Hi All - My best friend is getting engaged and wants to take his girlfriend away for a romantic weekend in Vermont. He lives in NYC, so if there are certain areas of Vermont that are a bit closer to NY than others, that may be more convenient.

Ideally, the B&B where they will stay will have a fireplace in the room, and nearby winter activities outside of skiing (maybe a local winery tasting room, sleigh rides or snowmobiling, etc.) His girlfriend doesn't know how to ski, so hopefully there will be some other good stuff around besides the slopes.

Any suggestions on:

1) Which part of Vermont to visit?? (Mt. Snow, Stowe, Killington, etc.?) - I don't know drive times to each of these places from Manhattan

2) Recommendations on romantic B&B's

3) Suggestions on other things to do in the area outside of skiing?

Thanks so much!! Just trying to help out since my friend is currently clueless

The areas you mention are all
ski-centric. Drive time, in good weather will be around 5-6 hours.
Southern Vermont will be closer (more like 4 hours)and have more towns where everything revolves less around skiing.

Manchester (but very shopping oriented),tiny towns near Brattleboro like Newfane (but not Brattleboro itself which is more like a really small "city")
Woodstock, a little further north is also a bigger town, but more upscale with lots of restaurants and inns.

Don't know of any wineries in VT, but there are microbrew places and some cider mills.

Which would be some of the good areas to consider in Southern Vermont? Even if an area is ski-centric, hopefully they would have other activities?? Cider mills are a good alternative to wineries

Manchester, Newfane, and Woodstock, are a few towns/areas I know of that have some nicer B&Bs and inns.
When is you friend planning this for? For example, President's weekend will be filled with kids in any ski area.
This is a site I use when I'm looking for reputable, more upscale inns http://www.selectregistry.com/qv/stn...breakfast.aspx

The Chipman Inn in Ripton VT.

Wonderful Inn, in a small town, delicious dinners,very romantic- or:

The Blueberry Hill Inn,(I've forgotten the village it is in)-but again, a wonderful experience, and wonderful breakfasts and dinners!

Hiking, cross-dountry skiing, bicycling, sledding,driving into town and seeing the sights.Yes, they both have fireplaces.

Blueberry Hill is located in the tiny town of Goshen VT. It's a very charming place in the Green Mountains. There is a nordic touring center on the premises, but, unless you like cross country skiing, the inn is a bit isolated in the winter.

For a non skier, Middlebury (near Ripton and Goshen) might be a better bet. A typical New England College town, there is always a lot to do -- restaurants, hockey games, nice shops, the State Craft Center at Frog Hollow, the Henry Sheldon Museum, etc... There are several romantic B&B's and inns, including the Inn on the Green, the Waybury Inn and the Swift House (which does have fireplaces in some rooms). It's a short drive into the mountains if you did want to try out the skiing. Check out www.midvermont.com for ideas. By the way, Middlebury is about 4 1/2 hrs. from Manhattan.

Stowe is another great place that has a lot to offer besides skiing. A good site to check is www.gostowe.com. It's a bit longer drive from NY -- about 6 hrs.

I also love the mid vermont area - and if you stay in MIddlebury (when there is no major event at the college) the Swift House Inn is lovely and romantic, fireplaces, sauna, esp the larger rooms in the carriage house
the Bulrush or Blackhawk Rooms are lovely -
www.swifthouseinn.com (i believe if memory isn't altogether faded)

great breakfast too - and an easy drive on Rte 7 into Burlington - with lots of art studios, craft places along the way and the mountains and lake - and some great interesting museums - that midvermont.com site given above is great and he can click on attractions.

Does it have to be Vermont?

The Berkshires would be much closer and rates may be more favorable.

There are some terrific places to stay in Stockbridge and Lenox. Our favorite in Lenox is the Rookwood (with fireplaces and an easy walk to "town"). Lenox is an especially "romantic" town for staying, seeing/doing, dining.

If they are really planning on outdoor activities, then Stowe, VT.

My husband and I have stayed at a number of b&b's and inns in Vermont, especially southern Vermont. I'd recommend two especially. My favorite is a small b&b in Dorset Vermont, a beautiful small Vermont town just north of Manchester. Squire House has two guest rooms and one suite and we've always stayed in the suite--the sitting room has an already laid fireplace and nice tv and the bedroom a lovely queen-sized bed with a nice bath separating the two rooms. The owners have renovated this beautiful home and the breakfasts are wonderful too! Go to squirehouse.com to view the property and rooms.

The other inn is Windham Hill Inn in West Townshend, VT. Also lovely with many more rooms, but fabulous dining experience and lovely grounds atop a hill. Fireplaces in many rooms.

Either location offers lots of activities and both are simply beautiful areas.

For a romantic spot, I suggest the Maple Leaf Inn, in Barnard, not far from Woodstock, VT. We stayed there before we moved up here, and it was wonderful!

Check them out at this web site:

http://www.mapleleafinn.com/

This LOOKS like an "old" inn but was built by the owners in the last few years, so it has all the niceties of a modern inn. Examples:

Imagine a heated floor (very nice) in the gorgeous bathroom for each room.

A real fireplace that is set every day so that you need only open the damper, light the match to it, and enjoy.

Fabulous breakfasts.

Charming innkeepers.

Woodstock not far away, with many charming shops. (Be sure to go to Gillingham's -- a general store that will amaze you.)

Check them out.