Historic Inns of Manchester hosting open houses in southern Vermont in December.
For many years, 1811 House, Equinox, Highland Inn, Inn at Manchester, Reluctant Panther, Village Country Inn and Wilburton Inn have held the traditional weekends before Christmas.
For Historic Inns' lodging guests, tour weekends begin Friday evening with a reception at Hildene, the Lincoln family home in Manchester. The hors d'oeuvres reception includes holiday entertainment and wine-tasting. Saturday morning, each inn serves a hearty Vermont country breakfast.
On open-house tours, innkeepers invite guests to wander through holiday-decorated showcase rooms, enjoy refreshments and pose for souvenir photos by a Christmas tree. After the tours, there's caroling and a get-together for lodging guests. Sunday morning features a special good-bye breakfast.
Open house tours are in the afternoon. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the tour from a participating inn. Proceeds are donated to non-profit organizations that benefit children.
