Turned out there was not a speck of snow to be seen, but the hiking was terrific. The trailhead was across the road from the Morgan House, an old farmhouse that is part of the inn, and where we stayed. We left our car in the driveway for the weekend and walked across the road to begin -- and finish -- our hikes.
The inn's main building, itself an old farmhouse, was built along with the Morgan House in the late 1800s , and both interiors retain the heavy, dark-wood feel of the Victorian period. Some of the bathrooms are being updated with porcelain tile and granite vanity sinks.
Our room (No. 10 , the "Honeymoon Room") was large, with a king-size bed, a little alcove with a loveseat, and its own porches both front and back. The screened front porch looks out on the adjacent Montague Golf Club. The exteriors of both the main inn and the Morgan House -- and the views of the green fields and woods and the mountains beyond -- are prettier than the interiors, which are basic country farmhouse style.
Randolph is not Woodstock, although it's not far from there. There's not much to do in Randolph Center, a few miles from the inn, which is on a lonely road with only a few private homes in sight. The inn is now part of the Green Mountain Stock Farm, 1,300 acres of countryside that owners Sam and Jinny Sammis are selling as 10- to 100-acre lots for residential development. The few houses that have been built look out on woods and mountains and are not visible from the inn.
Mountain biking is another popular activity. In addition to the inn's 40 miles of biking trails, the White River Valley Trails Association offers 265 miles of mapped trails just out the back door. You can also pick up the inn's bike maps , which offer 1,500 miles of road rides selected for the best scenery. Routes range from 15 miles to 106 miles and can be tailored for any ability level. Bicycling magazine called Randolph the "Moab of the East," and that spectacular Utah town is at the top of every serious biker's "to do" list.
