Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/209310
5-Star Snow, Anyone? Vermont's Windham Hill Inn is a cozy retreat with superb hospitality and amenities. SOUTHERN VERMONT'S ONLY RELAIS & CHÂTEAUX PROPERTY, WINDHAM HILL INN OFFERS A COLD-WEATHER ESCAPE NOT FAR FROM BOSTON. BY JESSICA LANIEWSKI A fter the first flake of snow, most Bostonians strap skis to their car roof and aim for the highest mountains in New England. Not my husband and me. We opt for something with a little less altitude. My skis are a bit rusty (literally), and as the product of Southern California my husband hasn't logged too many miles in the snow, so a weekend at the Windham Hill Inn in Southern Vermont seemed right up our alley. As we pulled into the inn on a clear, cold evening, innkeeper Katja Matthews greeted us with a friendly "Welcome!" in a thick German accent. German accent? Weren't we in West Townshend, just two hours from Boston? It turned out Matthews had moved across the Atlantic from her native 164 Germany with a specific mission: to transform what was once a sleepy bed-and-breakfast into a world class destination. Thanks to a full renovation and Matthew's elegant touch, the property is now renowned for catering to an international crowd and in-theknow New Englanders. In 2009, Windham Hill joined the prestigious Relais & Châteaux title family of resorts. An alum of other elite properties in Deutschland, Matthews has enhanced the inn with general repairs, painting, and expanding the garden, which now grows more than a dozen vegetables (including her favorite, spargel) and flowers for the restaurant. "There has been a continued on page 166 PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF WINDHAM HILL INN LONG WEEKEND The spacious rooms offer plush amenities and spectacular mountain views. BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 164-166_BC_BOB_LongWeekend_Holiday_13.indd 164 11/4/13 11:31 AM