The 7 most romantic hotel getaways in Vermont

Cross-country ski trails wind across the sprawling property behind the Woodstock Inn & Resort, whose old-fashioned style is updated with thoughtful design and amenities. Afternoon tea is served each day in the book-lined conservatory, while rooms look over the property’s organic gardens and 18-hole golf course.

Downtown Woodstock is steps away, offering strollable art galleries, souvenir shops, and farm-to-table cafes. Hike across the nearby covered bridge and up to the gentle summit of Mount Tom, earning vistas across a surrounding patchwork of farm fields and forest. For a closer look at Vermont’s farming traditions, visit nearby Billings Farm & Museum to meet brown-spotted cows who graze by million-dollar views.

A prime location on Stowe’s Mountain Road means Topnotch Resort is perfect for early-bird couples ready to hit the slopes of Mount Mansfield for hiking, biking, or skiing. Vermont’s highest peak is a year-round destination, with summer trails giving way to some of the best snow sports in New England. (Or you can simply hop the gondola to the summit for alpine access without all the work.)

The onsite spa at Topnotch Resort is made for post-adventure relaxation: Soak in hot tubs with views across the valley, book a couple’s massage, or snag a lounger by the indoor or outdoor pool. After dark, flickering gas fireplaces illuminate the property, and the hotel packs ready-made s’mores kits so you can toast your own sticky treats right over the flames.

A family-owned charmer sprawling over a forested Manchester estate, The Wilburton exudes old-fashioned appeal. The grand salon has a wood-burning fireplace and grand piano, while outdoor Adirondack chairs look over a rolling, mountain skyline.

To ramp up romance, plan for an in-room massage from the inn’s on-call specialist. Booking a fall foliage package means innkeepers will greet you with a bottle of wine and bread from the inn’s nearby sister farm and bakery, Earth Sky Time.

Guest rooms in the Wilburton Mansion are full of handpicked antiques, and guest houses in a range of styles dot the property. The two- bedroom Innkeeper’s Cottage features a private deck with views across the valley to Mount Equinox — or you can drive to the top of the mountain for the ultimate Manchester panorama.

With a rural location outside of St. Johnsbury, the Rabbit Hill Inn offers classic hospitality and gourmet cuisine. All eight rooms are appointed with fireplaces and fluffy robes ideal for lounging on winter evenings, while private porches look out over manicured grounds that bloom in summer months. Venture out to explore the artwork at the nearby St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, a small-town library with grand style. Then head to Dog Mountain and browse the canine-themed stained glass artist Stephen Huneck installed in the hillside Dog Chapel.

Each day begins with a candlelight breakfast. Be sure to make it back to the inn for afternoon tea, which features treats made fresh each day. The onsite restaurant is a region-wide destination, too, offering specialties including house-made pasta and Spanish-style octopus. With just one seating each night, the 14-table dining room invites leisurely dinners (and ensures there’s plenty of time to linger over dessert).

Shiny cruiser bikes at the stylish and modern Hotel Vermont are ideal for exploring the nearby Burlington Bike Path, which traces the scenic shore of Lake Champlain. Grab a pair to explore together, or head in the other direction to Church Street – a car-free string of boutiques and restaurants that bustle on warm summer evenings.

Craft beer enthusiasts can book tasting tours with Hotel Vermont’s beer concierge, who is full of inside tips on the best places to sip locally made brews. On snowy nights, snag a coveted spot by the open fireplace in the hotel lobby, instead, where you can sip craft cocktails from the onsite Juniper Bar as you watch the sidewalks turn white.

The chic cocktail bar at Ludlow’s fresh-feeling Main + Mountain Bar and Hotel is a hangout for townies and visitors alike, with drinks that feature locally sourced spirits. The bar sets a convivial tone for this no-fuss, 13- room “boutique motel” in downtown Ludlow, walking distance from the ski shops and restaurants of the town center.

In-room gear closets are ready for active adventures, and Okemo Mountain is under a mile away – that means summertime trails and snow sports all winter long. To taste Vermont’s sweetest crop, make an afternoon trip to Ludlow’s Green Mountain Sugarhouse, where you can learn how maple syrup is made and pick up bottles to bring home.

Blink and you’ll miss tiny Warren village, where there’s just a country store, a clear-running river, and The Pitcher Inn — it’s a prestigious Relais & Châteaux property where you’d least expect one. Each of the inn’s 11 plush rooms and suites has its own theme – many decorated with hewn logs and flannel to remind guests that despite the luxe amenities, they’re still in mountain country; Sugarbush Resort has downhill skiing and mountain biking a few minutes away.

Whatever your adventure of choice, plan to return in time for dinner at 275 Main at The Pitcher Inn, whose seasonal menu is matched with an impressive wine list. In-room whirlpool tubs and radiant floor heating ensure that nights are cozy, and the onsite spa offers pampering treatments from massages to pedicures and facials.