The Woodstock Inn & Resort

Vermont may have a reputation for low-frills, homespun charm, as does the word Woodstock, with its hippie-era associations. But this is an entirely different Woodstock, both literally and figuratively. The Woodstock Inn, in the Vermont town of the same name, was founded by Laurance Rockefeller — in 1969, ironically enough — and though it’s recently undergone a thorough renovation, it’s stayed true to its aristocratic spirit: this is one of the most elegantly luxurious hotels, not only in Vermont, but in the whole of the Northeast.

We won’t dwell on the rooms, except to say they’re not just meticulously designed but fantastically luxurious as well — all newly renovated but all absolutely classic in style. There’s simply too much else to talk about; the Red Rooster, one of the region’s most highly regarded restaurants, sources many of its ingredients from the hotel’s own organic garden, while Richardson’s Tavern serves craft brews and spirits in a warm, clubby space.

The Inn also boasts a Robert Trent Jones golf course complete with club, pro shop, and the Fairway Grill restaurant and bar. And the Woodstock Foundation also owns the nearby Suicide Six ski resort. The Billings Farm & Museum, a half-mile away, is open for tours, tastings, and daily dairy milkings. Add to that a full-service spa, a tennis club, and facilities for Nordic skiing and falconry — yes, falconry — and you’ve got enough diversion to get you through a year-long stay....