From the moment of our arrival we were made to feel at home...Our Welcome Kit had areas of interest with maps. We enjoyed supporting local businesses and found everything we needed at the nearby grocery, all within 10 minutes of the Studio we stayed in. Windekind Farm offers great conversation, beautiful scenery and awesome trails...and only 30 minutes from Burlington! If you get a chance, ask Mark, the Innkeeper, about his trains...they're beautiful and he gave us a ride! It was a simply way of living for a short time but a much needed vacation! I will be back...
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Date of stay: May 2012
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveled here from North Carolina. We stayed in the studio and loved it. Very cozy and comfortable. Mark was amazing... knowledgeable about the area...he offered maps and and highlights. However, this was our destination and we really didn't leave the farm. Tranquility was the order of this visit and Windekind Farm delivered. If you need to "unplug" from the pace of the city...you need look no further.
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Date of stay: May 2012
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Windekind Farm is an absolutely lovely spot. The grounds are beautiful, the lodging comfortable, the people terrific. Mark is a very interesting gentleman with a passion for trains. See their website for the amazing "model" trains he produces. There is a resident Golden Retriever, Elsa, one of the sweetest creatures we've encountered, and as a bonus the Smiths were dogsitting a wonderfully rambunctious puppy named Birdie. There is a field on the grounds where a small herd of pregnant heifers were "summering". On our hike across the field to a nearby stream, we were accompanied by a parade of cows! All in all a wonderful place. We'll be back.
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Date of stay: July 2011
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I booked a four night stay for mid October. It is a beautiful location, and very near to our adult children. The rental was a studio apartment. It was the top floor of a cottage. The area downstairs was filled with furniture and garbage. On the other side of the rental was a rotting barn also filled with trash. The stairs were rotted and wet. There was no light illuminating the stairs or the grounds from the car to the unit When we arrived, the house phone rang, it was the owner whom we had met, telling us he hadn’t gotten around to fixing the propane heater which heated the living room, kitchen and bathroom. The heater in the bedroom had two settings, cool air or full force heat which was way too much for the bedroom. Windows were sealed shut, except for the one near the bed which was dirty, and the frame so rotted so it was hanging off the frame, open a 1/2 inch, but it could not be opened or closed. Only one window opened in the living room, but with no screen. Floorboard in kitchen was not nailed or glued down,. The sheets were dirty, with hair, the top sheet stained. I asked for and received a clean set of sheets. Towels were gray and rough, we had my daughter bring us towels. The bathtub was dirty, windows had rotting frames, and others were sealed shut. The property is beautiful. No washer/dryer as advertised. After Airbnb received my narrative and photos documenting the issues, I received a refund. Be careful, the reviews are glowing. It’s a dump, needs repairs and cleaning
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Date of stay: October 2022
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My husband and I stayed at Windekind in May of 2011 and loved every minute of it. Even though it is marketed as an “inn,” I felt as if I were visiting family. Mark and Marijke have made their corner of the world absolutely beautiful and I am so grateful they opened it up for others to share. They are nice people and very helpful about giving directions and advice about restaurants, attractions, etc. They were very respectful of privacy and even though they are constantly working on something, the farm is very quiet. Being a lifelong New Jersey resident, it is amazing to me that such beautiful places still exist. One of my favorite things about Windekind was Elsa, Mark and Marijke’s yellow Lab and official greeter. We left our dogs at home and missed them, so it was nice to have Elsa around to play with. If you leave the door ajar, Elsa will come right in.
If you’re a nature lover, Mark has created some beautiful hiking trails in the back of the farm. There is also a stream and small waterfall. My husband enjoyed hiking in the woods and exploring. During our time there, we explored Burlington, Waterbury, Vergennes and Shelburne. I loved the shopping and we both enjoyed the restaurants we found.
Windekind is remote and feels “out there” but it is only about a 30 minute drive to Burlington and about 20 minutes to other towns such as Waterbury. We rented the Studio, which was very well maintained and clean. The bed was comfortable and the rest of the furniture was comfortable. They also have DirectTV, which was a nice bonus and Wi-Fi internet service. My husband also enjoyed the Keurig coffee maker. The shower is in an old claw foot tub and the curtain is a little cumbersome at times, but it’s all part of the experience. We checked out the cottage as well and it looked beautiful. When we return, we plan on renting the cottage.
My husband and I definitely plan on returning to Windekind in the future. If you are looking for a place to truly disconnect and go off the grid, then this is the place for you. I have a high stress job and wanted to go somewhere where I could simply just sit and read a book. Mission accomplished! I would not recommend Windekind to people who are not completely comfortable with being in the woods because it is definitely off the beaten path on an unpaved road. There are no streetlights, no Chinese food delivery and no people other than Mark and his family. I personally cannot wait to return!
A few tips if you do go….
1) There is NO cell service until you drive out of Huntington. I have Verizon and couldn’t get any signal until we went a few miles down the road, but that wasn’t a bad thing. Both the Studio and Cottage have phones with local service only, so make sure you pick up a calling card if you want to make long distance calls. Mark has outfitted the farm with Wi-Fi, so you can access the internet from your laptop or IPad.
2) The kitchen is well stocked with the basics, but make sure you stock up on things you want to eat and snack on. There is a great little general store right down the road called Beaudry’s, but they’re a little pricey. They sell the basics and do carry a good selection of wine and frozen American Flatbread pizzas. Also bring things you wouldn’t normally think of like paper towels and tissues. Bring K-cups for the Keurig also if you like coffee. We brought some items from home and picked up some odds and ends from Beaudry’s and from Shaw’s in South Burlington. The closest large supermarket from what I saw online was the Shaw’s in Waterbury. There is also a great natural foods store in Waterbury called Sunshine Natural Foods. I wish every day Sunshine was in my town!
Dan and Jen :-)
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Date of stay: May 2011
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I have been vacationing in Vermont annually since 1999, changing our base location each year - that is, until 2006, when we located and stayed at Windekind Farm. Since 2006, we have returned to Windekind Farm each year – never considering another place. We will be heading back to Windekind Farm soon, for our fourth year, and for us, the place has become the old familiar sweater that you pull out of the draw each fall.
Mark and Marijke are wonderful hosts. They have on the mark recommendations on which towns to visit, where to pick up free range meats and organic produce from local farms and markets, and the other great secrets of Vermont.
The Studio is perfect for a couple. We buy local meat and produce and prepare breakfasts and dinners in the kitchen – which comes equipped with the essentials. We’ve baked whole chickens, made soup, and entertained friends who were staying in Breidablick. We spend most of our days out and about, visiting the various towns in Vermont but we have spent a few days just hanging around the farm, exploring the many trails that encircle the valley.
The setting is stunning. The farm is situated in a valley surrounded by the mountains. With no light pollution, the star-gazing is endless, and the nights are exceptionally quiet and peaceful. The landscaping, the gardens and Mark’s railroad provide additional opportunities for exploration.
I’ve been delinquent in submitting my review. Part of me wants to keep this place a secret so I’ll always have the opportunity to stay there but the other part of me wants to recognize Mark & Marijke for being so kind and generous in sharing their wonderful space with the rest of us.
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Date of stay: September 2008
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in the Studio at Windekind Farms in early October. The studio is located above the garage where the tractor is kept. The picture they show online of the studio is slightly misleading because it appears to be the entire building but is really the top half of the structure. The studio offers the basics needed for a comfortable stay: full size kitchen with almost everything you would need to cook (no microwave or non-stick frying pan which made pancakes out of the question), kitchen table, small living room with a dvd player and a small flat screen tv, full bathroom with a real claw foot tub and a bedroom with a queen size bed. I'm a worse-case scenario traveler so we brought our own sheets which I'm actually glad we did. When I inspected the sheets I noticed there was a questionable stain/mark on the sheets that they had supplied. Luckily, we had our own to swap out so no big deal in the end. The property owner, Mark, supplied a map of Vermont, a map of nearby places to buy food and visit and a map of nearby hiking trails that are actually on their property. The one thing that did get annoying with the owners was that their house sits across from the studio so they know when you are coming and going. We would come back from a day of exploring or hiking and within 10 minutes he would be on the phone or knocking at the door to see how the day was. Personally, I'm on vacation and I want to be left alone but other people may enjoy having the interaction. Mark also liked to come into the studio and just sit down. I know he owns the place but there has to be some boundaries and respect. There were three major problems with the whole experience. The first was that the owners failed to inform us or find it a problem that the studio was infested with flies . The flies came into the studio through ever nook and cranny during the day. We ended up going through an entire can of Raid and having to vacuum up all of the dead flies. The second problem was mice. The mice came out at night through the stove and proceeded to get into the food. Had to buy mouse traps and ended up catching two of them. The flies and mice didn't really seem to bother the owner. His response was that it happens in the fall. The third problem was that the owners actually double booked us on our last night and asked us to leave because it would be easier for them. At that point I had had it with the whole experience so I was more than happy to leave. He did feel bad and offered to waive the deposit on our next stay but we won't be returning.
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Date of stay: October 2007
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from mtman_7, owner at Windekind Farm
Responded Dec 28, 2007
Each fall we enjoy the magic of fall foliage. We don't enjoy, however, the attempts by flies and mice to seek winter shelter in our buildings. Unfortunatly, this guest visited the "Studio" on the days when day time tempature conspired to make the impact of flies and mice the most intense. We take these infestation problems very seriously and will continue to take actions to counter the problem. The reviewer also raises some other helpful issues/questions. Mark Smith/owner
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This has to be the prettiest place on earth (mid Oct, fall foliage). The Campanula Cottage was very comfortable, charming, and quiet. A quick walk through the meadow and you are at the hiking trails (which are great). We could have talked with Mark all day long about his trains, the farm, etc. We cannot wait to go back! -- BF
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Date of stay: October 2014
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Markley-4, Owner at Windekind Farm
Responded Mar 26, 2015
How nice to be called the the "prettiest place on earth (mid Oct, fall foliage)." Well we think there are many "prettiest places on earth" that can match or exceed Windekind, but just to be included is an honor giving us plenty of incentive to keep right on trying to make Windekind as pretty as we can. Thank you so much and yes indeed, please come back. Mark and Marijke
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Mark and Marijke have created something very special with Windekind. Their farm is simply beautiful - the gardens alone are impressive. Throw in the spectacular view, the happy grazing cows and the lovely cottages and you end up with an amazing getaway. We stayed at their new cottage - Campanula which is up on the hill overlooking the property. The pictures on their site don't do it justice. It is a little bit of luxury in the mountains. The owners also let us take a tour of Breidablick which was perhaps not as grand but still an excellent option for a couple or a small family.
We took our trip in September with our young son. We loved the hiking and the atmosphere - our son loved the trains, running around the yard and of course seeing the cows every day. We can't wait to go back!
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Date of stay: September 2014Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Markley-4, Owner at Windekind Farm
Responded Sep 26, 2014
Thank you for this insightful narrative you capture many of the features of the farm that we value the most. Mark and Marijke
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My daughter's wedding was in early August and Windekind Farm was breath-takingly beautiful! Our guests from around the country were gushing with enthusiasm for this unique and lovely spot for our very special wedding. Entirely worth the trip in all regards. Comfortably close to Burlington for our guests' lodging; the families loved staying at the farm. A magical location, spectacular gardens, peaceful views... and the Smiths are a delight to work with. Perfect in all ways for one looking for a country wedding.
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Date of stay: August 2012
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
"This is an inn in the country, with three buildings for guests. Each has complete kitchens, among other amenities. Any of the three are excellent--just depends on how many people you have."
There are more places to choose from in the Huntington area.
LOCATION
United StatesVermontHuntington
NUMBER OF ROOMS
3
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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