The “work hard, play harder, then rest easy” mantra is a favorite in my house, especially after Labor Day.
My wife and I, and our two daughters, all love to get outside and explore, especially once the temperatures start to cool off and the hardwoods begin their annual fireworks display.
Finding a “hidden gem” these days is getting more and more difficult, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A robust tourism industry throughout New England is good for the entire region. But we still have a few special spots, once the leaves start producing their annual magic.
VERMONT
Wildflower Inn ▪ Lyndonville | windflowerinn.com
Few inns have evolved to keep pace with an everchanging recreational landscape quite like the Wildflower Inn on Darling Hill Road. Mary and Jim O’Reilly converted the old farm into an inn in 1985, when East Burke was a dedicated ski town. But with the introduction of the Kingdom Trails 24 years ago, things began to transform, and the O’Reillys found their inn located smack in the middle of the network. Today, that network has expanded to more than 100 miles of trail. The O’Reillys adapted, adding the Village Sports Shop Trailside (offering repairs, sales and rentals) in 2014, and then The Hub pub at the back of the shop and Kingdom Cycling & Experiences (offering guided tours) in 2016. The inn also hosts the annual bike-apalooza known as NEMBA Fest every June. These are some of the most particular riders you’ll find anywhere, and they flock to the Wildflower. Start the day with a hearty breakfast, and end it with a beverage at the inn’s SpokeEasy pub or The Hub.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Inn at Mountain View Farm — at the head of Kingdom Trails in East Burke (innmtnview.com), the Village Inn of East Burke (villageinnofeastburke.com), and the Burke Bike Barn (burkebikebarn.com).
The Inn at the Round Barn Farm ▪ Waitsfield | theroundbarn.com
Looking for a midweek escape? I highly recommend the Inn at the Round Barn Farm in Vermont’s Mad River Valley. The place is typically booked solid on the weekends, hosting more than 40 weddings each year. Monday through Thursday, however, the Round Barn goes quiet, and the inn with its beautifully appointed rooms takes center stage. There are myriad activities, ranging from gravel and mountain biking, hiking, golfing, glider rides, shopping and sampling a host of splendid restaurants (including American Flatbread). Don’t miss the inn’s sumptuous, farm-fresh breakfasts.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: The Pitcher Inn, Warren (pitcherinn.com), Weathertop Mountain Inn (weathertopmountaininn.com) and Waitsfield Inn, Waitsfield (waitsfieldinn.com).
Sun & Ski Inn and Suites ▪ Stowe | sunandskiinn.com
Between the town and the ski resort, Stowe has plenty of options for active travelers during the fall months. The resort has rock-climbing, ziplining, hiking and the Gondola Skyride. You also can take the Auto Toll Road to the top of Mount Mansfield, the state’s highest peak. And the town itself is full of terrific little shops, galleries and restaurants, plus a nicely paved bike path. But what makes this spot on Mountain Road really stand out, and a particular favorite for families with young children, are two longtime favorites — miniature golf and bowling. Add a heated pool and parents have all the elements to make sure their kids are preoccupied, and happy. The rooms are neat and clean, though not luxurious. But after a day running around town, you won’t have any trouble getting to sleep.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Stoweflake Resort and Spa (stoweflake.com), and the Trapp Family Lodge (trappfamily.com).
Amee Farm Lodge ▪ Pittsfield | ameefarm.com
Vermont is considered by some to be New England’s ski capital, but its majestic hills and wooded areas also make it a premier fall getaway. No one knows that better than Spartan Race impresario Joe DeSena, who has been converting this sleeping little town into an adventure mecca since he bought up a number of properties and launched the Death Race more than a decade ago. About an hour south of Vermont’s capital city of Montpelier, Amee Farm is a traditional B&B situated on 40 acres right on Route 100, wedged between the serrated hillsides. In addition to hiking and horseback-riding trails, check out the 25 miles of switchback fun at Green Mountain Trails (gmtrails.org). A post-adventure beverage on the inn’s wrap-around porch, with sublime mountain views, is one of life’s great pleasures.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: The Swiss Farm Inn (swissfarminn.com), and the Trailside Inn (trailsideinnvt.com).
Mountain Lake Cottages ▪ Westmore | vermontmountainlakecottages.com
These idyllic lakefront cottages are located directly on the shores of majestic Lake Willoughby, in Vermont’s scenic Northeast Kingdom. The property sits on 4.3 acres with 330 feet of lakefront and offers kayaking/canoeing, hiking, mountain biking and magnificent sunset viewing. The two-bedroom cottages sleep five and are equipped with heat, a full kitchen, range with oven, bathroom with shower and a stone fireplace.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
The Wentworth ▪ Jackson | thewentworth.com
For years, every fall, my mountain bike buddies and I would run off to North Conway for “Boyz Weekends.” The area had everything we needed, from thigh-busting riding to delightful watering holes and top-notch restaurants. All we needed was an old ski house. These days, my wife and I still love the area, but we prefer lodging that’s a bit more upscale. The Wentworth Inn in the village of Jackson delivers every time. We can opt for a room or a condo, depending on the size of our group. And the village has a number of excellent dining options (the Wildcat Tavern and the Shannon Door being two choice spots). First-class golfing, cycling (including downhilling at Attitash/Bear Peak resort), hiking and even shopping are all within minutes.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: The Inn at Thorn Hill (innatthornhill.com), and the Darby Field Inn, Conway (darbyfield.com).
Colonel Spencer Inn ▪ Campton | colonelspencerbb.com
Whether you plan to play at Loon Mountain in Lincoln or Waterville Valley Resort, the Colonel Spencer Inn in Campton is a great launching pad. In almost any direction, you can find hiking, cycling, golfing, fishing and boating. Two local highlights for me are the Six Burner Bistro, located in an 1850s farmhouse on South Main Street in the college town of Plymouth, and the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness. Plymouth also is home to The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center, which is developing quite a reputation for bringing in top-notch musical talent to New Hampshire’s north country.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: The Woodstock Inn Station and Brewery (woodstockinnnh.com) and the RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain (riverwalkresortatloon.com).
Colby Hill Inn ▪ Henniker | colbyhillinn.com
South-central New Hampshire, just west of Concord, is an underappreciated (read: less crowded) area for outdoor enthusiasts. Of course, most people know about Pats Peak Ski Area, but the mountain biking, road cycling, hiking (check out Miller State Park) and fly-fishing in the area is just outstanding. The Colby Hill Inn, located on the scenic Currier and Ives Byway, is a perfect hub for these outings, with relaxing rooms and an award-winning restaurant, The Grazing Room, run by chef/proprietor Bruce Barnes. Fat-tire and road cycling fans can learn more about the local routes at Cyclesmith on Main Street.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: The Henniker House Bed & Breakfast (hennikerhouse.com) and The Maples at Warner (hemaplesatwarner.com)
MAINE
Maine Huts & Trails ▪ Carrabassett Valley | mainehuts.org
If you want to immerse yourself in the Maine woods, there’s no place better to do it than the high-end lodges of the Maine Huts & Trails near Sugarloaf ski resort. The serpentine trail system near Stratton Brook and Poplar huts (the two closest to Sugarloaf) is simply exceptional, ideal for both mountain biking and hiking (though hikers will want to keep an ear out for descending cyclists, and vice versa). The “huts” are really high-end lodges, with one caveat. The main buildings are spectacular, with hand-made wood and leather furnishings, hot showers, cold beverages and warm breakfasts and dinners (plus a bag lunch) all included in an overnight stay. However, the sleeping quarters are bare bones, and guests need to bring their own sleeping bags (gear shuttles are available).
HONORABLE MENTIONS: The Bethel Inn Resort, Bethel (bethelinn.com) and The Inn on Winter’s Hill, Kingfield (wintershill.com).
16 Bay View Hotel ▪ Camden | 16bayview.com
Don’t judge this hotel by its blue-collar, red-brick exterior abutting Camden Harbor. This luxury boutique hotel is home to one of the nicest waterside, rooftop bars in the Northeast. That alone makes 16 Bay View a gem. Now add all the fabulous attractions surrounding the inn and the town, and you’ve got a winning combination. The gallery and restaurant scene is vibrant (including the lively Rhumb Line at Lyman-Morse boat builders), as is the outdoor activities. No matter what kind of bike you own — mountain, road, gravel or hybrid — you’ll have plenty of routes to choose from. But you’ll definitely want to spend some time on the ocean too.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: 50 Main, Rockland (250mainhotel.com), Samoset Resort, Rockport (samosetresort.com), and Timbercliffe Cottage, Camden (timbercliffecottage.com).
The Lodge at Moosehead Lake ▪ Greenville | lodgeatmooseheadlake.com
This is where my daughter, when she was all of 6, came face-to-face with a young moose. Really, that’s all you need to know about how close this place puts you to nature. Activities range from seaplane and ATV rides to fishing and kayak/canoe outings to nearby Kineo Island (with a short, fun fire-tower hike to follow). The moose safari and wildlife tours are a must, as is the midnight canoe trip with a registered Maine guide. The locally sourced dinners are a bonus.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: North Country Inn, Rangeley (northcountrybb.com) and Moose Mountain Inn, Greenville (moosemountaininn.com).
MASSACHUSETTS
The Wauwinet ▪ Nantucket | wauwinet.com
True confession: Even though we call Boston’s North Shore home, my family and I always steer clear of Cape Cod during the summer. I’m not anti-social, really. I just can’t stand the bumper-to-bumper traffic. Conversely, autumn on Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket is a special treat. Nantucket, 100 miles and a ferry ride away from Boston, is a former whaling community that bleeds history, with cobblestone streets, attentive lighthouses and bustling harbors and beaches. On the island’s secluded northern tip, The Wauwinet is a neighborhood inn that allows us to step back in time. This 32-room property offers a classic New England experience, with cozy guestrooms or private cottages, daily port wine and cheese hours, seasonal drinks and nature trails surrounding the lawns.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: 1720 House, Martha’s Vineyard (1720house.com), 1750 Inn at Sandwich Center (innatsandwich.com) and The Inn at Yarmouthport, Yarmouth (theinnatyarmouthport.com).
CONNECTICUT
Winvian Farm ▪ Litchfield Hills | Winvian.com
Western Connecticut is a hidden gem for cyclists and leaf peepers, with endless ribbons of gravel roads and trails. Just outside of Morris, in the untroubled countryside, Winvian Farm is a stately property with 18 cottages. The space is perfect for experiencing the outdoors, with recreational activities including badminton, croquet, mountain biking, gravel riding and 113 acres for hiking. There’s also kayaking, canoeing and fly-fishing (make sure you have a license for the latter). For an added dose of Mother Nature’s finest, the on-site farm-to-table restaurant offers excellent seasonal dining straight from the property’s garden, with a wonderfully diverse wine cellar to match.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Interlaken Inn, Lakeville (interlakeninn.com) and The Litchfield Inn (litchfieldinnct.com).
