4 Best Hotels in Woodstock, Central Vermont

This charming inn dating to 1840 is as authentic as it gets in Vermont. The guest rooms—put together by owner Sara Widness, an expert on luxury travel and a poet to boot—are adorned with tapestries, antique rugs, claw-foot tubs, comfortable sofas, and old bed frames, while the outdoor garden feels Edenlike at full bloom.

Behind a somewhat bland prefab exterior lies an eclectic boutique experience, thanks in large part to the virtual curiosity cabinet of exotic (or faux exotic) knickknacks stuffed throughout the premises, brought by the Africa-based owners. The space also offers an impressive range of amenities, including an arcade, toddler room, indoor pool, sauna, bar, restaurant, gift shop, and more.

You're likely to fall in love at first sight with the main 1828 three-story brick building here, the centerpiece of this 15-acre retreat, but wait until you see the spring-fed pond, which has a white sand beach with toys for kids. Many rooms have a fireplace or a Franklin stove—some have private decks or terraces—and the on-site restaurant, Ransom Tavern, serves up some of the best wood-fired pizza in the state.

Many rooms in this immaculate motel have decks, and most have fabulous views of Ottauquechee River, which runs right along the building. The rooms are simple—a step above usual motel fare—with four-poster beds and wing chairs; rooms in the annex known as the Cape have hot tubs.