The Wiley Inn is a traditional bed and breakfast with a mixture of old and new. It's ten miles north of Manchester on Route 11 and a few miles east of the Bromley ski resort. The main part of the inn has been around since the late 1800s. The newer part has been completely renovated. It includes rooms containing Jacuzzis and gas fireplaces. There's a swimming pool and outside hot tub for the guests.

The style of the older Wiley Inn has rooms that are somewhat Victorian and that's where we stayed; in room 16. There was an old- fashioned clawfooted tub/shower in the bathroom. The bedroom was furnished with a Queen-sized bed, an antique washstand, a high back chair and a new gas fireplace . Casement windows overlooked a swimming pool in the grounds below. Vermont's Green Mountains sprawled off in the distance. A pleasant surprise was strong water pressure in the bathroom, something that is usually hard to achieve in a rural setting and the Wiley is definitely rural .

Downstairs is a dinning room where breakfast is served, a bar and a living room containing a fireplace. In an adjoining library area is an antique wooden phone booth from Philadelphia from which guests can make local phone calls or purchase phone cards for long distance. Innkeepers Judy and Jerry Goodman are a sort of institution in the area. They've been there for about 14 years and know just about anything you'd want to know about things to see and do. And there is plenty to do year- round from downhill and cross country skiing in the winter to hiking and horseback riding in the summer. The Manchester outlets are 15 minutes away and so are little towns like Weston where you'll find a playhouse and the Vermont Country Store.

• Our stay at the The Wiley Inn was punctuated by all of the niceties travelers to this charming state have come to expect:
  
• Friendly concern for even our smallest needs, decorating details that make one want to settle in and stay a while.
  
• A breakfast spread that includes all kinds of fresh fruit, fruit and cheese tortes, sausages, eggs every other day, various coffee cakes and cereals, a choice of coffees and teas.

As we breakfasted, attractive bird and small animal feeders were frequented by a large variety of creatures and Judy's friendly voice could be heard guiding guests to the spots they expressed interest in visiting.

The Wiley Inn has something to offer everyone whether it be families with babies and young children, parents getting away with teenagers, couples needing time alone, singles wishing to strike up new friendships, or finally, retirees looking for a change of pace. Judy and Jerry's sincere pleasure at having people around is very obvious.

Visit the Wiley Inn's site at for complete details.

Carole Desormeau and Timothy Palmer-Benson