Sometimes on our journeys, we come across places that are just plain special. Places that we just sink into seamlessly, like we have always lived there. Where everything is just… easy. The Inn at Valley Farms is a perfect example of that simplicity.
When we pulled up to the Sunnyside Farmhouse, I was instantly in awe. The farmhouse looks off over rolling hills with cows happily grazing in front of a backdrop of mountains. Adirondack chairs circle a stone firepit in the front yard.
We were greeted by the meows of a small fluffy cat on the front porch. I gave her a pat on the head before she head off to the barn where she took her job of mousing very seriously.
We walked into a large kitchen to find a bundt cake and fresh loaf of bread on the counter. The fridge had fresh squeezed orange juice, butter and eggs from the farm. They even provided locally roasted coffee, so we didn’t have to worry about breakfast the following morning.
The kids love exploring a new place and were off in a frenzy to pick out their rooms. This three bedroom house could sleep 8 people comfortably. The downstairs had a large bedroom with a king-sized bed. Lizzie claimed that room for us.
Beside the kitchen was a cozy living room with a television, a full bath and a laundry room. The kitchen was fully stocked with plates, cooking utensils and pretty much anything you might need.
The upstairs of the house had a second bathroom and two more bedrooms. All of the rooms were spacious with beautiful quilts for bedding.
The Inn at Valley Farms is on the same grounds as Walpole Valley Farms, a regenerative farm dedicated to local, non-gmo, grass-based sustainable agriculture. They also have a farm to table restaurant just down the road called The Hungry Diner.
The Hungry Diner is really family friendly and even dog friendly. While there is indoor dining available, it was a beautiful night so we found a picnic table outside. We ordered our food, were given a table number and the food was brought out to us when it was ready. There was a playground for the kids and a drinking station for dogs.
We loved the atmosphere with the string lights and live music. There were 16 craft beers on draft, so we ordered a flight to try them out. The kids played a boisterous game of UNO so it was great to be out on a lawn where we weren’t annoying anyone. All of the kids meals came with local soft serve ice cream for dessert, so the kids were thrilled.
We had such a good sleep in crisp linens and generous amounts of pillows. I half expected to wake up to roosters, but didn’t hear a thing. Just to clarify, this isn’t a typical farm stay. (My husband asked if he would be mucking out stalls). Still, you can see the animals and the farmers at work. The kids loved watching the tractors go by.
We walked down into the woods to see the piglets happily wallowing in the mud and rooting through the forest. Farms like this are next to impossible to find these days, as the factory farms come swooping in with their chemicals and poor animal welfare standards. They squash the small family farms who just can’t compete. Walpole Valley Farms is holding strong, doing things the right way. You can see the importance of buying local.
There was loads of family friendly activities in Walpole. To read our travel guide to the area, click here. My favorite activity was sitting in the rocking chairs on the front porch. I could sit out there and look at that view all day long. I listened to a hermit thrush in the distance, which I have only heard in the deep woods of Vermont. The kids played a game of checkers. It really felt like time slowed down.
In the evening, we made a fire and roasted marshmallows. The barn swallows were diving for their evening meal and the cows frolicked in the meadow.
I had never heard of the Inn at Valley Farms before they were featured on Chronicle. It is a hidden gem that is ready to be discovered. While we stayed at the Sunnyside Farmhouse, there are also four elegant rooms at the inn and two cottages that can accommodate up to six people. If you feel like you need to take a deep breath, this is your place to unwind.
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