Fat Sheep Farm Stay + Review for Bebe Voyage.
With the worldwide pandemic creating a very different travel experience for everyone this summer, many people are opting to stay more local and to safely explore their own neighborhoods, regions, and states.
Our family of three (plus Parker, our super-friendly although rather a big dog!) decided to turn a postponed trip to Denmark into a summer weekend in neighboring Vermont. After recommendations by several of my mama friends, we decided to stay at Fat Sheep Farm and Cabins.
I can now share that recommendation with all of you after our experience there in July!
Fat Sheep Farm and Cabins are nestled in the perfect spot to either take in the quiet of the surrounding green space or explore some nearby towns such as Woodstock or Norwich. While the owners reside in their own farmhouse, guests can book one of five beautiful cabins (suitably spaced apart, making it perfect to maintain social distance), two of which are dog-friendly.
Each has a full kitchen, dining and living area, as well as bathroom with shower/bath combo. One or two bedrooms (depending on your family’s needs) round out the space with a queen-size bed on the ground floor and queen-sized bed upstairs.
Upon arrival, we were greeted with a hen-shaped basket of fresh eggs and freshly- baked rhubarb scones (no need to worry about breakfast the next morning!). On the farm style kitchen table, we also found detailed notes about the farm and surrounding areas as well as the now-required Covid-19 information and disclaimer form that we needed to fill out and drop in the owners’ mailbox.
In order to keep our social interactions limited, we brought our own dinner from home for the first night and used the very easy and convenient pre-order /curbside pick up from The Woodstock Farmers’ Market. They have amazing local produce options, so you can get a taste of the state all in one place, as well as the usual items you would find in a supermarket.
The kitchen was equipped with all the gear you would need for a week-long getaway (no dishwasher though so be prepared to step back in time!). We enjoyed a happy hour out on the porch, overlooking their property and the hills beyond, and then dinner inside at the kitchen table.
Suzy and Todd welcome guest participation in the daily farm chores. With our masks on, we were able to join Suzy early the next morning to feed the sheep and herd them out to pasture, then feed the hens and collect their eggs (and in case you were wondering, yes – the eggs are amazing and yes, we bought more to eat at home!).
Unfortunately, the only activity currently not included is milking the sheep, due to it being an indoor location. However, under normal circumstances, that would normally be an activity that kids can partake in.
The space allowed us to have as much or as little interaction as we wanted and it was internal-parent-excitement to watch our daughter overcome her fear of chickens and engage in the activities needed to care for them. The sheep and the goats were a different story, but the farm allows kids of all ages to help out with at least one chore that meets their comfort level. Our daughter loved feeding the chickens and collecting the eggs, as with her small size and cautious nature it allowed her to interact with something smaller than her.
Our final evening at Fat Sheep was spent playing cornhole in the games area, taking a short (20-minute) walk around the property, eating dinner, which we pre-purchased during our visit to Norwich Farmers’ Market. We then sat on the porch watching the sunset and the fireflies gradually appearing from the tall grass field in front of us
2020 has been a crazy year of change and this year has been full of upended getaways and travel plans. However, it has also given us an opportunity to explore our own region and create memories with our daughter we wouldn’t have done otherwise. Fat Sheep Farm is the ideal place to base yourself while exploring (and supporting!) local communities in the area. We’re already planning on returning next year, hopefully with less social distancing!
Sound like the perfect long weekend getaway? Fat Sheep Farm is open year-round with modern cabins to accommodate families of various sizes. It’s roughly a two-hour drive from Boston and a four-hour drive from New York City. Located in central VT, it is close to the nearby towns of Woodstock and Quechee.
Fat Sheep Farm: Book it here on Expedia!
We recommend:
Norwich Farmers’ Market: https://www.norwichfarmersmarket.org
Mon Vert Cafe: https://www.monvertcafe.com
Woodstock Farmers’ Market: https://woodstockfarmersmarket.com
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