If you cannot make it in time for the Simpsons’ “Springfield” movie premiere July 21st perhaps now is the time to plan your own adventure in Springfield, Vermont. While it may not be Bart and Lisa in your car’s back seat, a road trip through Vermont is a great family getaway in any season. Enjoy the magnificence of the waterfalls along the Black River and take time to savor real Vermont maple-syrup-laced breakfasts provided by Vermont’s local Bed and Breakfasts. Childhood memories are freshened in great little towns like Springfield when you explore vintage shops and the venerable antique toy collection showcased during the summer months in the Miller Art Center.
The Hartness House Inn in Springfield Vermont is a spectacularly spacious inn with a multitude of amenities and was the former home of acclaimed astronomer James Hartness. A Victorian dining room is a fine setting for a superb Vermont country breakfast as well as in the evening for fine dining. The Hartness House has a swimming pool for summer visitors and a variety of hiking trails enjoyed year round that start from this 35-acre property. The inn is also known for its many package offerings for active sports, seasonal activities and events as well as weddings.
While you won’t find Homer or Marge Simpson at the Baker Road Inn, you will be warmly greeted by innkeepers Janet & Richard. They offer especially tasty breakfasts using local products, often organic. Consider booking one of the innkeepers’ unique Back Roads Tours and enjoy the sparkling magic of Vermont’s starry nights. Baker Road Inn provides comfortable and relaxing lodging, with modern amenities like wireless Internet access, if you must.
A few miles down the road from Springfield you will find the Victorian town of Chester, with its turn-of-the-century Green Mountain Flyer train ride and the Stone House Village built in the early 1800s. A few more miles will take you to Grafton, probably best known by foodies for its famed Grafton Cheddar Cheese. You can watch the cheese being made, as well as sample and purchase some to bring home.
If your summer plans are already made, schedule a road trip to experience the grandeur of southeastern Vermont’s fall foliage. Or, if you the love the outdoors in winter, plan to ski at Okemo or Ascutney, explore the many cross-country trails through rural villages, and enjoy ice skating and snow shoeing options.
So, as you and your family chuckle along with the Simpsons’ adventures, don’t forget to plan your own family journey through the bucolic countryside of Vermont, chock full of activities in any season. Here’s a partial list of some bed and breakfasts in the area that welcome families and provide comfortable and relaxing lodging.
Hartness House
30 Orchard Street
Springfield VT 05156
Web: www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/vermont/hartnesshouseandrestaurant.htm
Baker Road Inn
29 Baker Road
Springfield VT 05156
Web: www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/vermont/bakerroad.htm
Quail Hollow Inn
225 Pleasant Street
Chester VT 05143
Web: www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/vermont/quailhollow.htm
Inn at Cranberry Farm
61 Williams Road
Chester VT 05143
Web: www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/vermont/madrigalfineartscenterltd.htm
Hugging Bear Inn
244 Main St
Chester VT 05143
Web: www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/vermont/huggingbearshoppe.htm
Henry Farm Inn
2206 Green Mountain Turnpike
Chester VT 05143
Web: www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/vermont/henryfarm.htm
Park Light Inn
232 Depot Street
Chester VT
Web: www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/vermont/parklightinn.htm
Chester House Inn
266 Main Street
Chester VT 05143
Web: www.iloveinns.com/bed_and_breakfasts/vermont/chesterhouse.htm
About American Historic Inns and iLoveInns.com
American Historic Inns, Inc. (www.iloveinns.com), founded in 1981, is the leading publisher of bed & breakfast guidebooks, with more than 2.5 million bed & breakfast guidebooks sold, and runs iLoveInns.com, the top bed & breakfast and country inns online directory listing 19,500 properties.
Note: For photos or interviews, please contact Marcia Rockwood at 949-497-2232, ext. 301.
