Mark, the hotel's doorman, cheerfully swept us and our luggage up to the front desk. While checking in it was hard to miss the latest addition to the inn, right across the hall - the Red Rooster bar and restaurant, with its mix of upscale modern touches and Vermont country feel.
The inn's lobby is dominated by a 10-foot fieldstone fireplace and an array of comfortable couches and chairs. With the lobby as well as the book-lined library and cheerful garden room, it's easy to carve out a place to read, relax, or talk.
Our room, 162, was reminiscent of one in a traditional Vermont B&B, with its comfortable beds, colorful handmade quilts, and local artwork. But it also offered more space, nicer furnishings, and modern touches, like chrome and marble bathrooms and air conditioning. The heavy window drapes, solid doors, and sound-proof walls allowed a restful night's sleep. Other rooms offer wood burning fireplaces and sunrooms overlooking the back green.
After checking in, we took a quick dip in the outside pool and wandered over to the weekly farmers market on the green, where we browsed local organic vegetables like spicy greens, beets, and rose finn potatoes.
For dinner, we tried the Red Rooster, which turned out to be a refreshing addition. The light tan tamarack wood and deep white Vermont marble bar provide a more modern counterpoint to the rest of the inn's traditional dark wood ambience, while the small stylish bar area between the restaurant and the hotel's front desk lets guests feel as if they're in the middle of the action.
Even though it was close to full, the dining room had a quiet, comfortable, and intimate feel. The large fountain provided just enough background noise without making conversation difficult.
Our asparagus vinaigrette appetizer was quite good, but it was hard not to fill up on the crusty bread. The salmon with whole grain mustard sauce had a nice bite. Sides, such as toasted barley and steamed broccoli, come family style. For dessert we savored the decadent Chocolate Bruno, with its dense, warm chocolate center and light graham cracker bottom.
