Inn to Inn Walking in Southern Vermont

Inn to Inn walking is a common experience for Europeans touring the British Isles in particular.  The nearest one can get to such an experience here in the United States is Vermont Inn to Inn Walking, touring Southern Vermont Inns.  This series of Blogs is dedicated to the families who own and manage these beautiful, romantic bed and breakfasts in Southern Vermont.

Apple Knoll Partners With Vermont Inn to Inn Walking

Located in the village of Weston, Vermont is the fourth partner in the "Vermont Inn to Inn Walking" group of Inns; Apple Knoll Inn.  The owners of this impeccably restored 200 year old home, Wes and Lisa purchased the property in 2010.  

 

Wes & Lisa met at work, living in the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, CA.  Wes was born and raised in the Pasadena area. Lisa was a small town, east coast girl with roots in New England.  Lisa introduced New England to Wes and without much convincing, confirmed that New England would someday be their home. Los Angeles was losing its luster for the pair and they knew something bigger and more fulfilling lie ahead.

While vacationing in the Loire Valley of France, they deepened their passion for the country and admired the Innkeeper’s lifestyle.  They knew if they didn’t make the break soon, they’d have to wait another 10 years as their son was just coming to age and uprooting him as a teenager was not an option.  With much soul searching and financial crunching, they decided to take the plunge.  So, they sold the LA home and made the trek across country.  Driving back to VT was interesting as everybody else was headed to LA. The Hupp family settled into Belmont, VT for 6 years exploring and investigating B&B opportunities.  In 2010 they came across the Darling Family Inn and decided it was time to put the pedal to the metal.  With no turning back they plunged into purchasing the Inn and reopened it in 2011 as the Apple Knoll Inn.   

The Inn rests beside a knoll, occupied by large old apple trees that have watched over the property for decades. The house has a rich history as an inn since the 1950’s when the Swart’s opened the 1830s farmhouse to guests as the Black Shutters Inn. The Inn was sold in the mid 80’s and the name changed to the Darling Family Inn where for 30 years they built a grand reputation, fulfilling the lodging needs of the area. The Apple Knoll Inn has been filled with items from yesteryear, private family memorabilia and a yearning for comfortable fireside chats. It has been a welcoming retreat to new guests as well as prior Darling and Black Shutter’s guests.  Wes and Lisa hope to keep the tradition alive for the next 30 years!  

Penny and Dan Cote
Owners of Inn Victoria, a Chester, Vermont Bed and Breakfast 

Vermont Inn to Inn Walking Tours Features Coumbes Family Inn

Your tour of Vermont country inns begin here.  Remember vacations when you were a kid?  A time when you could enjoy a carefree time among the trees, or near a lake shore, or just lay in the grass on hillsides.  Vacations were undistracted, relaxing, and simple.  Welcome back to those days at The Combes Family Inn.

This beautiful hillside farmhouse Inn sits in the middle of a 50-acre field, on a quiet dirt road near Lake Rescue and Echo, just off Route 100 North of Okemo Mountain.  The Combes Family Inn Bed and Breakfast is a true FAMILY inn, a century‑old farmhouse.  Sample Bills country breakfast and Ruth’s delicious home cooking; as a member of the walking tour, you'll savor this Vermont home style cooking.

Innkeepers Bill and Ruth Combes have operated the Combes Family Inn for 30 years. There are 11 guest rooms, all with private baths. Enjoy hearty, home cooked meals, a roaring fire on a cold night, or a stroll along the many back roads, paths and trails that surround the Inn.

The lakes area is truly a tranquil place to be and you are sure to want to come back.

Penny and Dan Cote
Owners of Inn Victoria, a Chester Vermont Bed and Breakfast

Vermont Walking Tours, Meet the Inn Keepers and Their Bed and Breakfasts of Soutnern Vermont

The next four blogs will focus on the Innkeepers and their Southern Vermont Bed and Breakfasts.  Inn Victoria, a Romantic Vermont Bed and Breakfast will be this week's featured B&B.  Located in the village of Chester, "Vermont's Prettiest Painted Village", this beautiful 1851 Victorian and its owners Penny & Dan await your arrival.

After 30 years of marriage and 25 years of living the corporate life, we finally made the leap to our 30 year dream of having our own business, specifically a B&B. For years we asked ourselves how to get off the fast track of corporate life and actually take time to enjoy each other and other people. I believe we have found the balance! Our two oldest children have married and are leading successful lives. Our youngest is midway through school at Norwich University in Northern Vermont. This allows us the opportunity to follow the dream operating our own Vermont bed and breakfast.  

In August of 2010, Penny and I recommitted our vows through a wedding ceremony on an island in Casco Bay off the coast of Portland Maine. We invited 50 friends, surprised Penny with a wedding dress, lobster bake and boat ride out to the island. We had a fantastic time, but most importantly we decided that life together was getting shorter and our time together is more important to us than the corporate life.
We love people, we love serving with a gracious servant's attitude, and we enjoy watching people in our inn smile at the simple pleasures we are able to bring to them.

Our beautiful Victorian inn was built circa 1850, as a family residence for Dr. Abram Lowell (who gave his name to the nearby Lake and State park). He used the small building to the side (now Mr. Brown's Cottage) as his medical office. The building was later enlarged (circa 1880) by his son in law, George Hilton, who added the third story and mansard roof in the typical grandiose French second empire fashion. Known for many years as the Hilton house, Inn Victoria is the only example of this architectural style in the historic town of Chester.

After the days' 10 mile walk a very relaxing atmosphere awaits you at inn Victoria.  Shower or bathe, put your feet up and prepare for a wonderful evening of food and drink to replenish.  Many of our walking tour guests have enjoyed their short stay with us so much  that they have returned for additional days.

Penny and Dan Cote
Owners of Inn Victoria, a Chester Vermont Bed and Breakfast

Vermont Inn to Inn Walking Tours

Vermont is a beautiful state with things to see and do at any time of year. Four Bed and Breakfast Inns have banded together to bring a new spin to the Vermont vacation scene.

The idea is very simple- guests from all over, who love to walk and hike fly into an airport close (within 2 hours) to Okemo Valley, Vermont. The first Innkeeper will pick them up at that airport and escort them to the first Inn, where they will have a lovely dinner and breakfast the next morning. To the delight of the hiking enthusiast, the tour begins, rambling through the gorgeous Vermont countryside. After five to ten miles of walking the trail between the Inns, they are greeted by the next Innkeeper with a nice dinner and subsequent day's breakfast.  This continues through four different inns and all the while, the guest's bags are ferried to the succeeding inn by the previous Innkeeper, so all that is needed is a backpack with lunch and drinks for along the way. 


A web site dedicated to the Vermont Inn to Inn Walking Tours is currently in operation but will soon be updated with new information and fresh photography. Check it out soon!