Stowe located in the state of Vermont nestled in the foothills of Mount Mansfield is a charismatic town to explore its beauty. Although its known as the town of all seasons, one of the best times to visit it is during the fall and winter, as it transitions from the golden orange color to the calm white beauty.
Surrounded by the mountains, the charm and the picturesque landscapes of this little town will woo you! It offers a variety of activities such as leaf peeping, skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding to name a few.
The gondola rides to the top of Mount Mansfield offer spectacular views and a must while visiting Stowe. With every season you have a reason to visit Mount Mansfield! Be it exploring the blazing colors of fall or skiing the steep slopes or just enjoying the natural beauty from the summit! In the winters, the temperatures are very cold on the summit so make sure you dress appropriately with all the winter gears!
Timings: 9.30 am to 4.00 pm, however, they stop selling the tickets by 3.30 pm.
Price: $29 for Adults and $20 for Children.
One can enjoy a sumptuous meal at the Cliff House Restaurant as you admire the panoramic views of the snow clad alpines. They are open for lunch from 11 am to 3 pm when the gondolas are functional.
A must for coffee connoisseur, Artisan Coffee and Tea store is a famous joint for maple lattes with freshly brewed coffee from scratch. It has coffee workshops and tours as well.
Fall Foliage: (Aug to Oct)
Vermont is one of the northernmost states of the US, nature showcases are prettiest during fall with changing colors, cooler temperatures, and outdoor activities.
With these changing colors, we experienced staying in the wilderness and took a unique opportunity to call a tree house our stay-cation in the Green Mountain forest. This economical and tiny tree house just uphill from beaver pond provides a cozy, relaxing couple getaway with minimal amenities (double bed, water, propane heater, composting toilet) and NO electricity/cellular network.
Driving through the route 100 north towards Stowe, Sugarbush region of Vermont is known for its golf course surrounded by natural vistas. Taking a few minutes to ponder from the Sugarbush resort cafe overlooking the golf course is worth it.
Fall to-dos:
Scenic Route 100:
Also known as the Mad River Scenic Route is Vermont’s most driven road during fall. This route crosses the heart of the state by passing beautiful towns of Sugarbush, Warren, Granville. A day and a picnic basket are all you need to enjoy the beautiful scenery surrounding the route 100.
Visit the Waterfalls: Moss Glenn and Warren Falls:
Right off route 100 near Granville is a lightly trafficked 0.5 miles trail leading to Moss Glenn waterfall. It is a short easy, kid and dog-friendly walk.
Another right off the road, in the heart of the Warren County, is a small hidden gem known as swimming hole (as locals in Vermont refer to) gushed in by Warren Falls surrounded by mighty rocks. It is a great place for cliff jumping and short hikes to the falls.
Winter Glamour: (Nov to March)
Visit this little gem of Vermont, Stowe, during the winter holiday season, is a perfect weekend getaway for the New Englanders! The town is lit up with the Christmas decor and has a festive touch to everything.
With many beautiful resorts in the town, our stay at the Green Mountain Inn , located in the main downtown area was exceptional. It was convenient to walk around the town from this location and enjoy the festive spirits. It also had an outdoor heated pool which was perfect to enjoy the cold and snowy evenings.
If you are a nature lover and would like to immerse yourself in the magic of Stowe and the mountains, we would highly recommend The Stowehof.
Winter to-dos:
Snow activities
Acclaimed as “The Ski capital of the east”, Stowe is a perfect location for all the snow and winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and ice skating. Its a paradise for the snow lovers with activities for all age groups.
Horse Sleigh
Experience the beauty of Stowe with the amazing Horse sleigh riding along the river and through the white forests; over the mountain top with your beau or your loved ones! We opted to go for the Gentle Giants Sleigh Rides & Carriage Rides. The tickets were around $50 per person during the festive season. It is highly recommended to book the tours in advance. One of the other recommended ones is the sleigh rides by Trapp Family Lodge.
Trapp Family Resort
For the fans of the legendary American classic “The Sound of Music”, this is a must visit location. The Austrian inspired resort, once home to the von Trapp Family and Trapp Family Singers is now an exotic mountain resort with a myriad of things to do. They offer tours for their property as well as von Trapp brewery tours.
Enjoy the winter evenings at Apres-ski parties, plunge into the hot water outdoor pools, book a relaxing massage and explore all the local eateries in the town. Unwind, relax and enjoy your getaway with all the magic that Stowe has to offer!
~ Nomadic Traveler ~
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