A Cozy Winter Getaway at Vermont’s Grafton Inn

Winter weekends are made for cozy getaways and family travel to a country inn surrounded by snow-covered landscapes. And with an award-winning restaurant, there’s no need to walk outside to get from a chair by the fireplace to a table.

The Grafton Inn is the focal point of the idyllic Vermont village of Grafton, a few miles from I-91 in southern Vermont, and it has welcomed guests since 1801. Its heritage shows in the inn’s welcoming ambiance, fine antique furnishings and the warmth of the woodburning fireplace in the lobby, where guests can enjoy afternoon tea with fresh-baked cookies.

As afternoons begin to warm in late winter, there are rocking chairs on the long front porch that extends across one entire side of the inn. Looking out at Grafton’s white-steepled church and cluster of homes, it’s easy to see why people come here to relax and disconnect from everyday life.

Guestrooms set the scene for relaxing with supremely comfortable king- or queen-sized beds and seating areas with two wing chairs. While the décor recalls the stagecoach era with period wallpapers, Oriental rugs and framed prints of English sporting scenes, the bathrooms with tub-sized tiled showers are up to date.

A welcoming touch in each room is a generous block of cheddar from Grafton Village Cheese Company and a package of crackers; the cheese is made just down the street where visitors can watch the process.

Grafton Inn’s public spaces are just as inviting as the rooms. Opposite the front desk, wing chairs and a Chippendale sofa face the fireplace, and an adjoining guest parlor fills one entire side of the inn. Divided into two seating areas, the large room is a cozy place to relax with a glass of wine or borrow a book or game from the well-stocked shelves.

Dinners are a highlight of a weekend. The 1801 Tavern serves a seasonal menu highlighting products from local farms and producers. Expect the juicy burgers to be Vermont beef, and the cheese plate to feature some of the state’s famous cheesemakers. And you can be sure to see Vermont maple syrup on your breakfast pancakes or waffles.

If a walk around the picturesque village isn’t enough exercise, inn guests have use of Grafton Trails & Outdoor Centerfor cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or fat biking. Or take a few runs on the tubing hill or go for a sleigh ride.