Stay where history was made at a Vermont historic inn or hotel

At the Rabbit Hill Inn, Vermont’s premier luxury boutique inn, there is a long history of providing warm hospitality to travelers. The inn opened in 1795, providing comfortable lodging and good food to tradesmen and loggers working on the Connecticut River. It expanded in the middle of the next century, adding the Federal-style parlor and sitting room still enjoyed by happy guests today. You’ll also find Chippendale sofas, hand-hewn beams and wide-plank floors in some of the inn’s rooms and suites. But while the inn honors its history, its modern amenities – spa tubs, fireplaces, private balconies overlooking the White Mountains and private sundecks – make it a true luxurious experience. And that includes candle-lit dining at the celebrated 24 Carrot restaurant.

Lovingly restored historic homes, representing a variety of architectural styles from 1802 to 1915, are offered to lucky vacationers by the Landmark Trust USA. The five Vermont properties are each distinctive, many with original furniture or decor or period pieces. Among the vacation rentals is Rudyard Kipling’s Naulakha, built for the author in 1892 and where you can sit at the desk where he penned “Captains Courageous,” “The Jungle Book” and parts of the “Just So Stories.” Kipling’s charming Carriage House is also available. On the picturesque and historic Scott Farm, visitors can stay in the cozy 1915 Sugarhouse or four-bedroom Dutton Farmhouse. The Amos Brown House, built in 1802, which retains much of its original detail, offers immediate access to hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing.

With its 11 guest rooms distinctively designed with antique and modern furnishings, the Lang House on Main Street honors its past, which began in 1881. The Queen Anne Victorian home was built for lumber businessman Frank Dudley, on land once owned by Ira Allen, the University of Vermont founder and legendary Vermont Green Mountain boy. Converted to a comfortable bed-and-breakfast in 2000, it still features some of the original design features like stained glass windows, gorgeous woodwork, soaring ceilings and plaster detailing. The two guest rooms in the 1851 Carriage House have simple woodwork and a cottage vibe. A sumptuous breakfast is served each morning at the inn, which is close to many Burlington, VT attractions, including the shops and restaurants of the bustling Church Street Marketplace.