People Need Joy in their Lives

“People need joy in their lives” is the motto of the West Mountain Inn in Arlington, Vermont. It is a spectacular venue located in the Green Mountains, high up on a mountain with trails and alpacas and beautifully appointed inn rooms. It is a place we found years ago before our kids were born. We used to come up with good friends every Columbus Day weekend and marvel at the vibrancy of peaking Vermont foliage. The inn served sumptuous, delicious 4-course gourmet dinners and lovely breakfasts with homemade muffins, chocolate chip pancakes and other assorted yummy and perhaps healthier offerings. 

We brought our young daughters up here to the Inn, and they loved it as much as we did. It became a cherished family place, one that offered peace and solace no matter what state the world was in. The last time we came was the summer of 2020, the pandemic summer, where a retreat to Vermont and the outdoors was a perfect refuge from Covid. I always felt at home here, partly because the inn keepers and the staff were so welcoming, so warm and friendly.

I am here now for a pre-wedding tasting for my younger daughter’s wedding which will be held at this Inn in 3 months! We are here with my daughter and her fiancé, and her fiancé’s parents. Several couples and their parents were here as well, all invited to this tasting as this has become a summer weekend wedding venue now. The wedding will be held outside in an open field overlooking the mountains, and the reception will take place in the barn up the hill. Her bridal party and close family members will be staying at the Inn and other guests at nearby hotels. 

We tried several hor dourves and entrees to help us decide the wedding menu. We walked around the barn and picked out items on display like chandeliers and drapery and signs that we wanted for the reception. As this day ends, and I reflect on this whole Inn experience, I am so grateful – that there is a place of peace in this world, that my daughter has found her person, and that we will be able to celebrate all together. Yes, people need joy in their lives.