Deer Brook Inn — Hotel in Woodstock

My partner and I are usually extremely organized planners - trips are booked months in advance, with itineraries mapped out and restaurants booked. So it was very uncharacteristic of us to plan a Memorial Day Weekend getaway to Vermont (from NYC) only one week beforehand. Boy, did we luck out by picking Deer Brook Inn!

We arrived late on a Friday evening. We kept Phil, the innkeeper, informed of our progress - he couldn't have been nicer and more accommodating of our late arrival, and greeted us warmly and enthusiastically. We headed right to bed, as we were exhausted from our long drive!

We awoke to the next day to an amazing breakfast - a beautiful parfait, a perfectly risen egg souffle, and some delectable sides... all made with fresh, local ingredients. I can't stress enough how good this breakfast was, and it was the first of three fantastic breakfasts. Phil adds a certain Southern flair to his breakfasts, and while my waistline wasn't thankful, my palate certainly was. Ricotta-filled French Toast with lemon curd?? Yes, please! Phil and Giselle really are culinary masters The pictures and reviews don't do the breakfasts justice!

Phil sat with us on the first morning of our stay and gave us some ideas for things to do in the area. We had come to Vermont with the idea that we would do lots of excursions - Stowe, Burlington, Ben & Jerry's, etc., etc... and chose Woodstock partially because it's pretty centrally located from all of the Vermont touristy spots. Unbeknownst to us, Woodstock is a treasure trove of history (close to President Coolidge's historical site/birth place), conservation (Rockefeller estate and Marsh-Billings National Historic Park), local farming (Billings Farm - with sheep shearing demonstrations, collie sheep herding, and other fun activities, and Sugarbush Farm - with delicious cheeses and great nature walks), and an outstanding community of artisans and craftsmen (Shackleton Thomas furniture and pottery, Farmhouse Pottery, Simon Pearce glassmakers, Andrew Pearce woodwork). You will not run out of things to do in the area. Just go to your local supermarket and get some Ben & Jerry's - skip the tour! We heard it was "meh" anyway.

The inn itself is delightful - also very LGBT-friendly. We were in the "suite" and it was quiet, cozy, and comfortable. We felt like we had our own apartment, and had tons of privacy. Whenever we wanted to do our own thing, we felt completely able to - but whenever we were in the common spaces, Phil was a warm and friendly face. He adds a certain touch of Southern Charm to this Vermont inn! The inn has great outdoor areas as well.

You'll eat well during your trip - not just for breakfast. The Woodstock area has TONS of fantastic restaurants. We ate at Lincoln Inn one night and Simon Pearce the other night - both close to Deer Brook Inn. You should book in advance if you can, but we got lucky. Two fantastic, special meals.

All in all, Deer Brook Inn is the perfect place for a fun getaway. Perfectly located, full of delicious breakfasts, comfortable rooms, charming staff.... you couldn't ask for more. Phil is a prize-winning hospitality expert, who has owned some of the South's most high end luxury inns. Thank goodness he found his way to Vermont! Stay here and you won't be...

We came to Deer Brook Inn as guests. We left feeling like we were part of a family. Innkeeper Phil Jenkins is very outgoing, funny, and can’t do enough for his guests. Phil has many years of experience owning and operating inns, and it shows in his attention to detail. He is a wonderful source for recommendations on places to visit or to eat or to enjoy scenic drives. His assistant, Gisele, whom he jokingly calls his “inn wife,” is likewise friendly and fun to talk with. In the evenings they host a social hour for guests to meet each other and exchange stories over light hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks, with beer and wine available for purchase.||||The gourmet breakfasts are unusual, delicious, and filling. Our favorite dishes included a house-made granola and berry mold that is one of the best things I’ve ever tasted and a chilled cantaloupe soup that was so good I felt sorry when I finished the last spoonful.||||Located in scenic countryside four miles west of Woodstock, Vermont, on Route 4, the B&B was once the main house on a large farm. Its interior décor is light and modern with a mix of antique pieces that manage to compliment each other perfectly. Our room was the only one on the ground floor and the only one with a large sitting room separate from the bedroom. My wife commented that if the suite had a kitchen you could live in it. The bed and chairs were comfortable, and two closets provided space for keeping our larger suitcases out of our way. The bathroom is adequate in size and well-lit, and I appreciated the drawers in the old cabinet under the sink for storing travel necessities. Behind the house’s dining room is a patio with tables, chairs, and flowers that would be a pleasant place to rest in warmer weather. Across the road is the Ottauquechee River. We couldn't view it from the ground floor but it may be at least partly visible from the inn’s second-floor rooms. Regardless, it provides many scenic views while driving into town or to some of the nearby attractions.||||We’re already talking about returning to the area to take more of the scenic drives and to visit our Deer Brook...

My wife and I were looking for a charming, Vermont B&B experience over this past President's Day weekend to celebrate 8 years together -- the Deer Brook Inn blew-away our expectations. Having recently been renovated (in 2016) by the incredible new owner, Phil, the inn had all the charm of its rich heritage (make sure to ask the story of the building!) with all the comfort and amenities of modern, high-end living with a rustic charm. We stayed in the master suite and it was fantastic, but I cannot imagine any of the rooms aren't equally special. Did I mention a beautiful arrangement of flowers with a personal note were waiting for us in the room in honor of our anniversary? What a nice (and meaningful) touch!

Part of the reason we love B&Bs is for the personal, and customized service that come from great innkeepers – Phil (the owner) basically wrote the book on how to do this better than anyone else (quite literally, he had just come back from speaking at a national conference on providing exceptional service at boutique hotels and inns). We got lost in amazing conversation with him and the other wonderful guests over breakfast, and during the evening hors d'oeuvres – we lost track-of-time on every occasion! We made real connections in addition to just having a place to stay :)

Last (but certainly not least) there was the food/dining – our multi-course breakfasts had the quality, taste, and appearance that ranked amongst any of the most high-end restaurants we had ever visited, and really blew-us away. Equally fantastic is the fact that my wife and I have a 100% whole-food, plant-based diet (think "vegan") – while most inn keepers would shy-away from the unfamiliar, Phil excitedly embraced our dietary needs and delivered beyond belief. If you are vegetarian, or vegan, I cannot state how hard it is to find a B&B in Vermont that will even accommodate your dining preferences, let alone deliver incredibly tasty and creative meals. Be sure to take a look at the photos...