Stowe, Vermont

Ski town at the foot of Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak, with postcard scenes of fall foliage and a white-steepled church, the Trapp Family Lodge and the Ben & Jerry's factory.

Stowe lies in Lamoille County in northern Vermont, on the eastern slopes of Mount Mansfield, the state's highest peak, about 60 km from Burlington, a 3.5-hour drive from Boston and a 2.5-hour drive from Montreal. Famous for its white-steepled church, fall foliage and skiing, the town is New England's quintessential four-season resort. There are three main areas to explore: the village center, with Main Street, the Stowe Community Church, the ski museum and the Recreation Path; Route 108 heading north, with Stowe Mountain Resort, the Mount Mansfield Toll Road, Bingham Falls and Smugglers' Notch; and Route 100 heading south, the "Waterbury food corridor," home to the Ben & Jerry's factory and Cold Hollow Cider Mill. The Trapp Family Lodge sits on a hillside west of town. Fall foliage peaks from late September to mid-October, when hotels should be booked months ahead; December to March is ski season; summer is great for hiking and cycling; April–May is mud season, when some trails close. Public transportation is limited, so driving is recommended. Plan on 2–3 days.

Top sights

• Stowe Community Church & Stowe Village – A white-steepled church built in 1863 against Mount Mansfield, the classic postcard view of New England's autumn foliage.
• Stowe Mountain Resort – A top ski resort in the eastern United States, with trails spread across Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak; in summer and autumn you can ride…
• Smugglers' Notch – A narrow mountain pass on Route 108, flanked by towering boulders; legend says smugglers used it to carry goods to Canada during the 1807 E…
• Mount Mansfield – The highest peak in Vermont at 1,339 meters, with a ridgeline that looks like a face gazing upward; visitors can drive a toll road or hike…
• Trapp Family Lodge – An Austrian-style mountain lodge where the real Trapp family of The Sound of Music settled, with a beer hall, a cross-country ski center, a…
• Ben & Jerry's Factory – The Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory in Waterbury, where you can watch the production line, sample new flavors, and visit a 'Flavor Graveyar…
• Stowe Recreation Path – An 8.5-kilometer tree-lined path along the West Branch River, passing through meadows, farms, and autumn foliage, suitable for cycling, run…
• Cold Hollow Cider Mill – An established cider mill on Route 100 that serves freshly pressed apple cider with warm apple cider doughnuts, a must-stop for autumn road…
• Moss Glen Falls – A multi-tier waterfall in the valley northeast of Stowe, reached by a short walk of about 15 minutes along a forest path, especially photog…
• Bingham Falls – A canyon waterfall beside Route 108 where the stream rushes between granite into emerald pools, reached by a short but steep descent.
• Gold Brook Covered Bridge (Emily's Bridge) – A wooden covered bridge built in 1844, known as 'Emily's Bridge,' and one of the most famous 'haunted' covered bridges in New England.
• Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum – A ski museum in the old town hall in the center of Stowe, showing the history of skiing in Vermont, vintage ski lifts, and the origins of s…
• Smugglers' Notch Resort – A family-friendly ski resort on the north side of the notch, known for its family ski slopes and summer water park.
• The Alchemist Brewery – The brewer of the legendary IPA Heady Topper; the Stowe visitor center sells limited canned beer and is a pilgrimage site for craft beer fa…
• Stowe Pinnacle – A popular half-day hike southeast of town, where the bare-rock summit offers a direct view of Mount Mansfield and the autumn foliage of the…

Where to eat

• Von Trapp Bierhall – An Austrian-style beer hall on the estate of the family behind The Sound of Music, serving house-brewed lager with warm…
• Harrison's Restaurant & Bar – A cozy family-run restaurant in a semi-basement on Stowe's Main Street, opened in 2003 and consistently among the town'…
• The Butler's Pantry – A family-run breakfast spot in the historic Butler House inn, known for its cheddar-jalapeño pancakes and French toast.

Itineraries

• New England Six-State Loop – A grand loop from Boston covering all six states, including the Maine Coast, White Mountains, Vermont, the Berkshires…
• Vermont & White Mountains Fall Foliage Loop – Depart from Boston, drive north along Vermont's Route 100, and cross the White Mountains for spectacular autumn colors
• Quebec to New England Autumn Foliage – Journey south from Quebec City through Vermont and the White Mountains to Boston, experiencing French-Canadian charm an…