Great place to stay. Family is very welcoming and the Alpaca's are great. Unique experience…read more Definately a recommendation. Justin (Netherlands)

The Vermont Wedding Barn, aka Champlain Valley Alpacas, aka a Little Slice of Vermont Heaven, was…read moreeverything we could have hoped for and more for our July '19 wedding. Jenny and Les, owners and host extraordinaires, are incredibly friendly, sweet, easy people to work with. Les' brother, Bill, was also on site all weekend, lending his hands and just being friendly. They went above and beyond their normal wedding weekend duties to make sure everything went smooth on our weekend. And look at those alpacas! They are such unique, cool, cute animals that were all much more sweet than we had imagined. They really provide a lot of character to this beautiful Bridport venue, and the 'Running of the Alpacas' is something we will never forget! When we booked this venue sight unseen, we had been a little apprehensive to see it in person for the first time, but the barn itself is much more spacious than some of the photos make it seem (we fit 140 people, buffet tables, a 5-piece band, bar, and more in there), the manicured lawn all around it provides tons of room for lawn games, appetizer tables, cocktail hour, etc., the pool cottage is a charming, spacious studio with a nice shaded deck and, of course, the pool to hop in when it got too hot was a big family favorite. There are a few different options for ceremony site depending on your preference, which is a nice thing for a venue to offer. We chose the sunny spot, next to the vineyard with the Adirondack backdrop. Can't beat it. It's worth noting that when booking at the Vermont Wedding Barn, you are booking the space to use for your wedding. Unlike some other places, you are not hiring a team to help coordinate, set up, take care of the logistical aspects. As I said, Jenny and Les were very helpful to us in so many ways, but just remember there are a lot of moving pieces that go into a wedding weekend! Planning and executing our wedding ourselves, we learned this first hand. Be sure you have help arranged for the weekend (recruit your family + friends!). Of course, this makes the Vermont Wedding Barn more financially viable than a lot of other VT venues! Overall, if it isn't obvious yet, we loved this place and would certainly recommend the venue to anyone looking for a beautiful, outdoor Vermont setting. There is something about a barn wedding that is just so fun, the 60 or so alpaca on the farm give the property a unique, fun leg up on other Vermont venues, and Jenny & Les take it over the top with their hospitality and friendliness. We are so happy we tied the knot at this great family farm - it will always hold a place in our hearts.

All we can really say about Skinner Barn is wow!…read more From our first meeting with Peter, we knew this venue would knock our socks off. As Boston residents who frequent the valley, we had high expectations of the wedding venue as we'd be traveling both our families and all our friends miles away from where we live into virtually an oasis frozen in time in the Mad River Valley. Peter's background in the arts shows throughout working with him and his team. He truly 'orchestrates' the day and his attention to detail is astounding. It's no surprise that he produces musicals as every detail is thoughtful, carefully addressed, and always with a show-stopping smile. Peter is incredibly generous and even took on projects such as deconstructing our Huppah and allowing us plenty of time for setup so that we could enjoy our visiting families. One of our most favorite feature of booking Peter and the Skinner Barn is that its truly one stop shopping. Their food, beverage, rental, and staff contracts that they have pre-established for your convenience is tremendous. The vendors work well together making for a streamlined day. Moreover, the decor is a cinch as the barn itself is gorgeous and the grounds surrounding the property are stunning. If you're looking for a quintessential Vermont wedding and want to avoid any hitches, Peter and Skinner are a must see. Once you do a site visit I'm sure you'll agree. Thanks again Peter! You guys made the perfect canvas for us to experience our special day!

I felt unwelcome at the skinner barn white attending a family wedding with my well-trained dog…read more The owner (Peter) repeatedly confronted me about my dog being on the property and entering the barn, even after I explained they would be leaving before dinner. There is nothing posted on their website about restricting animals to attend in any capacity. Additionally, even if the owner considers the barn to be a "restaurant" when food is served, a service animal is allowed to enter. He at no point asked if this was the case for me and my dog. He also made an issue of my dog running in the field, and being concerned he would go into the neighbor's property, despite my dog's perfect recall. I doubt he would have questioned me as incessantly if I was a man, who was with their dog. News flash..women train dogs and I've done a very good job. I wish Peter would have had the same warmth as the photographer, who took many pictures of us. I found Peter's behavior controlling, sexist, and disrespectful, particularly when he involved my father in an issue they had previously addressed. Overall, I felt the venue was unwelcoming towards dogs and owners, and recommend avoiding it.

Absolute peace and verdant green beauty. I enjoyed almost a week in Twinview Barn - rustic, yes,…read morebut very comfortable and private. Perfect for a family - lots of comfy furniture, games and outdoor fun. One of the most evocative places I've stayed. Easy drive into Middlebury or over to New York. Or just stay there and watch the bluebirds.

I cannot recommend the guest house at Whitford House enough. We have one of the best weekends away…read morehere. Jeff was such a generous host - he gave us recommendations for hikes, restaurants and more that really upgraded our experience. His property is beautiful with an amazing view of the mountains; we looked forward to our breakfast on the patio each morning. It's convenient to access Middlebury, Lake Champlain and Burlington by car; but the guest house is so comfortable you could spend a couple days there just escape. Also definitely hike Snake Mountain very close by - it's a short drive, a manageable hike and a rewarding view. If you're looking for a few days away from NYC area or a Vermont experience, I wouldn't go anywhere else. We can't wait to go back and have already recommended a stay here to our friends.

Loved our visit! Breakfast with the innkeeper included a most informative conversation about…read moretoday in Vermont. Farming practices, tourism. And we shared a fondness for carving. Be sure to notice the beautiful woodwork in the house especially the banister. Bed was very comfy. Very clean. Breakfast pancake excellent.

What a lovely respite! We found Mad River Inn as a haven from the overheated yurt we had booked…read more The owners (Brandon and Susanna) let us know we weren't the first yurt stayers they had rescued. And what a rescue! From an abundance of tea options to daily fresh cookies to some wonderful recommendations, we were comfortable from the start of our stay to the end. The real bed and air conditioning were just cherries on top! We felt taken care of and had a lovely time.

I'll be honest - I was a little nervous coming here. I actually visited for a weekend work retreat…read moreand although I'm not much of a camper per se, I loved every minute of it. They had several unique cabins on the property as well as "suites" with bathrooms in a larger building that also had a community area. The property is gorgeous with mountains overlooking the treeline, a large field (with Quidditch goals if you're a HP fan), a stunning lake, another community area with a kitchen attached, a barn, campfire area, and trails. There is something for everyone to do here but what I loved the most was being able to look up at the sky at night and see all the stars! If you're looking for a place to reconnect with nature, this is it!

We've gone for the family camp twice and we were there this weekend for their twentieth anniversary…read moreweekend. We are returning again this July. My kids talk about camp all year long and it has become an important part of our lives. We all love it. It's my piece of heaven on earth. We stay in the cabins. There were plenty of beds. Bunk beds and twins with a little piece that goes between two beds pushed together that eliminates that uncomfortable gap. There was plenty of shelf space for clothes as well. Some people stay in tents, others in the Eco-lodge. There are coin operated washing machines, which is important when traveling with little kids. We brought sheets, pillows, sleeping bags, lanterns and towels. There's no electricity in the cabins but there is in the dining hall and the Eco Lodge. You can charge your devices there and connect with the world if you really want to. We stayed screen free and didn't miss it at all. During family camp there are plenty of activities and kids go to Kidville for three hours in the morning. I love hiking up the mountain, relaxing by the river or taking dance classes. Others prefer glass blowing, art class or playing instruments. Activities vary by week. It's relaxing, people are great, and the campus is contained so I can give my kids more freedom than when we're at home. In the afternoons/ evenings there are organized family games like Quiddich and scavenger hunts. There's no pressure to participate but it was a lot of fun. The food is vegetarian and delicious. Meals are planned with kids in mind and there are kid friendly options. They even published a camp cookbook. For me what makes the camp is the people. Camp was built little by little and with a lot of love. The tiles in the bathroom were 2005 camper art projects, and many of those families return every year. The people who run it live what they believe and they are active in the community, they use solar power and they work hard to decrease their carbon footprint. A tour of all of the features of the Eco-lodge was fascinating. They run different camps for under served populations. Camp Kaleidoscope is for families with autistic children, Camp Outright is for LGBTQ teenagers and they run a camp for families in the midst of high conflict divorces. They don't shy away from hard situations. All families are truly welcomed and it's a non-judgmental, cooperative environment. Communication is real and the friendships are genuine. There is a bit of sticker shock but there is a sliding scale and I believe it is money well spent. The food is high quality and fresh. They invest in maintaining the property with ecologically friendly products, they provide a variety of activities for children and adults, and there are enough staff on hand to deal with issues as they arise. It has been an experience that has greatly enriched my life and my children's lives.

A warm atmosphere, comfortable surroundings and clean, charming accommodations make this a splendid…read moreplace to stay. Our family has been coming here for many years, and even as we've seen a few changes and improvements, it has always maintained its inviting appeal. It is perfect for both romantic excursions and family vacations, with perfect amenities for hikers and winter sports people, too. During the 3 milder seasons, definitely book a room with a classic Adirondack sleeping porch. Must be experienced!

Ended up her because there were white out conditions on the way to Montreal... we had passed this…read moreplace so many times and always thought it to be charming. We were so right! They took us in on a very snowy Thursday night... blizzard conditions. We had the Jay room a king size bed and queen futon. It was my husband and our two daughters. Nothing was open for dinner as the town had closed because of the weather - the innkeeper made us cheddar scallion scones fresh out of the oven they were delicious. The inn is classic Adirondack wide plank floors fieldstone fire place.. big porch with Adirondack chairs. The room was large and had its own bathroom. Nothing fancy but absolutely perfect. Would definitely come back and recommend !!

This was our final night on our summer road trip. We had to see stunning Vermont. Burlington was a…read moregreat idea since it's the birthplace of the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Corporation. We got an actual suite here which had a fully stocked kitchen, not just a kitchenette like most hotels I've stayed at. This was fortuitous since we were so weary of eating out every meal. At home here in Reno we don't go out very much at all since I enjoy cooking. We found a great grocery store similar to Sprouts off the main strip in the downtown area. I was able to pick up things just to make us a home cooked meal. This suite provided us with all the essentials to make a nice meal. The rate included a complimentary breakfast and it was all very fresh and yummy. Sorry no pics I was getting tired of taking so many on the trip and I'm so NOT one to be glued to my cell. I'm sure I left it in the room. I was overwhelmed drinking through Vermont and kept commenting on how the highway was lined with Christmas Trees! It's just breathtaking here. This town has a lot of charm too. Nice clean well appointed suite.

The staff was super friendly check in was easy and they allowed us an early check in. The room was…read morebig and clean with a small kitchen. Midsized refrigerator. The kitchen came stocked with plates and bowls and utensils. The have a workout room and laundry facilities but don't have change for the machine.The hotel is in a good neighborhood. They have an Italian restaurant called Pulcinella's with a 4.5 rating across the parking lot.

Fantastic renovated rooms with a rustic charm started our week long stay with smiles. We enjoyed…read morevery comfortable beds, spacious bathroom, and a big flat screen cable TV. Besides having a great interior, the back of the property might be an even better feature to this accommodation. Complete with multiple fire pits, barbecues, firewood, chairs, and the ambience of string lights overhead this area sings with the gentle sound of the babbling Mad River which passes beside it. To the left and right are paths to take you on the Mad River trail to find a near by swim hole. To top it all off, the owners Zan and Dana are not only helpful providing for whatever arising needs we had, but they also gave us great advice on local attractions. All and all, we had a terrific stay and would definitely book again.

Excellent place for our family to spend a few days while exploring Vermont. The River runs beside…read moreit and there is both a trail leading along the river and fire pits. I highly recommend it and we look forward to staying there in the future.