It has been far too long  since we last wrote!  But a lot has happened and we have a lot to tell you all.  Shortly after we returned from across the pond, lodging establishments and restaurants in Woodstock hosted a group from the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association.  Deer Brook Inn had the distinct pleasure of hosting this organization’s President, Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill co-authors of Our Love Affairs with Food and Travel.  Maralyn created a short video about Deer Brook Inn on YouTube that you can view by clicking on :

Click to view Maralyn’s Video .

Come for a visit, the weather has been spectacular and take advantage of our midweek specials.   Sit out and relax on our back lawn, read a book, take a hike, enjoy the local Long Trail Brewery down the road and just have a ball.    We hope to see you soon.

Spring is creeping into most corners of the United States, a  little bit slower perhaps in Vermont, but there are very positive spring signs here as well.  However, this gives us, the innkeepers, the opportunity to take a well deserved vacation after what has been an outstanding year.  Deer Brook Inn will be closed for the rest of April while we visit with friends and family far and near.  But during our absence we have a very reliable and conscientious friend, Kitty, who will be staying here answering your inquiries and  confirming your reservations.  We are taking reservations during this time for the second week of May onward.   The summer months are the perfect time to come to Vermont for a relaxing holiday.

Canoeing, kayaking, biking and hiking abound and we know great places for you to explore.  Fly fishing is a big draw as well.  How much more relaxing than fishing the beautiful streams and rivers of Vermont and then staying at Deer Brook Inn for the evening.  There is so much going on.  Activities for young and old,  a large back yard for sitting and reading and a great rocking chair porch as well.  You can’t go wrong!  

It is festival season!  Check out www.woodstockvt.com. and see the wide variety of festivals, craft fairs,  markets on the green and events planned for late spring and summer.  Take mom away for a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend , and then a few weeks later come for the Quechee Balloon Festival over Father’s Day weekend.  Whether your sport is athletic or simply browsing the galleries and shops, Woodstock, Vermont is the place to go.  We will make it worth your while!

We made it!  Our guests have reviewed us and we are now THE NUMBER 1 Bed and Breakfast not only in WOODSTOCK, but in the ENTIRE STATE of VERMONT on www.tripadvisor.com.  We are truly grateful to all of our guests who took the time to write a review.

Enough about us, however, and let me remind everyone that the last snowstorm dropped 16 inches of wonderful powder on our nearby slopes and the skiing is phenomenal.  Vermont is truly a winter wonderland for all winter sports.  Go ice skating on an outdoor pond or at the wonderful Union Arena just 3 minutes from here.  Go downhill skiing at Killington, Suicide Six or Okemo.  We have cross country trails all over the area and snowshoeing is very popular as well.  There are snowmobile trails all around and of course, hire a private horse drawn sleighride or visit Billings Farm and take a sleighride around their beautiful property.

There is something for everyone!  In the evening sit by our fireplace and enjoy the conversation and the cozy atmosphere with other guests in our comfortable living room.  Incidentally, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.  Bring your sweetheart to Deer Brook Inn, ski, have a romantic dinner at one of the area’s great restaurants and then return to Deer Brook Inn and sit in front of the fire for the rest of the evening. You won’t be disappointed!  We have a couple of rooms left.  We look forward to seeing you then.

Happy New Year to all of our guests this past year.  We had an incredible year and  want to thank everyone who visited Deer Brook Inn.  We had guests from all over the United States and an incredible number of foreign travellers as well.  We had guests from England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium,  Israel, India, South Africa, Australia,  Japan, China, Korea, Brazil,  Canada, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.  We have had such a diverse group that we are honored to have experienced sharing the cultures and concerns of people from all over the world and hosting their visits to America.

Now the snow is on the ground and Vermont is wearing its winter coat.  The ski slopes and cross country trails are groomed and in great condition.  At a time when there is so much frustration and concern we all need to take a break and escape from our daily lives and what better way to do that than to visit Vermont in the winter. So pack your skis, snowshoes, skates, or sleds and take some time for yourselves.  Then join us in the evenings in front of the blazing fireplace.  Let us pamper you at breakfast and arrange your dinner reservations so that all you and your family have to do is play and relax.  Sounds pretty good to me!

I have a great story for you!  This is truly one of the bonuses of being an innkeeper and helping our guests  have a truly special holiday.  A British couple arrived on the eve of the 50th anniversary of their engagement.  The weather was cloudy and the wife announced that they came to Vermont  to see the moonlight.  50 years ago, on the night when her then fiance proposed to her at a dinner club, the band was playing Moonlight in Vermont.  It has always been her favorite song.  After two nights here, she was a bit discouraged that the moon had been hidden by a thick cloud cover.  But on the last evening, after their special dinner at a wonderful restaurant, as they returned to the inn the clouds opened up to a most phenomenal full moon sky. 

She came in so excited and told us about her engagement night.  The wheels started turning in my head, knowing that I had the Billy Butterfield and his Orchestra version of that song sung by Margaret Whiting.  They were sitting in the living room while I put the song on the CD player.  I heard her when she shouted as she recognized it and went in to see her.  I told her that dancing was permitted in the living room and went out of the room, restarted the song and disappeared.  Another guest returned from dinner and found them dancing all by themselves.  Breakfast discussion the next morning was truly special.  We call this psychic income- priceless!

Now that the leaves have fallen, as the song says, “pennies in a stream, falling leaves of sycamore, moonlight in Vermont..,”  come and enjoy Vermont as “icy finger-waves, ski trails on a mountain side, snowlight in Vermont..” welcome the next beautiful season to our state.

Wassail Weekend is the second weekend in December.  Come enjoy the kick off to the Christmas season.  There is so much to do in and around Woodstock-  music venues, seasonal plays, tours of the elegant homes decorated for the holidays, a parade of Victorian sleighs pulled by a variety of horses, and of course, carols on the Green. 

Don’t forget, Santa arrives at the Deer Brook Inn on Christmas morning too, so bring your family and spend the holiday with us.  All you have to do is sit in front of the roaring fire and let us take care of all the details.  That’s a great present for Mom!

Make this holiday special.  We are waiting to hear from you!