Shelburne Farms Inn

I worked at the Inn when I was in college (15 years ago) and it is still to this day one of my favorite jobs I've ever had. I was excited to bring my family there for dinner last night. We had our 2 year old and 1 year old with us, and I was a little nervous about having them at a fancy place. The staff couldn't have been nicer. Our server, Gabe, knew it would be helpful to bring our kids meals out quickly to keep them happy. He was very kind, knowledgeable about the food, and seemed to have a passion for what he was doing. Later in the meal, my 1 year old caught the attention of another server (she may have been the dining room manager, I did not catch her name) so she came over to our table to table compliment our kids. My 2 year old told her she wanted raspberries for dessert and she brought out a huge bowl of them for her. She also told my daughter she could take the flowers home that were on the table. At the end of the meal, my daughter, who loves ballet, was starting to get a bit antsy so I told her she could get out of her high chair and dance as long as she stood by our table. A couple next to us got up and started dancing with my daughter. By the time we left, the whole dining room knew my daughter's name and were handing her flowers off their tables. On our way out the door, the server who brought us the raspberries told us how much she loved our kids. It was truly a great experience and probably became a core memory for me and my husband. Thank you to the staff (and patrons!) for such a wonderful night (and my daughter Francesca thanks you, too). We live over an hour away, but we will be sure to make this an annual tradition now.

Intimate Classic experience. This was our 5th stay and we hope to keep coming back. The Inn combines old world commitment to excellence with warmth and comfort. The setting is spectacular, right on Lake Champlain, and there is nothing better for relaxation than sitting on the lawn watching the sunset over the lake and Adirondak mountains. The staff are friendly and professional, the farm to table meals are destination worthy, the expansive grounds are great for hiking, and all the activities in the Farm Barn are fun and interesting for kids of all ages (highly recommend the Sun to Cheese tour!). Every room is unique at the Inn, and we enjoy staying in a different one every time. Its a welcome escape from the modern and cookie cutter.

We stayed at The Shelburne Farms Inn to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We were smitten with the beauty of the grounds, the range of activities available, and the quality of the service. ||Our room ("The Pink Room") was large, well-appointed, afforded a clear view of the lake, and was comfortable. It was also quiet. We felt at peace without feeling at all isolated. We often went downstairs to enjoy the large sitting room, the Adirondack chairs on the lawn abutting Lake Champlain, and the porch.||We had dinner at the inn's restaurant and were delighted with both the food and the service. When our hostess learned that we were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary, she immediately relayed this information to our server, who arrived at our table with two glasses of champagne. The food was prepared with palpable care, as evinced both by its taste and its presentation. We did not feel rushed. The atmosphere was one that encouraged pleasant, leisurely conversation over a nonpareil meal.||We will be returning to The Shelburne Farms Inn next July to celebrate our 31st anniversary. A "rinse and repeat" experience is rare for us. Our practice is to sample different destinations on our anniversary. Our stay at the inn, however, was so pitch perfect that we have decided to depart from hoary tradition.

What a treat to stay the Inn at Shelburne Farms—an 1886 historic country home, built by Dr. William Webb and Eliza Vanderbilt. Thanks to the brilliance of Frederick Law Olmstead, the estate is situated with stunning views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack mountains. The formal gardens were perfect for a sunset stroll along the bluff. Despite an unseasonably hot summer, many perennials were in bloom, including an impressive row of hydrangeas, colorful sage, lambs ear, cone flower, hollyhocks, dahlias and countess more. The 1,400-acre estate includes a working farm with 107 Brown Swiss cows. We tagged along on the Cheese tour to learn that these beauty’s produce 5,500 lbs of milk a day, to make approximately 550lbs of the finest Vermont cheddar cheese. Of course I ordered a side of sharp cheddar with breakfast.

Here's a reworded version for a glorious stay: My husband and I had the pleasure of staying in the Rose Room, which offered stunning views of Lake Champlain. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and despite the lack of air-conditioning, the provided fan and open windows made the room quite comfortable. The service was impeccable, and every meal we enjoyed was delicious and thoughtfully prepared. We felt at ease as we relaxed on the property and wandered along the charming mini trails, discovering new delights at every turn. It was truly remarkable to be in this magnificent mansion, built during the Gilded Age, and to sit on the same couch once graced by the Webb & Vanderbilt family. The attention to detail in its preservation was exceptional. We spent three wonderful days there, and if given the chance, I could easily have stayed for another week, but alas, it's back to work. I highly recommend this as a fantastic retreat for families or couples, especially with the Shelburne Museum just down the road—it perfectly complements the entire experience!

I live in Vermont, on the lake actually, but when it came time to thank my staff for all their hard work and dedication, it seemed Shelburne Farm and Inn would be just the perfect outing for us. And it was ~ in every way. The setting for both the Inn and Farm is stunning; rolling forest covered hills, open pastures, and long vistas over the Green and Adironack Mountains. If you like 'old elegance' than you'll love Shelburne Inn. There's no 'stuffiness' here; the staff are all friendly and helpful, the atmosphere warm and inviting. Rooms were, as one would expect, lovely, super comfortable and quiet. The meals were incredible; all farm to table, organic and healthily delicious. But I think what we appreciated most, was the strong clear message of sustainability and conservation. It permeates everything at the farm and inn, and is part of the long term vision and mission of Shelburne Farm.

Gorgeous sprawling property and gardens, exquisite lake views, endless walking trails, sheep and cows, farm fresh food, and a fabulous building full of history. Staying here feels like being a houseguest at a country estate. The Inn at Shelburne Farms has offered the same comfortable hospitality for forty years. It's like coming back to an old friend. The staff is wonderful. Dining is excellent. I love that the place is so relaxing and timeless.

It's difficult to describe what a unique place this is. Rather than a staying in a snobbish gilded age mansion, we felt welcomed into a peaceful world in which all of the employees were proud to play a part. The strong environmental ethic at Shelburne Farms is also a hallmark of the inn, with delicious food locally produced, rooms cooled the old-fashioned way, using window shades and fans, and miles of trails to explore. The rooms are elegant and unique, and one has a sense of simply being the guest of the family that lived there. The setting is sublime; we chose a few books from the library and sat on the south porch with our tea, enjoying a breeze from the lake. |At dinner we asked one of the wait staff if he ever paused to look out over the lake. He replied, "All the time. There are just moments at sunset when everyone stops and takes a breath."