Burlington, Vermont’s largest city, is full of traditional New England homes and buildings, a thriving food scene, aspiring college students, and locally owned shops sitting on the shores of Lake Champlain.
This Fall I had the opportunity to stay at the Willard Street Inn, ideally located within walking distance to nearly everything the city has to offer. This Victorian beauty provides the perfect experience for any visitors looking to explore the Burlington area while having the cozy comforts of a bed and breakfast. Built in 1881, The Willard Street Inn boasts Victorian styles of a Queen Anne and a Colonial-Georgian Revival. The back of the home consists of a strikingly beautiful double marble staircase that leads from the bright and cheery breakfast room down to the gardens.
The interior design of the Willard Street Inn is full of wonderful Victorian style details. A breathtaking cherry foyer with a crystal chandelier, original hardwood floors, lavishly wallpapered walls, and intricately detailed moldings throughout. Once belonging to a Vermont State Senator; It’s easy to imagine what kind of grand parties were thrown in this immaculate home when it was a one family mansion.
Currently, the Davis family owns the Willard Street Inn and you can frequently see each member throughout the day as they are very hands-on with the property. Jordan will be there to greet you as you’re checking in while you can find Larry topping off your hot cup of coffee in the morning as aromas of a homemade breakfast fill the room. The family fell into owning the Willard Street Inn because their daughter, Carrie, was in historic hospitality and worked for the previous owners. The owners decided to put it up for sale and Carrie’s parents, Katie and Larry, decided to leave their home in Upstate New York and become the new owners and innkeepers of this magnificent property.
Take a Video Tour Of the Willard Street Inn, click Play!
While visiting the Willard Street Inn, I stayed in two different rooms and I was shocked at how spacious each room was. Large sitting areas with cozy gas fireplaces were perfect to retreat to after a crisp fall day. Each room had a beautifully appointed bathroom and remarkably comfortable beds.
While visiting the Willard Street Inn you can walk to the waterfront to enjoy the scenery of Lake Champlain. Across the way you can see the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. Church Street is a lovely outdoor pedestrian shopping mall filled with shops and cafes. What impressed me most about Church Street was that 90% of the shops were locally owned. Stop in for an afternoon cup of coffee at Common Grounds as you peruse the storefronts. A few of my favorite stores were the Vermont Flannel Co., Common Deer, and Simon Pearce. There’s plenty of high end clothing boutiques as well.
In evenings you can check out Deli 126. Deli by day, but at night, you can walk through the refrigerator door into a speakeasy draped in Red Velvet curtains with an industrial copper bar. Pick your drinks from a menu within an old book and enjoy listening live jazz music as you sip on your aperitif.
While exploring the culinary scene I found that Burlington offers innovative flavors, and chic restaurants to make your dining experience memorable. A couple recommendations are Farm House Tap and Grill, Monarch & the Milkweed and Dedalus.
Staying at the Willard Street Inn provides you with a traditional New England experience full of unique historical charm within an up and coming trendy city that has a lot to offer.
Have you visited Burlington VT? What are some of your favorite shops and restaurants? What are your first impressions of the Willard Street Inn? Let me know in a comment below!
Pin the Willard Street Inn feature for later!
Leave a Reply