown walk, it’s time to depart. Take a deep breath of the cold, clean air, then load up the car and glance out the window as you drive past the twinkling lights and boughs of garland bedecking Woodstock’s village shops.
If you’re taking i89 or i90 and want one last adventure as the day's still young, visit the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (click here for their COVID policies) in Quechee for live raptor programs, exhibits, a glimpse into avian rehabilitation, nature trails, and a forest canopy walk offering a bittersweet goodbye: a panoramic view of this stunning winter landscape.
Special Weekend Dates to look forward to:
- November 27-29, 2020: Billings Farm & Museum's Thanksgiving at the Farm
- December 5, 6, 19-31, 2020 & January 1, 2021: Billings Farm & Museum's Christmas at the Farm
- December 11-13, 2020: Wassail Weekend
- January 2 - February 7, 2021 (Saturdays & Sundays only): Billings Farm & Museum's Winter Weekends at the Farm
- February 13-21, 2021: Maple Celebration at Billings Farm & Museum
