Chester Historical Society & the Old Yosemite Fire Station

In just a few days on the 22nd of July, the Old Yosemite Fire station in Chester Depot on Rt # 103 will be open to the public from 6PM - 7PM.  This is truly an amazing place; if you have any love for old fire houses / trucks / stuff...you NEED to be there!  Here is a sneak preview of what you will be able to see and touch!

The Chester Depot Yosemite fire house is less than a mile walk from Inn Victoria, Vermont's Best Romantic B&B.  See you there!
Oh, by the way.....please sign up to be a follower!

Six Months as InnKeepers...and we LOVE it!

In just a few days we will celebrate our sixth month as Inn Keepers of Inn Victoria, the Romantic Bed and Breakfast of Chester Vermont and the Okemo Valley!  For many years Penny and I talked about fulfilling a dream to develop our own business.  We finally did it after recognizing that working for someone else was cramping our creativity and lifestyle.  It was July of 2009 when we got serious about looking for the right B & B.  It took five months to find just the right place, to negotiate the right financial package with the right lending partner, and so on.

After six months of owning Inn Victoria Chester Vermont under our Corporate name of "Exceptional Experience", we are thrilled we took the step forward and we consider ourselves blessed to have had quests who support us with exceptional Tripadviosr ratings!   
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g57213-d82544-Reviews-Inn_Victoria-Chester_Vermont.html 

As you can see, we are now over 200 exceptional Tripadvisor ratings for Inn Victoria Chester Vermont!
We truly are Blessed!  Thank you to all who guided, mentored and prayed for us....Thank you to our guests who have been so gracious as we learned and grew!

Five days after we opened the door, I said the following:

We Followed our Dreams

  In August, Penny and I celebrated 30 years of marriage on an island in Casco Bay, Portland Maine.  Fifty close friends & family were invited to the lobster feed and wedding renewal.  Penny even got a new wedding dress in the process!....the event was a BIG surprise for Penny.

After 30 years of marriage, 25 of which was spent working the corporate life with little time for each other, we figured it was time to follow our dream.  Penny is now the proud President, and I am the CFO...(I always wanted to be a CFO), of Exceptional Experience, a corporation developed to support our new venture;  Inn Victoria, Vermont's #1 rated Romantic B&B. 

Check out the links below and come visit....!  We promise you an "Exceptional Experience"!!!

Inn Victoria was named by TripAdvisor as one of the "Best B&B's in the United States" and Yankee Magazine named Inn Victoria as "Editors Choice, Best Romantic B&B in Vermont".


Dan & Penny Cote

Fine Dining at Leslie's Tavern

WOW....What a meal!...and the atmosphere was so relaxing and fun!  Penny, Rachel and I took the night off to celebrate 200 Excellent Tripadvisor reports!  So we took the advice of so many of our guests who know the area well; we went to Leslie's Tavern just off I 91 North, ten miles from Inn Victoria Chester Vermont on Rt # 103 Exit 6 off I 91.

We had a great time; as you see we also needed our designated driver, Rachel!  I ordered a shrimp thai stir fry and a cup of lobster stew.  I love lobster stew and the best I've found anywhere is at the Jordan Pond House at Acadia National Park in Maine....until tonight!  WOW!....if you like lobster, this is it!  The Thai stir fry was perfect, not too spicy yet enough to awaken the taste buds.  Penny ordered the NY Sirloin (medium well), I held my breath thinking shed get a hockey puck.  It was PERFECT!  She was thrilled.  I have no idea how one can cook a steak to a medium well, and still have it juicy.  And of course Rachel ordered the chicken; she was so thrilled there was none left for me to snack on!

Dessert?  well....you'll just have to look at the platter of choices...and yes we each had our own!  No sharing tonight.

We just love this place.  The atmosphere was relaxing and friendly.  We ate in one of the three dining rooms, each with its own decor.  Leslie is very enthusiastic about her business, and is an all around bubbly personality; so much so, you'll walk in being greeted by a great smile and walk out feeling like you've just made a new best friend.

We were fortunate to have Ashton waiting on us, her charm and poise was refreshing.  Her attention to detail was noticed & appreciated.

Check out Leslie's Tavern even if you are simply driving past the exit on the highway.  Take time to check it out.  This will definitely be one of many trips for us! 


Oh, and by the way......there is a lot more to check out in Leslie's kitchen store and cooking classes.!!

Cheers from Vermont's Best Rated Romantic B&B, Inn Victoria.

http://lesliestavern.com/

The Stone Villiage in Chester Vermont

Have you heard of the Stone Village in Chester Vermont?  Each day we go for a three mile walk around the old part of town and go directly through the Stone Village.  It is 1.2 miles from Inn Victoria Chester Vermont, down Church street toward Rt 103 which is North Street.  The Village is directly on Rt 103 1.4 miles from the heart of Chester.  Not only is it a nice walk, but the pleasure of looking at these beautiful buildings is simply fabulous.

We have come to know three families who live in the Stone Village: 
Bonnies Bundles Dolls
Stone Cottage Collectible Bed & Breakfast
Brian and Karen Morris....Brian is an Englishman from Liverpool England who is a true musician.

They take great pride in these old 1840's homes.  My favorite is the church.....let me know your thoughts!

Two Hundred Exceptional Ratings through Tripadvisor

Have you been to Tripadvisor lately?  WOW!......this calls for a celebration!

Join us on the weekend of July 9,10,11 and we'll pop many a cork of wine together.  Come and celebrate At Inn Victoria, Vermont's Best Rated Romantic Vermont B&B by Yankee Magazine 2009.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g57213-d82544-Reviews-Inn_Victoria-Chester_Vermont.html#REVIEWS

Romantic B&B Vermont

On June 13, Governor Jim Douglas and Tourism/Marketing Commissioner Bruce Hyde kicked off a new program to give businesses and organizations the opportunity to serve as providers of information about Vermont to travelers. “This new program is a win-win for businesses and organizations, as well as travelers in Vermont looking for unbiased information about the amenities and attractions in our state,” said Governor Douglas.  “An approved Information Ambassador will be eligible to display a blue INFO sign, indicating to travelers that directions, maps, guidebooks, restroom facilities and other information will be available.”

The Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce is the first organization to display the signs and nine businesses in the Okemo Valley have already completed the training to become Information Ambassadors.  Inn Victoria Chester Vermont is one of them!

http://discoverokemo.org/?p=102

Vermont Covered Bridges

When most people think of Vermont, they think of green pastures and covered bridges.  Well, there are countless vistas throughout Vermont to enjoy and over 100 covered bridges, 80 of which are considered "Historical bridges designed for vehicular traffic."  Another category of bridge that strikes my fancy is the "Romantic Shelters"......take a look!!


http://www.coveredbridgesite.com/vt/vt_cov_historic.html


http://www.coveredbridgesite.com/vt/vt_home.html

Cheers,

From Dan at Inn Victoria Chester Vermont, Yankee Magazine's 2009 Editor's Choice  "Best Romantic B&B"