A true Mountain girl, I never miss the opportunity to travel to a mountain town. So this Labor day weekend, I took a road trip to the breathtakingly beautiful town of Stowe in Vermont. Driving over 300 miles and across four states (New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire) was totally worth it for the incredible views that awaited us at our destination. Often referred to as the “Green Mountain State”, Vermont does complete justice to its nickname. As far as one’s eyes can see, majestic mountain ranges covered in vegetation dot the landscape, while pristine rivers and waterfalls find their way through this maze.
Here are my top picks for you while in Stowe:
- Mount Mansfield: With its summit at 4,393 ft., Mt. Mansfield is the highest peak in Vermont. When viewed from the east or west, this mountain has the appearance of an elongated human face, with a distinct forehead, nose, lips, chin, and Adam’s apple. It is also one of three spots in Vermont where true alpine tundra survives from the ice ages. Views all along the hike are a sight to behold with Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks in NY, the White Mountains in NH, and the entire Stowe ski area and town visible from the summit (the chin). For pure hiking, drive up to Underhill State Park and get on the Laura Cowles trail up until you reach the intersection with the Sunset Ridge and Long Trail, and eventually onto the summit. Alternatively, you can drive up the Toll road and hike the remaining distance or also take a gondola from the ski resort area.
- Stowe Ski Resort: Set at the foot of the mountains, the resort offers gondola rides, zip lining and rock climbing; transforming into a winter wonderland during snow season with winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and iceskating.
- Recreation Trail: Park your car and get on this 5.5 mile path open all year long, that can be enjoyed by cyclists, runners, walkers and rollerbladers in the spring, summer and fall, and by Nordic skiers and snowshoers in the winter; this is a great way to discover downtown Stowe with its many quaint shops, pet-friendly restaurants and picnic spots.
- Stowe Cider: One of the best stops for hard cider, well-priced and stocked, they have a fresh flight menu. Be sure to try them out and pick some up for the road!
- The Alchemist: Whether you’re an IPA fan or not, this exceptionally well-planned brewery is worth a visit. Their flagship Heady Topper almost always sells out by noon!
- Ben and Jerry Factory: Yes, Vermont is the birthplace of this world famous ice-cream brand! Located in Waterbury, you can take a factory tour with tastings or just enjoy your favorite flavors in freshly baked waffle cones in their pet-friendly Scoop Shop.
- Lake Champlain Chocolate Factory: Dating back to 1983, this family owned chocolate factory prides itself on using no preservatives and local honey, maple syrup, and fresh cream instead. About an hour’s drive away in Burlington, they offer factory tours, tastings and sculpture demos through the week. They have a factory store in Waterbury where you can hand pick your chocolates, hand-whipped fudge, ice-cream and other chocolate products.
- More Hikes: If you’re looking for more hiking adventures, there are numerous other trails in Stowe such as the Pinnacle trail, Moss Glen Falls trail, Bingham Falls trail, Sterling Pond trail, and the Smuggler’s Notch trail; all of which offer spectacular views of the surrounding region.
On our drive back from Vermont to New York, we also swung by Montpelier which is the capital of Vermont. With a population of less than 8,000, Montpelier is the smallest state capital in the United States. It is a small charming city with an eclectic downtown; a lively arts and music scene, and great restaurants. Three days was definitely not enough for discovering Stowe and it left us asking for more. We can’t wait to go back to this lovely town again!
