• The Inn at Manchester (Manchester Village; tel. 800/273-1793 or 802/362-1793) sits on 4 acres of lawns and gardens just a half-mile from the budget shopping that draws so many visitors to Manchester. Rooms are in the main inn and a carriage house -- both on the National Register of Historic Places -- and are fresh and nicely furnished. Innkeepers Frank and Julie Hanes couldn't be friendlier or more helpful.

  • The Reluctant Panther (Manchester; tel. 800/822-2331 or 802/362-2568): This is one of my favorite inns in all of New England, never mind Vermont. Completely renovated after a devastating fire, it's the perfect hybrid of upscale luxury inn and old Vermont, with a gorgeous setting right at the foot of Mt. Equinox, a thoroughly professional staff, and modernized suites complete with Jacuzzis, fireplaces, flatscreen televisions, and the like. The inn restaurant is excellent, too.

  • Windham Hill Inn (West Townshend; tel. 800/944-4080 or 802/874-4080): New innkeepers have skillfully upgraded this historic inn, adding amenities such as soaking tubs, while still preserving the antique charm of this 1823 farmhouse. It's at the end of a remote dirt road in a high upland valley, and guests are welcome to explore 160 private acres on a network of walking trails.

  • Jackson House Inn (Woodstock; tel. 800/448-1890 or 802/457-2065): Constant improvements and meticulous attention to service make this longtime favorite a solid addition to any "best of" list. The meals are delectable, and the guest rooms are the picture of antique elegance. The only downside? It fronts a sometimes noisy road.

  • Twin Farms (Woodstock; tel. 800/894-6327 or 802/234-9999): Just north of Woodstock is the most elegant inn in New England. The prices will appall many readers (rooms start at $800 for two, including all meals and liquor), but you'll certainly be pampered. Novelist Sinclair Lewis once lived on this 300-acre farm; today, it's an aesthetic retreat with serenity and exceptional food.

  • Blueberry Hill Inn (Goshen; tel. 800/448-0707 or 802/247-6735): This remote, casual inn on a quiet byway surrounded by national forest is a great retreat. You can enjoy hiking and swimming in summer, skiing in the winter.

  • The Pitcher Inn (Warren; tel. 888/867-8424 or 802/496-6350): Innkeepers who try to meld whimsy with class often end up with disaster, but that's not the case here. This New England-village inn feels more historic than many old places. The dining room is top-notch.

  • The Woodstocker Inn B&B (Woodstock; tel. 802/457-3896): English owners possessed of a sense of humor, buckets of bright paint, a genteel dog, and an organic-product ethos add to a great place to stay just a stone's throw from both Woodstock's central Green and Mount Tom.

  • Inn at Round Barn Farm (Waitsfield; tel. 802/496-2276): The beautiful lap pool, hidden beneath the monumental former barn, is only one of the secrets of this charming inn. The rooms are romantic, the surrounding hillsides frame a picture of pastoral Vermont, and small touches everywhere make guests feel welcome.

  • Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.