Dick Loudon and wife Joanna relocate from New York City to a small town in Vermont, where they run the historic Stratford Inn. They're surrounded by a town full of oddballs and colorful characters, whom Loudon deals with in various states of bemusement.
Joanna and Steph are furious with Michael after they peek at his diary and find out what he really thinks of them.
George worries that a new girlfriend, actress Loretta Dupris is only dating him to make use of his handyman skills. TV Producer J.J. buys a Victorian mansion and plans to bulldoze it to erect a space needle.
Stephanie and Joanna open an aerobics club. Problems present themselves when Stephanie appoints herself as the manager and relegates Joanna to custodial duties.
In the midst of a town meeting, a Japanese visitor announces his intentions to purchase the entire town and turn the land into a gigantic golf course. Everyone but Dick is thrilled and sells out.
Dick and Joanna learn that there's a body buried in the basement. The Loudons try to get the body moved to the church cemetery, only to find that she was a witch.
Kirk's can't wait for his wedding to Cindy, until the wedding actually starts and Kirk faints during the ceremony. .
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.
George finds a stray dog, 'Lucky'. Stephanie's husband drops by to find out why she left him.
The Newhart family travels to Vanderkellen mansion for Thanksgiving, but is forced to leave prematurely when Stephanie finds her parents threw away her favorite toy.
Dick loves being 'just one of the guys' when Chester and Jim invite him to join their golf foursome. Dick is distressed to find that their gambling habit and lousy golfing abilities make him the big winner. Dick tries to figure out a way to give the money back without breaking 'the guy code'.
George becomes a volunteer fireman, determined to shed his image as the town boob. George loses the keys to the fire truck just as the town's first fire in five years erupts.
With a deadline looming, Dick can't get any work done on his latest book due to constant interruptions. Kirk wants to build a miniature golf course, George is worried about retirement, and the Stratford plays host to a guest who just wont leave.
Dick inadvertently insults Joanna, calling her a homebody. Joanna takes a job with a travel agency in an attempt to assert herself.
Kirk goes into the hospital for surgery to remove a foreign object from his nose, leaving Larry, Darryl and a very svelte Darryl in charge of the cafe. Dick and Joanna, about to go to New York for a writer's conference have to bail out the boys when an unexpected crowd turns up at the cafe.
Joanna creates a stir at a potluck dinner by breaking a long-standing tradition whereby men eat in the dining room, women in the kitchen.
Larry runs for Mayor.
Stephanie is disappointed when she has to watch the inn instead of participating in the Maple Syrup beauty contest, so she quickly crafts a disguise and goes as Miss Inez Velasco, leaving the inn in the hands of a guest.
When Dick's old college jazz band reunites at the inn, he finds that expectations often excede reality.
Stephanie worries she might lose her job after she breaks a toe and her temporary replacement is 'better than Mary Poppins'.
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.
Joanna sets George up on a blind date. Everything goes great until George runs into his date's jealous ex-boyfriend.
Kirk's grandmother visits on the same night he finally gets a date with Leslie.
Dick and the gang pitch in to help Kirk get the Minuteman up to code after its shut down.
George's old flame visits the inn. Both are disappointed when the other isn't as they remember.
Joanna undertakes a massive project when she agrees to try to spruce up Larry, Darryl & Darryl and the Minuteman cafe.