HAPPY NEW YEAR — I “do not do” New Year’s resolutions, but I have promised myself to get out and about more in 2026 than I did in 2025, and then document for my memory and to share with you – particularly things you may enjoy experiencing as I have. This tale is about a place I discovered during the Manchester, VT “Inn to Inn” tour in December 2023, and then again visited in December 2024, but never got to sharing – until now. THE WEST MOUNTAIN INN in Arlington, Vermont.

Backing up a tad, you know how special THE RED LION INN in Stockbridge, MA, has been for me for going on 30 years. Things have been changing, and when I went to book a stay in December to experience Chesterwood with its holiday decorations I found things had continued to change and not really to my liking. It was time to experience THE WEST MOUNTAIN INN, which I have had my eye on, even driving up on my way home from Saratoga in November. I booked my stay for 15-17 January.

Off I went over the hills to Manchester, and instead of heading down US Route 7A (the original US 7) I have a fun road to the east between 7A and the “new” super slab 7. Happy to show you on a map in person, but before you get to Manchester 0n Route 30, turn left on Richville Road – when it ends at River Road turn left (south) it becomes Sunderland Hill Road – and you cross the Chiselville Covered Bridge to East Arlington. I explored Chiselville and shared with you 4 February 2021. I love this road, and have now learned from the tourist booklet THE SHIRES OF SOUTHWESTERN VERMONT that this bridge is shown in the Diane Keaton movie BABY BOOM. Well, also in reading the booklet about the various towns I learned that my favorite Peru (Vermont that is) is a major filming location for the movie – which yes, I watched the other night for the first time, and enjoyed it.

You then enter East Arlington which I first visited in the mid 1970s, but actively since 1990. Filled with antique shops – all now vacant buildings below (click to enlarge if you wish). The great red building, the old theater with additions, I pulled many books out of up until it closed maybe 14 years ago (but after loosing Cathy). The other three shops closed before I moved to NH – the second floor above the post office had a great multi-dealer shop also, and I purchased a large original Nipper Dog taking it back to my Haddoonfield bookshop about 1991. The bottom images are an old barn and mill building which were both multi-dealer shops. Changed here sadly and elsewhere throughout my world. (Remember to click my galleries for larger views).

if you continue east from the “village” and the buildings above you come to Kelley Stand road which carries you over the mountains. Check out the road on my trip in Fall 2019 and earlier, and also see many great colorful leaves.

and, as noted in my 2019 story of this road – NO WINTER MAINTENANCE. Not much snow yet this year, but I decided it best to stop and turn around at this hiking parking area at the west end of the road below.

Then turning around, back to Arlington and US 7A, west on Route 313, cross the Battenkill River on (of course) River Road, and up the “hill” to West Mountain Inn. Pulling into the lot there was some snow. NOTE – the second floor windows facing us – my suite.

Remember I said I discovered this “hidden gem” on two different Inn tours, but never got to those posts to share. Below are images I took in December 2024 when on that year’s tour. Besides this main room there is an adjoining library for sitting and reading, and off the bar is a game room with plenty of options to keep you busy. So welcoming and comfortable.

I then I went up to my room(s) – the Daniel Webster Suite. Amazing, the space, the ambience, and comfort.

A real plus for staying here is a full dining room. Four course dinner – price fixed menu – $54 plus tax and tip – and amazing presentation and taste as you can see below for my first evening’s dinner of the Ravioli appetizer, salad, Salmon, and Maple Pecan tart.

Remember you may click my images to enlarge.

and, my first morning’s breakfast and my view out the window.

when I checked in I asked if I could see all the rooms in the Inn, and also the apartments in the old mill house. Mary Beth told me the rooms were unlocked, and feel free to look (I was the only one there when I arrived), and in the morning she gave me the keys to the Millhouse apartments. The Millhouse is at the entrance to the Inn, and straddles a brook that flows into the Battenkill River. There are three “apartments” each with two bedrooms upstairs. The end apartments (shown below) have decks over the brook. Gary and I are making plans for stays.

Friday – my full day in-between I planned an outing to some favorite back routes to explore and visit some antique shops (which are getting to be fewer and worse). Here is a rough map (sorry) of the circle route for my “day in between.” Starting in the top right in Arlington I headed south on 7A cutting over in North Bennington on 67 to North Hoosick, south through Hoosick Falls to Route 7 then west and cutting up to Melrose back to 67 to head east to NY22 to Cambridge, and then back to Arlington — trust you followed ! — But check it out. On the way I had to capture the old railroad control building in Johnsonville.

and again had to go through the Buskirk Covered Bridge.

back “home” I enjoyed the living room and then dinner. One of the treats in an Inn such as here are your fellow lodgers. I chatted with a gentleman who first stayed (a few owners ago) in the attic in the early 1970s. I think he had a friend working on the farm here and he paid $3.50 a night to stay in the attic. Besides his wife, with him was his daughter, who stayed here as a child, and her two daughters and husband. A THREE GENERATION TRADITION — now that is saying something. Also joining me as a group were three couples: one from Syracuse, and the others from north of Philadelphia. The fellow I chatted with has been coming for 15 years. I sure hope Gary and I can have at least a ten year tradition tying into our Landmark Trust USA tradition.

Below dinner – night two.

I had been watching the weather before I left home, but was surprised when snow was predicted for overnight on Friday into Saturday. Yes, here is looking out from my breakfast table on Saturday morning. The first car you may not recognize with the snow cover, but that is GIGI (Granite Girl) quietly waiting for me.

I had breakfast, also below. and then a look out the library window. The grandchildren I mentioned above had headed out to sled down the hill.

Getting ready to leave I saw the emergency exit map on the wall and had to take a picture to remember the layout of the various rooms. You can see my suite in the lower left, but the “living room” and “bedroom” had been switched furniture wise as has the Grandma Moses Suite. Did I say it was GREAT?

Sadly heading off just before 11 am, it was almost “white knuckle” over Bromley Mountain and down through Londonderry. But stopping at the little grocery in Bellows Falls, then home, I have been happily home since Saturday mid-afternoon. But ready to get out again, and I do have a few adventures planned to take and share.

Stay safe and well, love, RAY