One of the best things you can do as a parent is organize a weekend away with friends who also have kids: built-in playdates, shared cooking and childcare, and none of the hosting pressure that comes with being at home. The key is finding the right place: a roomy kitchen for collaborative meals, indoor and outdoor spaces where kids and adults can play, and thoughtful, comfortable design that feels like home—only better. This Airbnb in Londonderry, Vermont, delivered on all of that and fulfilled my farmhouse fantasies during a summer visit.
Londonderry feels like the outdoorsy cousin of the Hudson Valley—less “Brooklyn North,” more small-town, nature-focused charm with straightforward, delicious dining. On the drive up, stop at Honey Pie for burgers and superb milkshakes; it’s take-out only, perfect for easing into vacation mode outdoors.
The house itself has a spacious kitchen, an outdoor grill, and a large dining table, so we cooked one night after grabbing gorgeous steaks from the nearby Vermont Butcher Shop. The town also has a friendly dispensary, Green Mountain Therapeutics, in a quirky converted gas station space.
I’m an early riser, so my first morning was spent with coffee watching the sun rise over the trees as fog rolled through. Curled up in a living-room chair with a book, I felt utterly content. The decor is modern farmhouse: soft couches, long wood tables for meals or games, and a library stocked with books, games, and kids’ toys—boredom is not an option. Once everyone was up, we visited the West River Farmers Market for fresh lemonade, flowers, and pie; the cheesemonger from Parish Hill Creamery happily let our kids sample everything, and we brought home several favorites.
Back at the property, the kids were captivated by the private pond and spent an enchanted afternoon chasing frogs. The grounds include a solid sledding hill, and the barn/garage is stocked with sleds for winter fun. With sufficient snowfall, nearby Stratton Mountain and Bromley are easy options for skiing.
Bedrooms are well spaced, and with four and a half bathrooms, each of our three couples had privacy. The primary suite rivals many city apartments, and its enormous bathroom—tub and shower included—lets you soak while taking in the view. The third floor is a dream for kids: a large room with four built-in bed nooks, each with its own reading light.
We spent our final night around the firepit making s’mores and pointing out constellations to varying degrees of accuracy, already planning a return for fall leaf-peeping and winter skiing.
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