Dick and Joanna Loudon purchase the Stratford Inn, a remnant of colonial times in scenic Vermont. Their caretaker, George Utley, and his family have tended the inn for decades. Dick hires a maid, Leslie, and meets their next-door neighbor (and habitual liar) Kirk. The inn opens for business amid myriad start-up problems.

The inn is swamped when 24 guests are snowed in on Christmas Eve. While Kirk tries to keep the guests entertained, Dick tries to find room for a traveller named Joseph and his pregnant wife.

Dick travels to New York to interview famous starlet Erica Chase for a potential biography. Joanna hires Stephanie to be the new maid over her parents objections.

Man-hungry Erica Chase literally chases Dick across her hotel suite to try to bed him. Stephanie's overbearing father flies to Vermont to convince her to come back home with him.

Stephanie and Joanna attend a poetry reading at Dartmouth where a professor has a special interest in Joanna. Dick unleashes his 'Irish temper' when said professor makes a pass at Joanna.

Stephanie's old boyfriend stays at the inn with his new wife, Stephanie's old best friend Tish Ellison. The sparks fly when Steph and Tish get reacquainted. Kirk throws a dinner party for Dick, Joanna, Cindy and himself.

Kirk is up in arms when a fast food franchise announces plans to build a restaurant in the town.

Kirk's can't wait for his wedding to Cindy, until the wedding actually starts and Kirk faints during the ceremony. .

Dick gets his own television program 'Vermont Today'. Originally scheduled to interview the president of the university of Vermont, Dick instead hosts a competition for the world's smallest horse. Stephanie meets Michael Harris, the man of her dreams.