One of the greatest things you can do as a parent is plan a weekend away with friends who also have kids. You get built-in playdates, everyone can share the cooking and childcare, and the fact that it’s not your home means no one feels the pressure of hosting. But the trick to pulling off this magical weekend away is finding the right place to stay. You need a kitchen big enough to make cooking feel collaborative and fun, indoor and outdoor space for the kids and adults to play, and a dose of luxurious interior design to make you feel like you’re at home—only better. This Airbnb in Londonderry, Vermont, has it all and brought all my Vermont farmhouse fantasies to life when I visited this summer.
First, the area: Londonderry feels like the outdoorsy cousin of Hudson, New York, which at times can feel like “Brooklyn North.” Here, the focus is more on connecting with nature, enjoying classic small-town scenery and vibes, and savoring fresh, unfussy dining. Stop on your way up at Honey Pie for burgers and superb milkshakes. It’s take-out only, so grab some food and enjoy it outside as you slip into vacation mode.
The house has a spacious kitchen, an outdoor grill, and a large dining table, so we chose to cook the next night, picking up gorgeous steaks from the nearby Vermont Butcher Shop. There’s also a friendly and welcoming dispensary, Green Mountain Therapeutics, set in the quirky space of an old gas station.
I’m an early riser, so the first morning at the property I spent with a cup of coffee, taking in the spectacular view of the sun rising over the trees as the fog rolled in. Curled up in one of the cozy chairs in the living room with a book, I felt like this was about as good as a morning gets. The decor leans modern farmhouse, with soft, comfortable couches; long wood tables for meals or games; and a library stocked with books, games, and kids’ toys. It’s impossible to imagine being bored here. When everyone was up, we hit the nearby West River Farmers Market for fresh-squeezed lemonade, flowers, and pie. The local cheesemonger from Parish Hill Creamery didn’t even blink when our kids tried every single cheese on offer. We made sure to take home several.
Back at the house, toting our bounty from the farmers market, the kids were entranced by the private pond on the property. They spent an enchanted afternoon playing with a frog—an activity I thought was reserved for children’s books or a time before television. The property also has a solid hill that would be perfect for sledding in the winter, and the barn/garage comes equipped with sleds for just that purpose. If you get a good snowfall, you can also hit the nearby slopes at Stratton Mountain or Bromley, the locals’ favorite.