In winter, guests can ski the nearby Pico or Killington slopes, or tramp the even-closer Long Trail on snowshoes. "But a lot of people just come to relax," Strelecki says.
Our room, number 11 in the carriage house, seemed to have been designed for relaxing. We entered through a private door (shaded by an awning) into a large, almost square space. White walls and four big windows made the room seem even bigger. Milky blue-green paint on the doors and moldings reminded us of the period colors you might find at Old Sturbridge Village. And the country pine headboard, low pine dressers serving as night tables, and wrought iron reading lamps bespoke classic country decor.
But early country folk didn't enjoy king-size beds, TVs, VCRs, and DVD players - or gas fireplaces. Two dusty rose-colored padded armchairs sat before the fireplace and swiveled for optimal television viewing. The room came with a coffeemaker, iron and ironing board, luxurious robes, and in a nod to Yankee practicality, a fly swatter.
The bathroom featured a large vanity sink and combination tub-shower. The walls were faux-painted in vibrant shades of red, one of the property's more dramatic decorative painting schemes.
In the main inn's Keeping Room, subtle shades of taupe on the walls complemented chair-rail height wainscoting and the sloping beam ceiling. Guests staying in the main inn or carriage house tend to gravitate here to chat in front of the wood-burning fieldstone fireplace, pull chairs around a table to play games, or watch the television tucked into a corner by the bar. Early in the evening, visitors relax with a drink before heading into the dining room.
That easy sociability was what we enjoyed most about the place. As we ate dinner, two local couples at a nearby table discussed a new business venture and traded stories about odd encounters with wildlife. When we couldn't help but laugh at a bizarre story about a deer in the passenger seat of a truck (don't ask), we were quickly welcomed into the conversation.
