South Vermont It’s really multifaceted – an all-season escape that offers hiking, skiing, skiing, fishing, water sports, cycling, mountain views, excellent local cuisine and a small town with great features. In this part of New England, everyone has something, and it’s one of the most passionate and authentic places. Hill Farm Hotel.
Located in a 230-year-old historical dairy farm in southern Vermont, Hill Farm has been welcoming guests for more than 150 years. Located between the Taconic and Green Mountain ranges, the property has 70 acres of land that are perfect for daily interruptions in life, exploring and leaning towards the beauty of nature. The magnificent restoration lodge is tempting and comfortable, the mountain farm staff are great with guests and are knowledgeable about the local area.
Best Kid-Friendly Inns in South Vermont: Hill Farm Inn Reviews
The experience in southern Vermont was like “in different behaviors in a Broadway drama. When one behavior ends, the next action begins,” Joanne Szibat, general manager of Hill Farm Hotel, explained to me eloquently as he toured the farm. This is really amazing and magical in this part of the United States: after the season one is over, the next season is all in, bringing new landscapes and a whole new adventure.
Our family is lucky to visit its snowiest Hill Farm in mid-February. We made great use of the sleds provided in the cabin to test the site downhill, hiking along the Battenkill River (animal trails were found along the way), snowing heavily on the farm terrain, raising the farm’s alpacas and attracting attention. We were delighted with the incredible fresh agricultural breakfast, chopped up the hillsides on nearby Bromley Mountain, visited the beautiful bridges, browsed three-story independent bookstores and chocolate shops, tasting delicious cheese and maple syrup, and enjoyed our own restaurant in our hearts and a special family dinner in our hearts, Restaurants at Hill Farm. Regardless of the season, Hill Farm Inn offers families the ideal takeoff and landing point for a variety of activities in this magical mountainous area of Vermont.
stay
As far as the property goes, Hill Farm Hotel is very unique. The main hotel has been welcoming guests since its opening in the 19th century, but it was beautifully restored in 2012. The renovation works retain the most important historical features of the farm, while also being filled with luxury and New England charm. The boutique nature of Hill Farm makes you feel as if you have a lot of room in this refreshingly open and tranquil landscape. Every morning during breakfast you will meet a handful of other guests, the kids will quickly make friends and start discovering the farm together, while adults trade information about the local area and its favorite activities.
Hill Farm Inn offers several different accommodations that can be used to accommodate families of different sizes. Dorset Suite (a stone’s throw from the main hotel in 1790), with a large bedroom and adjoining room with twin beds, perfect for families with young children. These two separate cabins (three bedrooms/two bathrooms) are a great choice for four to six families, and the River House is perfect for large families or groups who want to have their own space but stay in a large house. Dorset County Suites and Cottages are short from the main hotel. River House sits on its own campus in a private setting with a fireplace and peaceful walking trails along the river. It consists of three separate home rentals: two four-bedroom/four bathroom units with full kitchen, living room and gas fireplace, and a two-bedroom/two-bath townhouse with a full kitchen and living space. These three units can be rented separately or all used in large groups.
Ready to start planning your final New England vacation for your family?
We will pair with you the expert travel consultants who can design custom itineraries, arrange private guides and experiences, and conduct reviews of accommodation, often with valuable perks. Click for more details.
Our family lives in Madeline, also known as Maddie, the cabin. Maddie Cottage provides plenty of space for our family of six, plus our Golden Retriever (yes, the cabin and river house are dog friendly!) to relax. It’s in “close because it’s a family vacation, but since you have teenagers, so in “close because it’s a family vacation, but it’s so oh-Fine line. Maddie Cottage is a renovated 1930s two-story two-story home with a king-sized bedroom and full bathroom upstairs with skylights to admire the night stars and a bunch of windows for mountain views over the hill, another bedroom (one with twins, another with twins and a double bed and a queen). Downstairs also includes a full modern kitchen, a large dining table, washer and dryer, and a spacious living room with fireplace and incredible mountain views. Other amenities include a private fire pit, rear deck with gas grill, muddy rooms and a spacious yard.
hint: Hill Farm Hotel website Featuring wonderful videos showing all rooms, suites, cabins and river houses spending and furniture.
Have a meal
Food is an important part of the Hill Farm experience. This is another way the property connects guests to its surroundings.
Our family found the food aspect very special. The hotel is addicted to guests cooking the most amazing breakfasts for guests every day. Between 8 and 10 a.m., guests can enjoy breakfast bar at the main hotel, which comes with cookies, cakes and scones (some even alpacas) and a variety of fresh fruits, yogurt, granola, jam, jam, honey and more. Additionally, guests may order one of two to three daily breakfasts directly from the chef, such as a bunch of buttermilk pancakes with spiced apples and Vermont maple syrup or a breakfast sandwich with melted cheddar, sausage, eggs, eggs and side salads. Due to the boutique nature of the hotel, the breakfast experience feels like you stay at the B&B when the taste you get from locally sourced ingredients explodes. The family shared these breakfasts every morning, being invited by the chef to the kitchen to see what she was preparing and chatting with other guests and waiters was really one of the highlights of our time at Hill Farm Inn.
Dinner is as unique as breakfast. this Restaurants at Hill FarmThis is a separate building next to Main Inn, which opened in 2022 and sourced its farm-to-table cuisine from the hotel’s market garden and other local farms. It is located in a beautiful loft barn and offers a modern rustic chic atmosphere. The seasonal menu is made around the highest quality meat and produces a must-have menu in southern Vermont. During our stay, the choice includes organic mushroom risotto, black garlic, buckwheat and pine nuts; striped bass with Chimichurri; oven-grilled chicken with herbs, roasted apples and sweet potato mash; winter root vegetables with parmesan and roasted garlic; roasted brie with pomegranate and herbs; agricultural carrots with shawarma goat cheese and pistachio Harissa; and more. As for the children? The restaurant has a wood-burning pizza oven that will surely make every belly happy.
We found the waiter to be very proficient in the local ingredients in the cuisine. Our servers go out of their way to show our kids things about the property, including helping them spot owls in the nearby landscape.
The restaurant offers table seating for small and large groups and features a large surround deck for outdoor seating where weather permits. It is open four dinners a week, so plan accordingly.
convenient
While there are great adventure opportunities in the surrounding area, Hill Farm Inn has several facilities to allow guests to relax and connect with their surroundings: a heated saltwater pool (open seasonally), on-site walking trails along the Battenkill River, lawn games on three acres of land adjacent to the hotel, with the hotel, and family perfectly with it throughout the property and a family with acquaintance. Guests can also visit the farm’s three ladies alpacas in the historic barn, or spend some time with friendly barn cats, tigers and maples.
During this season, guests can visit the Market Garden and take part in cooking and gardening classes. Hill Farm also works with local providers to offer on-site fly fishing classes and mentoring days on the river. The main hotel is home to the fitness room, a game room with a swimming pool, darts and board games, and a bar.
hint: Children can ask for thinly sliced apples at the front desk to feed the alpaca. This is a must!
local
The Hill Farm Inn sits 5 miles outside Manchester, Vermont. There is a wide and diverse range of activities nearby, from hiking and cycling Taconic mountain trails to skiing on nearby peaks to fishing on the Battenkill River. Our family is skiing Brom Hill Very family friendly; Straton Hill Also nearby. For those who prefer to relax, the area offers a wide range of shopping, art, history and dining.
When to go
The busiest months for Hill Farm Inn are August and October. Book early to ensure ideal accommodation, especially if you plan to visit during the most popular period.
Related links:
Browse all accommodations and activities in Vermont in Ciao Bambino
5 comfortable resorts in New England, winter fun
8 fabulous autumn family resorts in the northeast
Epic Pass Skiing West: Okemo and Park City
Loren is chaired by Hill Farm Inn to review the property. As always, our opinion of Ciao Bambino is our own opinion. Photos of Loren Braunohler.
Editor’s Note: At the time of publication, this article was accurate. We recommend checking for the latest information and updates independently. CIAO BAMBINO assumes no liability for any errors or omissions, or any measures taken for any measures proposed.
