Inn It Great

The Okemo Inn in Ludlow VT, built in 1810 as the private residence of Reverend Peter Read, was my home away from home for a week in October, and staying at this quaint and cluttered traditional New England home was a real delight.

If you have a car – and in Vermont, you gotta have a car – it is also perfectly located for jaunts and day trips all over Vermont, which in itself is the perfect place to discover America. Okemo Inn is just a minute's drive from Ludlow and its restaurants – from the Cool Moose to Sam’s Steakhouse – and close enough to the city of Rutland to feel comfortable, but secluded enough to let you know you’re really in the Green Mountains.

My wonderful hosts, Ron and Teri, were very gracious and made me feel right at home. Every little nook and every stenciled wall in their 10-room inn is evidence that they put their hearts and souls into this place for the past three decades.

I started my day with a hearty breakfast, including a fresh muffin and juice, eggs, waffle or pancakes, bacon or sausage and much more  (check out the pics), not to mention a pleasant conversation with some of the other guests (one morning I even saw a deer passing by the big leaded windows. I tried to ambush it again in the mornings but to no avail, so I don't have a picture).

And after a long day of hiking, driving and exploring (more on that in my next post) I unwound in front of the big screen TV in the little sun room. There are also two parlors where you can sit and chat, play card and board games or read quietly – just pick one of the countless thrillers, novels and magazines stacked or strewn about every which way.

This little contraption, one of many antiques and interesting pieces of furniture at the inn, is a punching machine, and the reason why we still use the phrase to punch a card, even today.

As for the rooms themselves, they are simple but very pleasant. All have two queen or king size beds, and the rates are reasonable. The rooms are en-suite, though some of the bathrooms are a bit small, and the shower itself could feel claustrophobic if you are very large or tall. I stayed in Reverend Read's former parlor. Though my bed was a bit too hard for my taste, these little issues did not detract from the lovely time I had at this beautiful and eclectic inn. I've stayed in many hotels, motels and B&Bs, and some of the little touches at the Okemo Inn really made my day – like the powder room by the dining room, which was well hidden behind a very old wooden door. Inside was a large shelf with a nice assortment of sanitary products and other stuff, just in case you forgot to bring your own.

So if you're just like me – if you love quaint little inns with a bit of history and a lot of charm, and would much rather stay in a place filled with character and warmth instead of a soulless motel (even if the decor is not exactly your cup of tea) – this is the place for you.

[I have decided to write this post in English because a lot of potential guests at the Okemo Inn are English spkears, but I also have plans to expand my blog and include more posts in English in the near future. Stay tuned. -Inga]