Thanks in part to Robert Frost, Norman Rockwell and, decades later, Bob Newhart, Vermont has defined America’s sense of quaintness for more than a century. We think of little horses “stopping by woods” after a fresh snowfall, of foliage, maple syrup, town commons and country stores.
If you want to experience some of this authentic small-town charm — with easy access to the mountains, to boot — look no further than The Weston, which was opened in December 2023 by the Sharp family, who also own Forbes Travel Guide Four Star The Carlyle and Gramercy Park in New York and Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Beverly Wilshire in L.A.
The hotel sits in the town of Weston, which has a population of about 650 people and is home to the original Vermont County Store and the renowned Weston Theater Company. Between Manchester and Ludlow, it’s convenient for exploring a range of ski mountains and other outdoor destinations. Okemo, Bromley and Magic Mountain lie 15 minutes away, while the drive to either Stratton or Killington is just over half an hour — all without any of the congestion that besets more popular mountain towns.
While The Weston’s location is a dream for skiing, it’s idyllic year-round. The historic, colonial-style hotel has only five rooms and three suites, however, so if you’re looking to visit during the popular summer and autumn months, you’ll want to book well in advance.
With so few guests, The Weston’s service feels both impeccable and personal. The hotel also owns and operates its own farm, which chef Bretton Combs regularly inspects to design exquisite, field-to-fork dining at The Left Bank. (Be sure to try the rhubarb ice cream.) Pastries are also locally sourced from The Weston’s own Green Cat café, across the street. On certain evenings, oyster tastings and wine flight events take place in the courtyard.
Vermont charms with its bucolic landscapes, but it’s also a premier outdoor destination. In addition to alpine thrills, The Weston provides easy access to snowshoeing and Nordic skiing. For example, Wild Wings, in neighboring Peru, Vermont, offers 16 miles of classic cross-country trails, six miles of which have wider lanes for skate-skiing. Hiking options abound, too, including The Long Trail, which runs the length of the state. Southern Vermont has excellent fly fishing and wing shooting, and nearby Manchester is home to the Orvis headquarters, on the world-famous Battenkill River.
The following are just a few additional ways to scratch your adventure itch over the course of a weekend at The Weston.
Local Waterfalls and Lowell Lake
Depending on which direction you’re arriving from, Buttermilk Falls (20 minutes north) or Lowell Lake State Park (13 minutes southeast) are excellent side quests, both gorgeous in their own ways. The falls have two levels and a popular swimming hole. In the summer, the temperature drops about 10 degrees as you descend to the river. The sun slants through the pines and cedars, and the scents of water, moss and earth make it feel like a little fairy kingdom. Even in mid-summer, this mountain stream water stays cold and refreshing.
Visitors can also swim at Lowell Lake Park, though the water here is considerably warmer due to its shallowness, only about 20 feet at its deepest point. A 3.5-mile trail winds in a loop of mostly flat terrain along the shoreline. Part of this hike passes through an abandoned summer camp and it also meanders through a white pine forest, along wetlands and past a historic cemetery. Lowell Lake’s picnic tables make it a superb spot to bring lunch from one of the many general stores in the area.
Okemo’s Fire Tower
In Ludlow, just 10.9 miles up Route 100 from The Weston, Okemo’s main draw is skiing, but the mountain also boasts excellent hiking trails. You can either climb all the way from the base, drive to a lot near the summit or take the Sunburst Six chairlift. If you opt for the long way, you’ll ascend about 1,900 feet over three miles to reach the summit. Round-trip takes about four hours. The shorter trails from the upper lot or the top of Sunburst are only about a half mile.
The fire tower itself is the harrowing part of the adventure, but it’s well worth climbing. Originally built of wood in 1923, the Civilian Conservation Corps replaced it with its current steel structure in 1934. It stands 60 feet tall, offers 360-degree panoramic views of the nearby ski areas, and it’s one of only 16 towers remaining in the Green Mountains.
Orvis Fly Fishing School
Charles F. Orvis founded his eponymous company in 1856, predating the golden age of American field sports by about a decade. From its headquarters in Manchester, Orvis also became one of the nation’s first mail-order retail operations. Leigh Perkins purchased it in 1965 and expanded the catalog into clothing and luggage segments. Over the past few decades, his son and grandchildren have helped make the brand synonymous with fly fishing and wing shooting through Orvis Adventures and its schools.
From The Weston, Orvis Fly Fishing School lies 20.7 miles southeast. It’s a pretty drive, passing through villages, farmland and a narrow section of Green Mountain National Forest. The school is across the street from Orvis’ retail headquarters, and students receive coupons that they can put to quick, practical use.
You can choose from one- or two-day courses, both of which spend most of the time outdoors but also include indoor instruction. School days run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a lunch break, and sessions include topics ranging from types of flies to knot-tying.
Fly casting technique is the main subject, however. Whether you are experienced in the sport or a first timer, your skills can improve exponentially under the expert tutelage of master guides like Truel Myers, who has been teaching for 30 years and fishing even longer. By day’s end, you’ll have made progress with roll casting, false casting and shooting line.
The guides monitor students closely as well, and if they identify someone who looks ready for the next level, they might teach the more advanced “double-haul” technique, especially useful for saltwater action. The two-day course also takes students to the Battenkill for lessons on reading the water, fly placement and actual fishing.
