H  h   I1 (continued from previous page)

For those interested in a less ambi-
tious program, the Highlands is a great
place to relax, read, nap, take walks, sit by
the fire in the winter, or enjoy romantic time
with a lover. There is a “couples atmos-
phere” to the Highlands, and while children
are welcome, most parents decide to leave
the kids at home with a babysitter.

Many women see the Highlands Inn as
a way to meet people, either friends, lovers
or other couples. According to Newman,
“We have tons of people, literally tons of
people, who have met all of their best
friends here. It’s a nice easy atmosphere, so
it’s a nice place to meet other folks without

 

Joining ceremonies, quilting bees, and eventually a lesbian
singles weekend: all part of the regular calendar of _
events at the Highlands Inn Just

The Highlands Inn is often host to
joining ceremonies and receptions, birth-
day parties, anniversaries and other special
events. For instance, there will be aquilting
weekend in late May, where participants
will make a quilt together in the space of a
weekend (no experience necessary). Sev-
eral times a year there is a couples weekend
— a sort of marriage encounter for lesbians,
facilitated by a therapist. And this year,
after repeated requests, Newman plans to
institute a lesbian singles weekend.

Relations with the surrounding com-
munity are excellent. In fact, this year the
Inn came in first in Bethlehem’s seventh
armual Christ-
mas decoration
contest. New-
man “didn’t
even know
there was a
contest until I
read in the pa-
per that we’d
won it.” Local
restaurants call
Newman to
thank her for
sending them
business. And
by now, when-
ever local mer-
chants see two
women to-
gether, they
assume
they’re staying

a lot of pressure. It’s funny, but there are
even cases where I thought people knew
each other because they’ve been coming
here for ages, and they say ‘Oh, no, we met
here four years ago!

at the Highlands!

The Highlands Inn reflects Grace
Newman herself: a casual, warm, friendly
woman who laughs a lot and chats easily
with her guests. She works about 100 hours

 

  

a week, and when asked why she does it,
she says, “First of all, I love the place. I love
the land. It’s really satisfying to look at it
and say, ‘This is mine. I’ve made it what it
is.’ And the other thing that’s really satisfy-
ing is the response I get from people. Ican’t
hear too much that people love it. People
thank me all the time for having a place for
the community, a beautiful country inn for
them to be comfortable in and enjoy. Most
of the guys who come really enjoy it, even
though there aren’t many. But for women,
it’s ‘our place.’ There’s really an identifica-
tion with it.”

For information or reservations, you
can call Grace at (603) 869-3978, or write
her at the Highlands Inn, Box 118VT,
Bethlehem, NH 03574.

  "FriendIv" Inns  
1'  in the -Vermont Area:

Theflinccaneergin Stowe, 253-4772
C01intry~ Cousin in Shaftesbury. 375-
I_)orse_t,.HoIlow Bed and Breakfast in
Dorset, 8647-5993” I ' ' A
Grfeenhope Farm in -East Hardwick,
533-7772 3 I ‘ M A
Howden Cottage. in Burlington, 864-
719,8—..i:v  A ‘
InwoodManorinEastBarnet,633—4047
Mapleton.—Farm.Bed and Breakfast in
:l?utney,257-5252' ' ‘I * ‘
-wayjrarer in Grafton, 843-2332

compiled from 1991 Gayellow Pages

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