Weekend Getaways - Woodstock, VT
About Woodstock
Woodstock, Vermont is a quaint little town with a population of just over 2,900 people. On your drive in you encounter the Taftsville Covered Bridge, the first of several covered bridges in the area. The Taftsville Covered Bridge, built in 1836 was so inviting, my wife and I turned as you simply cannot drive by this bridge without driving across it. Spanning the spans the Ottauquechee River the Taftsville Covered Bridge is among the oldest remaining covered bridges both in Vermont and the nation as a whole.
As you roll into town you can feel this is a very special place steeped in history. The downtown area is lined by carefully maintained and restored buildings that stand today as they did in the 1800s. And, while cars have long since replaced the horse drawn carriages downtown, there is a simple comfort to places like this New England town.
Getting There
Driving to Woodstock, Vermont from the MetroWest area takes just over two hours. It’s a straight shot up Route 128 or Route 495 to Route 93 to Route 89 to Route 4 which takes you right into Woodstock. The ride is both scenic and enjoyable.
Where to Stay
Within the historic downtown area, the Woodstock Inn is without question the place to stay. Inspired by the vision of Laurance and Mary Rockefeller, the Inn is a time capsule carefully aligning today’s luxury appointments with the look and feel of a time period long past. Bob set the tone greeting us as we walked in sharing that he had just eclipsed his 50th year welcoming people to the Inn. This friendliness permeates the atmosphere at the Inn and is likely the reason why this is the go to place in the area.
Things to Do
The season during which you visit Woodstock impacts your outdoor activities making it a place you could visit routinely. We visited early in the early spring but the temperatures were unseasonably warm in the mid 70s. We explored the downtown area admiring the Elms flanking the sidewalks and the many boutiques throughout the area. The river is never out of earshot and the Woodstock Middle Bridge, yet another piece of history, must be walked across to be appreciated.
Regardless of the season, there are many things to do including: golf, fly fishing, skiing, tennis and more. And, the spa at the Woodstock Inn is wonderful. The amenities are exactly what you’d expect from a luxury hotel. Steam, sauna, hot tub, tranquillity and attention to detail are all a part of what make this a very special place.
Where to Eat
There are a number of restaurants in town including two within the Woodstock Inn itself. We chose to walk down to the corner to a cute little place called Dr. Coburn’s Tonic. Dr. Coburn’s Tonic is a ski-themed restaurant offering delicious craft cocktails and a variety of American classics. The service is exactly what you would expect from a locally owned tavern. I’ll leave you to ask about the history of the building Dr. Coburn’s Tonic occupies when you visit Woodstock, Vermont.
