blog @ west hill house b&b » Green Mountains

Time to book for Fall Foliage + Photo Contest!

peter — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:59:48 +0000

Foliage at West Hill House

Mid September to mid October is THE time to be in Vermont. The colors are amazing. Browse our photo album from Fall 2009 and from Fall in prior years to glean some idea what the fall leaves look like around West Hill House.

We have also shared a slide show set to music to let you appreciate even more of the foliage colors … but you need to be here to really soak in the experience!

This year we have a photo contest. We will award a $100 gift certificate for another stay within the coming year to the guest who sends us by October 31st the best hi-res photo of 2010 foliage taken within one mile of the B&B.

To learn even more about the Foliage season, this Foliage Tracking page will give you an approximation of when the peak color will appear in various places around the State of Vermont.

To enjoy the leaves in a different way, why not come and help us rake them up? Check out our Leak Raving Special to save you up to 50% of the price your stay.

Cycling – 2010 Green Mountain Stage Race

peter — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:57:32 +0000

2009 Green Mountain Stage Race

The 2010 Green Mountain Stage Race takes place from 3rd to 6th September 2010. It offers 4 days of exciting and challenging racing in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Race HQ is in Warren, very close to our B&B.

West Hill House is pleased to offer special arangements for racers:

Breakfast at the time you need it for your race schedule

Inside storage for your machines and accessories in our barn. You can also use the barn for assembly and adjustments.

A 25% discount for stays of 3 or more nights

In 2009 we were honored to have James Mattis, the 2008 US Pro National Champion, stay at West Hill House while he was competing in the stage race. Check out our Cycling page for more details.

The photo is from the 2009 event, and is from the race website.

Great Golf and Great Scenery

peter — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 19:23:42 +0000

Sugarbush Golf Course

We’re right beside one of the fairways and less than a mile from the club house of the Sugarbush Resort Robert Trent Jones, Sr. championship golf course. Mr. Jones is one of history’s great masters of golf course architecture and his legendary talent is apparent in every one of the 18 holes of the Sugarbush Golf Club. Designed with remarkable respect for the natural surroundings, this par-72 course is as beautiful as the game itself. You will experience a golf journey through the hilltops of the Mad River Valley, featuring inspiring views at every tee, making each hole a story unto itself.

We can arrange your tee times and provide discounted green fees including tax and a golf cart. Golf club rentals are available. Rates vary by date so when you book please select the dates of your planned stay to see the price of a round. To take advantage of these rates please book at least two nights. The standard package is a round for two people – let us know if you need something different. The course is available through October 31st. You can book your Sugarbush golf package directly or call us to discuss.

Vermont Festival of the Arts

susan — Sun, 16 May 2010 12:14:43 +0000

The Vermont Festival of the Arts is a month long celebration of the arts, including demonstrations and workshops in fields such as painting, cooking (& eating!), photography, poetry, meditation, gardening and many more.

Charles Pruitt our Artist-in-Residence

Here at West Hill House we are delighted to be hosting artist Charles N. Pruitt, a West Texas native, born in 1941 near the small farming and ranching community of Colorado City, Texas. An award winning artist, Charles enjoys painting primarily landscapes of the Southwest however from August 24-26, 2010 he will once again be turning his brush and oil paints to the wonderful Vermont scenery in the Green Mountains.

As our Artist-in-Residence Charles will be conducting plein air workshops and demonstrations as well as providing individual guidance to both novice and experienced oil painters. The location will be the beautiful gardens of West Hill House.

We are fortunate to have several of his paintings currently on loan and gracing the walls of the B&B giving guests a glimpse of the special treat we have in store this August. Even if you are not staying with us you are welcome to come and view his paintings – please call to confirm a time.

Workshop Dates: August 24, 25 & 26, 2010

$60 per day (including lunch)
$150 for all 3 days (including lunch)

Please call to book: 802-496-7162. Spaces are limited.

It’s not too early to be thinking about summer activities!

The Long Trail – in winter

peter — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:18:31 +0000

Long Trail in winter - by Kelly & Paul

Built by the Green Mountain Club between 1910 and 1930, the Long Trail is the oldest long-distance trail in the United States. The Long Trail follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont line to the Canadian border as it crosses Vermont’s highest peaks.

Access to the Trail is just a few minutes from West Hill House.

Most guests hike on it in the summer months, but Kelly & Paul had a magnificent outing in the December snow and sun – and then Paul proposed at the top of Mt Abraham!

Click on the photo to see more of their outing in our photo gallery.

Fall Foliage

susan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:09:54 +0000

: Bring on the leaves!

Off to the compost!

What better way to celebrate autumn than to frolic in fall foliage! With huge maple trees surrounding the B&B we get our fair share of leaves on the ground. Many thanks to the couples who took us up on our “Leak Raving” special and joined us in getting our lawns and gardens ready for winter. All our autumn leaves were raked and deposited in the compost and none too soon!

Yesterday morning we awoke to just enough snow on the ground to remind us that the wonderful winter days are just around the corner. It’s not to early to start thinking about reserving a room with us for your winter vacation. Relaxation starts at West Hill House in the Mad River Valley in the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Look Who’s Getting Married!

susan — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:12:17 +0000

Mozart 1756-91

What marriage was created in 1784, perfected in 1786 and is just as good today as it was then? Give up? Why the Marriage of Figaro! Based on a 1784 play, Mozart created this comic opera which continues to be enjoyed today.

The Marriage of Figaro is coming to the Mad River Valley complete with professional opera singers.

If you adore opera or if you’re not sure about opera, here’s a wonderful opportunity to learn more about opera from the experts in a relaxed yet professional setting. Guests in the Mad River Valley are invited to attend open rehearsals, sit in on master opera classes, and participate in numerous other opera related activities between May 28 and June 21, 2009.

The full fledged opera will be staged on June 19 and 21 and tickets range from $10 -yes $10! to $50.

Check out the line-up of events and the West Hill House website for our special.

Green Mountains

susan — Fri, 29 May 2009 01:50:51 +0000

Amazing shades of green

What happens when the spring weather brings several days of rain to Vermont? Sure, the grass and dandelions grow like, well, like weeds! The gardens get a good watering so the flowers are happy. The creeks and rivers race downstream tumbling crazily over and around the rocks. And yes it’s true some of the roads do get a bit muddy. But stop for a moment and think about the word “Vermont” – from the French, vert = green mont=mountain and that is exactly what happens when it rains, the mountains get green. I don’t know how many shades of green the human eye is capable of seeing but I’ll bet they can all be seen from our front porch. The greens are amazingly intense and vibrant! The trees, decked out in their new spring finery, display everything from the palest of greens which look almost white, to the very dark and bold forest greens. Between rain showers the sun peeks through the clouds making the leaves glisten like they’ve been sprinkled with the finest crystals and the lilac blossoms shimmer silvery-lavender. Spring is a glorious season in the Mad River Valley of Vermont, a photographers dream, the chance to capture on film, a rain bathed leaf or an open flower blossom cupping droplets of water. Come visit vert mont, up close and personal through the lens of your camera. West Hill House B&B is a great place for a home base!