10 Things To Do In Stowe, Vermont in Winter

We go on an annual snowboarding trip.  We usually go out west however, this year since I am pregnant, we decided to stay at a lower altitude just in case.  We decided to try out Stowe, Vermont since it is part of the Epic pass which my husband had purchased before we found out we were expecting.

My parents came with us because they love New England. Since Ryan planned on snowboarding every day, it was nice to have some extra hands to help out with our toddler and someone to go exploring with each day.

Stowe, Vermont is a quintessential New England town in the Green Mountains.  Stowe was settled in 1763.  In the 19th century, Stowe became a popular summer resort.  Today Stowe is known as “The Ski Capital of the East.”

Getting There

 If you live in New York or New England, you can drive to Stowe.  If you are flying, you can fly into Burlington International Airport which is only a 45-minute drive from Stowe.  We flew into Boston Logan International Airport, rented a car, and drove 3 hours to Stowe. 

Where to Stay

The Lodge at Spruce Peak is a hotel at the base of the mountain if you want a ski-in-ski-out option.  There are also quaint hotels and inns all along Mountain Road from Main Street to the Stowe Mountain Resort and the Trapp Family Lodge, which is an Austrian-style resort.  We chose an Airbnb halfway between Main Street and the mountain because we like having a full kitchen, washer and dryer.  Our Airbnb also had 2 bedrooms with 2 king-size beds and 2 full bathrooms, which was perfect for our two families.

Things to Do in and around Stowe

Skiing or snowboarding is the obvious thing to do when visiting Stowe in the winter.  The Stowe Mountain Resort has two mountains, Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield and there is a free gondola that connects them.  There are a total of 127 trails and 12 lifts between the two mountains.

If skiing or snowboarding isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other things to do in and near Stowe.

Après Ski/Restaurants

 Stowe has a great Après Ski scene.  There are a lot of restaurants and 5 breweries.  We went to the Whip Bar and Grill twice, once for lunch and once for dinner and both meals were incredible.  We all ordered something different and everyone said their meal was delicious. We also ate at Piecasso twice.  It was so good that we ordered the same thing both times.  I highly recommend the Insalata Mista and the Margherita Pizza.  We ordered takeout from Sushi Yoshi which was also delicious.  We had the Fried Rice, Shrimp Pad Thai and Seafood Delight.  Everyone loved their meal.

If you are not skiing or snowboarding you can still take the gondola to the top of Mount Mansfield for lunch at Cliff House Restaurant and for some great photo ops.  Keep in mind you have to pay to ride the gondola and reservations are recommended before arriving at Cliff House. 

Explore The Village at Spruce Peak

The base of Spruce Peak Mountain is known as The Village, where you can find shops, restaurants and ice skating in the winter.  In the summer they have lawn games, weekly farmer's markets and live performances.

Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour

 The Ben and Jerry’s Factory is just outside of Stowe.  They have a 30-minute guided tour, a gift shop and an ice cream shop.  During the summer, they have an outside area to enjoy your ice cream and a playground for the kids.

Main Street

Main Street Stowe is quaint.  It has a bakery, a coffee shop, restaurants, boutiques, country stores, galleries, and specialty markets.  There is also The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum, a public library and the Stowe Community Church, which is one of the oldest non-denominational churches in the country.  We found free parking and walked around for a few hours. 

Trapp Family Lodge

If you have time, visit the Trapp Family Lodge.  It is an Austrian-style resort on 2,600 acres overlooking the mountains.  They have cross-country skiing and snowshoe trails along with backcountry skiing in the winter and hiking and biking trails in the summer.

The movie The Sound of Music is based on the von Trapp family. In the early 1940s, the von Trapp family toured the United States as the Trapp Family Singers before eventually settling in Stowe, Vermont, on an enchanted farm with sweeping mountain vistas reminiscent of their beloved Austria. In the summer of 1950, they began welcoming guests to a rustic, 27-room family home/lodge.  The entire property is still owned and operated by the von Trapp family.

Sleigh Ride

If you have always wanted to take a sleigh ride in the snow, make sure you visit the Gentle Giants Sleigh and Carriage Rides, located right off Mountain Road.

Stowe Recreation Path

The Stowe Recreation Path is a 5.3-mile trail from Stowe Village to Top Notch Resort.  During the winter it is used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing and in the spring, summer and fall it is used by cyclists, runners and walkers. 

Cold Hollow Cider Mill

The Cold Hollow Cider Mill is worth stopping in.  They have homemade apple cider, apple cider donuts and delicious fudge.  You can also watch them making the apple cider. They have a gift shop with other specialty foods, kitchenware and clothing.  There is also a café and tasting room.

Visit Downtown Burlington

Downtown Burlington is about 45 minutes from Stowe and overlooks Lake Champlain.  We enjoyed walking along Church Street Marketplace, which is for pedestrians only and is lined with shops and restaurants.    

There is something for everyone in and around Stowe.  We had a wonderful winter getaway.  It snowed several times while we were there, making it look like a real-life winter wonderland.

Looking for another ski or snowboard vacation idea? Check out my travel guide to Steamboat Springs, Colorado: Steamboat Springs: A Winter Travel Guide

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