The Gardens at Williamstown Square

Pros

• She felt at home at The Gardens.
• She loves The Gardens.
• The kitchen is incredible and allows residents to cook anything they want.
• There is plenty of space for everything she wants to keep.
• The outdoors around The Gardens features vast lawns and woods and is beautiful from her windows.
• She feels kind of one with nature.
• The Gardens is a cozy place.
• The entrance and lobby are nicely decorated and inviting.
• The staff is friendly, courteous, and very helpful.
• The residents are friendly and sociable.
• The grounds are beautiful, the food is great, and there are tons of activities.

Cons

• She was horrified that she wouldn't have enough room for the things she really wanted to keep.
• The reviewer doubted Sal DeFrancesco's identity and suggested Sal had posted a one-star review out of the blue.

Review

The Gardens in Williamstown comes across here as more than a place to live; it feels like a welcoming community where residents, families, and staff blend into a shared sense of home. One recent mover who joined in June 2024 describes a decision process that many families can recognize: two options were on the table, but when the family visited The Gardens, the atmosphere felt like coming home. The moment of stepping through the doors was enough to illuminate the warmth of both residents and staff, and the newcomer soon found herself joining dinners and recreational activities. She even notes a clear stamp of approval: she'd give The Gardens a five.

Another long-time resident, who has called The Gardens home since 2021, offers a portrait of thoughtful downsizing and finding one's footing in a smaller footprint. At first, she worried that a potential apartment might be too tight to hold the things she cherished. Yet the reality surpassed that fear. The living space, including a well-equipped galley kitchen, proved more than adequate for her everyday needs, and she discovered that the walls of the apartment could hold all her favorite pictures. Living in a one-bedroom unit, she found room to breathe and to pursue the activities and cooking she loves, quickly realizing that "small" was not the right word to describe her new home.

The surrounding environment is a steady source of delight for many who call The Gardens home. The expansive lawns and the woods beyond invite a close relationship with nature, visible from windows that frame the changing seasons. Birds - wild turkeys, cardinals, and even hummingbirds in the summer - create miniature performances that accompany the day. A gazebo sits among this natural canvas, offering a shaded spot to sit and listen to the breeze or watch the light shift across the landscape. For residents, the outdoor setting isn't just scenery; it's part of daily life that contributes to the feeling of peace and belonging.

Inside, the sense of coziness is reinforced by thoughtful design and careful attention to social connection. The entrance and lobby shine with seasonal decorating, and the various common areas - the activities room, the lounge, the living room, and the dining room - are described as comfortable and well sized, encouraging conversation and companionship. The message from residents is consistent: it's easy to meet people and to jump into activities, with plenty of opportunities to gather together or to take part in individual pursuits. The overall impression is that The Gardens is a place where community happens naturally, without forcing it.

Family voices reinforce the sense of a supportive and friendly environment. A mother living at The Gardens reports that her children notice how friendly and thoughtful the staff are, and she herself has found the social lunches and activities to be enjoyable and engaging. A separate note from another resident's family reiterates that the staff are consistently courteous and helpful, and yet another perspective highlights that a family has been at The Gardens for three years, underscoring a sense of stability and continuity. Alongside the warmth, practical considerations are acknowledged: while COVID-19 precautions are in place, with masks still part of the safety protocol in some contexts, the overall atmosphere remains welcoming and safe; residents are described as friendly and social, the bathrooms are accessible, and kitchens in individual apartments are designed to meet daily needs while offering the flexibility to cook and entertain as desired. Cleaning and laundry services are available as options, adding to the practical comfort of daily living in a beautiful setting.

A broader chorus of affection comes from a relative who praises a beloved Noni living at The Gardens - beautiful grounds, great food, and a group of residents who are among the most active and engaging in the state. The sentiment is echoed by casual online chatter from local perspectives: someone cautions about a one-star post from a commenter named Sal DeFrancesco, suggesting the review might be misplaced or out of context, and another voice affirms the facility as a wonderful place with joyful residents and devoted staff. In this mosaic of opinions, the consistent thread is clear: The Gardens is experienced as a caring, vibrant community, not merely a building with apartments, and the conversations around it reflect a spectrum of views that all circle back to the same core impression.

A visitor-oriented view closes the circle: accompanying a mother-in-law for a visit, the guest describes how every person they've met has made them feel at home. The sense of community is described as nonstop, and the surroundings are evocative of Vermont - an attribute many families hold dear when choosing a place to spend their days. The visitor speaks of rare kindness and a feeling of connection that goes beyond simple friendliness, suggesting that The Gardens has become a place where people feel seen, valued, and supported.

In sum, the experiences shared here sketch a portrait of The Gardens as a living, breathing community in which home is as much about the people as the space. New residents find themselves welcomed with open arms and given the freedom to settle in at their own pace, while longtime residents enjoy the comfort and stability of a place that feels like home you can grow with. The grounds offer natural beauty and quiet moments, the interiors support social life and personal pursuits, and the staff - consistently praised for their thoughtfulness and courtesy - help sustain a daily rhythm that feels both relaxed and purposeful. Between the sunlit rooms, the light breeze through the trees, and the orchestra of small moments - a kind word here, a shared meal there - The Gardens presents itself as a community where warmth, accessibility, and a true sense of belonging are not just promised but lived every day.

Located in Williamstown, Vermont, this area offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing to seniors looking for a peaceful and convenient place to live. Within close proximity, you will find restaurants such as Country Kitchen Cafe, Rickie's Indian Restaurant, and Bamboo Gardens for dining options. For transportation needs, there are U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer and Enterprise Rent-A-Car nearby. Places of worship include the Church Of Christ and Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd for spiritual fulfillment. Healthcare facilities like Children's Services and Barre Internal Medicine are easily accessible, as well as pharmacies like Hannaford Pharmacy and Walgreens for medication needs. Additionally, parks like Carpenter Park and Allis State Park provide opportunities for outdoor recreation. Overall, this part of Williamstown offers a mix of convenience and tranquility that may be ideal for senior living.

Restaurants

• Country Kitchen Cafe (0 miles)
• Rickie's Indian Restaurant (3.9 miles)
• McDonald's (4 miles)
• Bamboo Gardens (5.2 miles)
• The Meltdown (5.5 miles)
• Gusto's (5.5 miles)
• Ladder 1 Grill (5.5 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (2.9 miles)
• Mountain Deer Taxidermy (4.4 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (7.2 miles)
• Alamo (7.2 miles)
• Budget Truck Rental (7.7 miles)
• Payless Taxi (7.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church Of Christ (3.4 miles)
• Websterville Baptist Christian School (4 miles)
• St Cecilia-St Frances Cabrini (5.2 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (5.5 miles)
• Barre Evangelical Free Church (5.5 miles)
• Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd (5.6 miles)
• Jehovah's Witnesses (5.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Children's Services (3.7 miles)
• Uvm Medical Center Dialysis (6.8 miles)
• CVMC Dicu (6.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Hannaford Pharmacy (4 miles)
• Medicine Shoppe (5.5 miles)
• Homespun Healing & Wellness (5.7 miles)
• Walgreens (5.8 miles)
• Northfield Pharmacy (6 miles)
• Shaw's Pharmacy (6.4 miles)
• Kinney Drugs (6.9 miles)

Physicians

• Barre Internal Medicine (4.8 miles)
• Jeffrey W. Glosser, DDS (5.6 miles)
• Barre Optical (5.7 miles)
• Green Mountain Family Practice, Central Vermont Medical Center (5.8 miles)
• Elizabeth Nugba, PAC - Family Medicine Physician Assistant (5.8 miles)
• Gifford Health Center-Berlin (5.8 miles)
• Norwich University Infirmary (5.9 miles)

Parks

• Barre Dog Park (5 miles)
• Romp! Indoor Playground (5.1 miles)
• Carpenter Park (5.3 miles)
• Allis State Park (6.6 miles)
• Montpelier City Recreation (9.5 miles)
• Roxbury State Forest (9.7 miles)
• Peace Park (9.7 miles)

Cafes

• Maria's Bagels (5.6 miles)
• O'Maddi's Delaurant (6 miles)
• Falls General Store (6.5 miles)
• Starbucks (7 miles)
• Panera Bread (7.4 miles)
• Big Gear Coffee (8.9 miles)
• Cafe Anna (9.3 miles)

Theaters

• Paramount Theatre (5.7 miles)
• Capitol Theater (9.8 miles)