Our home, which is called Hillcrest, is located on a quiet road in a quaint, picturesque, rural southern Vermont town. Close to the great town of Brattleboro with its shops and restaurants, 30 minutes to Mount Snow, and near some of the best nature Vermont has to offer. With four bedrooms, the home can sleep up to 9, and is perfect for groups looking for a peaceful, relaxing stay in a unique, eclectic home filled with antiques and lots of character.

Long-term renters are very much welcome! Let our home be your refuge.

The space

The house was built in 1917 and much of the original woodwork remains, but was upgraded in 1990 to have the modern comforts one would expect in a Vermont country home. Filled with art and antiques from the 19th and 20th centuries, including a Steinway grand piano, books, and paintings.

The four bedrooms will all have fresh linens on the beds, and the bathroom will be stocked with a great selection of local soaps and bath products for you to try.

The kitchen will have everything you need for your chef, including pots, pans, silverware, dishware, and more. All you need to do is bring the food! Outside is a great gas grill, perfect for barbequing up a feast after a fun day exploring Vermont. And the tap water is something to behold – it is piped in from a natural spring on the property, clean and fresh.

There is a family room with a large flat-screen TV and a gas stove that will keep you toasty warm. The atrium is perfect for curling up with a good book, or sharing a drink with friends and family as you reminisce or plan your next day of vacation.

Outside, the home has great, natural landscaping, plus fruits and veggies that you are welcome to pick to add to your meal if in season. There is a firepit, and firewood is provided in the workshop (time for s’mores!).

We have a two-car, attached garage that will be available to you, plus a carport and additional outside parking.

The Perfect Day

After waking up, we recommend sipping a cup of your favorite breakfast beverage and looking out the atrium, or grabbing a breath of the fresh, crisp air on the wrap-around deck. Once brunch is made and eaten, it is time to start the day!

You can go to the ski mountains, of course; they have great stuff to do any time of the year. Mountain biking, ziplining, and more! Or you can go on one of the many hikes in the nearby area, getting fresh air, feeling the stress evaporate, and a good workout too. We have a private hiking trail on our property that is well-marked and yours to enjoy while at Hillcrest. We provide trail maps for our trail and others in the area. These trails are also great for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Or you can go into Brattleboro, spending the day at the shops, getting a bite to eat at one of the many great restaurants, and going for a walk downtown. (Art galleries, antique shops, Vermont-made goods, a great discount sporting-goods store, and more.)

After the day of fun, you can grab some great cuts of meat and/or veggies and fire up the grill, while starting a blaze in the firepit, toasting to a great day as the wood crackles. Then it is time to wind down. If there is a pianist in the family, they are more than welcome to play a tune, or you can catch a game on the TV.

Then it is off to bed, and rest up for the next day of fun!

The Neighborhood

Along the edge of the meadow in front of our house runs Upper Houghton Road. This is a private road, which we own. It is a great place for strolls. About a half mile up the road from our house the maintained part of the road ends and it continues as a path through the woods. You can also download a trail app such as “All Trails” to find a hike that suits your group. There are two ancient cemeteries nearby with interesting carved headstones. Each is about 10 minutes’ walk from Hillcrest. (And visit the sheep in the field next to the Winchester cemetery.) 

South Pond, about 2 miles from our house, makes a good destination for a hike. Or you can drive to it. This is a popular place for boating – a peaceful place for non-motorized craft only such as canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and small sailboats. It is stocked for fishing (Vermont fishing license required). 

Within a few miles of our house are two organic farms with farm stands that sell local produce. They have pick-your-own strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. You are also welcome to pick and eat the blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries growing in our yard. 

There are two local farms that make and sell maple syrup. The Robb Family Farm is just down the hill from us on Ames Hill Road, and Whetstone Ledges farm is a couple of miles away. 

Five minutes’ drive down Ames Hill Road to the east is the trailhead for the Round Mountain trail (beautiful views from the top – and be sure to stop at the antique automobile graveyard halfway up the mountain). 

Twelve minutes’ drive to the west is the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum, a great family outing. Next to it is Hogback Mountain Conservation area which includes the Mt. Olga trail – good for hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing. A good goal is the fire tower at the top of the mountain, which you can climb to the top of for 360-degree views of the Green Mountains (1.7-mile loop trail). Molly Stark State Park is in that immediate area, too, with additional outdoor activities and a picnic ground. 

Mount Snow downhill ski area is a half-hour drive from Hillcrest. 

Want to go swimming? Harriman reservoir, about 20 minutes away, just south of Wilmington, has two public swimming areas. 

The historic towns of Brattleboro and Wilmington are a few minutes’ drive away and have many restaurants and shops – outdoor clothing, antiques, art galleries, Vermont-made products. 

Of course, Vermont is famous for the fall foliage. There are several corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hay rides, cider mills, petting zoos, and Halloween-themed activities in the area.