There is lots to keep you busy at the inn. With a well-stocked library, a good selection of games for both old and young, over 650 movies, popcorn or Ben & Jerry’s ice cream available any time, and plenty of cozy places to curl up with a book, even a rainy day here can feel like a treat. But it’s not uncommon for guests to find that simply relaxing in front of their fireplace or outside on the shaded portico is just their cup of tea. And that cup of tea is always available, iced tea in summer if you prefer. There is local mulled cider in season and you can always help yourself to fruit and home-made Toll House cookies.
The quiet village makes a nice evening stroll and a good starting place for a long country walk or bike ride. Perfect for your walk or bike ride or for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, the Lamoille Valley rail trail runs past the inn. Help yourself to a granola bar from the jar before you set off. Or with advance notice we can provide a picnic. Fishing in the Lamoille River is a short walk away. For the little ones, we have old-fashioned hoops to roll on the lawn and there is a quiet playground just two blocks away.
A full English afternoon tea is available at the inn Thursdays and Sundays. By prior arrangement tea may be available on other days as well as other meals and festivities such as luncheons, private dinners, birthday parties, brunch, etc.
New this year is our celebration of Sister Day.
If you Google Sister Day, you will find several sites describing the first Sunday in August as “Sister’s Day”. One site says it was started in 1994 in Tennessee. However, by 1994, my sister and I had already been celebrating “Sister Day” for 23 years! We started it on Wednesday, August 4th in Salt Lake City, Utah, the date that I arrived there after driving from Boston to visit my homesick sister. She was so happy to see someone from home that she declared it “Sister Day” forever before we even went into her apartment. Over all those years, we have told hundreds of people that we celebrate Sister Day on August 4th, but we were quite surprised to learn that someone else had adopted it when I found it in a magazine. It has been included on several calendars, but usually as the first Sunday in August. However, as the sister in “Sister Day” I can assure you that it is properly celebrated on the 4th whatever day of the week that happens to be.
And so on Friday, August 4th this year I will welcome sisters to the Governor’s House in Hyde Park for a weekend to celebrate each other and sisters everywhere. There will be a comfortable afternoon tea for getting to know other sisters. And there’s no extra charge for attending the tea for two sisters staying both weekend nights. Or add Sunday night for just $50. You can also come to a dinner where the talk will be about how special that bond can be and afterward join a game to get us all remembering the special times we’ve had with our sisters. It’s possible to reserve a place just for the dinner as availability permits. You can join these activities or just enjoy the company of your sister for a relaxing weekend in a beautiful old house in Vermont. Reservations must be made in advance directly with the innkeeper.
Special events at the inn are scheduled throughout the year.
2023
Afternoon tea party and tea etiquette talk: Sunday, June 11, 2:00 p.m.
Children’s afternoon tea party: Thursday, June 29, 2:00 p.m.
Jane Austen weekend: Emma, June 23-25
Jane Austen talk: Regency Fashion, Friday, June 23, 8:00 p.m.
Jane Austen tea, Saturday, June 24, 2:30 p.m.
Afternoon tea party and tea etiquette talk: Thursday, July 13, 2:00 p.m.
Jane Austen weekend: Pride and Prejudice, July 14-16
Jane Austen talk: Lizzie Bennet’s England, July 14, 8:00 p.m.
Jane Austen tea, Saturday, July 15, 2:30 p.m.
Jane Austen weekend: Pride and Prejudice, July 28-30
Jane Austen talk: Lizzie Bennet’s England, July 28, 8:00 p.m.
Jane Austen tea, Saturday, June 29, 2:30 p.m.
Sister Day weekend and tea, August 4-6 (see above)
Jane Austen weekend: in character, August 11-13
Children’s afternoon tea party: Sunday, Aug. 20, 2:00 p.m.
Downton Abbey-inspired weekend, Etiquette Tea, and Etiquette Dinner: Aug. 25-27
Afternoon tea party and tea etiquette talk: Thursday, September 7, 2:00 p.m.
Jane Austen weekend: Emma, September 8-10,
Jane Austen talk: Regency Fashion, Friday, September 8, 8:00 p.m.
Jane Austen tea, Saturday, September 9, 2:30 p.m.
Jane Austen weekend: Persuasion, October 20-22
Jane Austen talk: Jane Austen’s Royal Navy, Friday, October 20, 8:00 p.m.
Jane Austen tea, Saturday, October 21, 2:30 p.m.
2024
Jane Austen weekend: Emma, January 19-21
Jane Austen weekend: Persuasion, January 26-29
Downton Abbey-inspired weekend, Etiquette Tea, and Etiquette Dinner: February 2-4
Jane Austen weekends
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Events and Specials
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