Travel Guide: Honeymoon Close To Home in Central Vermont

Twin Farms’ woodsy locale is especially magical after a fresh snowfall. / Photo courtesy of Twin Farms

Our idea of a perfect post-wedding getaway? Plenty of opportunities for adventure in a magnificent setting—and Central Vermont, a four-season escape nestled among gorgeous hills and valleys, delivers in spades. With ample hiking and biking trails, postcard-worthy towns filled with shops and galleries, and must-see historical sites, it truly offers something for everyone. And that’s not even the best part: The area is also home to Twin Farms, an ultra-romantic resort that Forbes Travel Guide recently dubbed the finest hotel in the world.

Tucked away on 300 acres in secluded Barnard, the property boasts 20 unique accommodations—to say nothing of its ample amenities and locally sourced cuisine. Lodging runs the gamut from individually decorated cottages (think: a 3,000-square-foot hideaway with a floor-to-ceiling fireplace and double soaking tub) to art-laden rooms and suites in the main inn, a 1794 farm house that once belonged to famed authors Sinclair Lewis and Dorothy Thompson. Settle into your new digs and book a much-needed couple’s massage at the resort’s Bridge House Spa, an ideal place to kick back after a whirlwind wedding weekend.

Once you’re feeling recharged, train your sights on the great outdoors. Twin Farms offers downhill skiing on its private slopes, cross-country skiing, and skating, biking, tennis, fishing, and hiking—all perfect for enjoying a little quiet time in nature with your new spouse.

Of course, should you decide to leave the resort, options for exploring are plentiful, too. In warmer weather, it’s an easy (downhill) bike ride into historical Woodstock, one of Vermont’s most charming towns. Embrace your inner bibliophile at Yankee Bookshop, the state’s longest-running indie bookstore, or pick up some Vermont-made maple syrup at the town’s general store, F.H. Gillingham & Sons, which dates to 1886.

When you’ve finished browsing, head just a few minutes down the road to the equally quaint town of Quechee, home of the famed glassware and pottery-maker Simon Pearce. After you watch the glass-blowers create their masterpieces, treat yourself to a spin through the shop—a great place to fill in those bridal-registry gaps—and a romantic lunch at the onsite restaurant overlooking a waterfall and covered bridge.

Then again, you could simply stay put, close yourselves away in your room at Twin Farms, and enjoy those first few days of wedded bliss solo—until you’re ready to step outside and enjoy a little moonlight in the steamy furo, that is.

Getting There

Ditch the stress of flying anywhere right now and drive north on I-93 to Route 89—a contender for prettiest highway in the country, no matter the season.

Staying There

With the Greek isles, Swiss Alps, and gardens of Morocco calling your name, it’s easy to overlook your own backyard. Twin Farms, in Barnard, is equally posh and exotic in unexpected ways, with a Japanese furo (soaking bath), a private ski mountain, and a wine cellar that would make a Parisian sommelier green with envy.

Getting married? Start and end your wedding planning journey with Boston Weddings' guide to the best wedding vendors in the city.