Wow, we had no idea there were SO many amazing things to do in Stowe, Vermont! When we first went hunting for the best fall foliage in New England, Stowe was just one of the many places we had on our list to see. But from the second we got there, we absolutely fell in love! The adorable Main Street, lush surrounding mountains, and friendly townspeople made us feel like we were transported into an episode of Gilmore Girls. And while this town is absolutely incredible in the fall, it’s a total gem year-round!
In this blog, we’ll cover the top 14 things to do in Stowe and all the reasons we fell in love with this place so that you can plan the most amazing trip here! You can also join a small group tour if you want someone to plan out everything for you!!
Where is Stowe, Vermont?
Stowe, Vermont, is in north-central Vermont. It’s about 22 miles north west of Vermont’s capital, Montpelier, and 36 miles east of the popular town of Burlington.
14 Things To Do in Stowe, Vermont
1. Stroll down Stowe Main Street
Stowe has to have one of the cutest main streets in the country. Taking a leisurely stroll through the different shops and restaurants on Main Street and popping into the Stowe Visitor Center is definitely a must when you visit. And while you’re there, you can’t miss the adorable white steeple of Stowe Community Church!
2. Go Apple Cider Tasting
Going apple cider tasting is a MUST when you visit Stowe! Apples are the official state fruit of Vermont, and after tasting the cider, we can absolutely see why. The apple cider in Stowe was hands down the BEST apple cider of my life. We also got to tour the old school pressing room, where they make the cider – so fun!
Here’s where to find the best apple cider in Stowe, along with the fun tour and unbeatable apple cider donuts!
3. Tour the original Ben & Jerry’s factory
Did you know that the super popular Ben & Jerry’s ice cream originated in Stowe, Vermont?? We actually had no idea until we were there, and I’m so glad one of our friends pointed it out to us! You can tour the factory and then grab a Half-Baked ice cream at the flagship store (okay, okay, you can get whatever flavor you want, but if you’re not getting half-baked, are you really living?? Step aside, Cherry Garcia fans..).
It’s a really neat experience because Ben & Jerry’s has always been very vocal on human rights issues, and there are tributes to that throughout the factory. You can really see evidence of their commitment to racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, fair trade, criminal justice, democracy, and more. This really stood out to us because many companies wouldn’t be so loud about these issues, and it’s fantastic that Ben & Jerry’s has this so ingrained in their culture.
Another super neat part about the Ben & Jerry’s factory is that they have a “flavor graveyard” to tour. This is where they put to rest and pay tribute to the flavors that they’ve retired. We thought we’d just pop in and see what it was about, and ended up staying for 20 minutes and reading every single tombstone because they were hilarious! How forthright they are about the failed flavors and the witty rhymes about their demise had us cracking up. Definitely don’t miss this part of the factory!
4. Hike Sunset Rock
Sunset Rock is a beautiful little hike right near Main Street. You can hike right from town on the trail here or drive up to the parking lot and start your trek from the trailhead. Either way, it’s not a very long or hard hike, but it gives some beautiful vantage points over the town.
5. Taste real Vermont maple syrup
No trip to Vermont is complete without a taste of their famous maple syrup. When we polled people on Instagram asking about where the best maple syrup was in Vermont, all the locals said anywhere with a Vermont label! So that was a good start.
Anyways, we went on a tasting tour in Woodstock (more on that below), but Stowe has great options for this too! The most popular maple syrup spot in Stowe is the Nebraska Knoll Sugarhouse. It looks like the quintessential Vermont cabin that you’d see on a syrup label, and you can learn about and taste all the different kinds here.
6. Visit the Trapp Family Lodge
Whether or not you’re a Sound of Music fan, the Trapp Family Lodge is a historic must-see in Stowe. After fleeing Austria, the Von Trapp Family settled here in Stowe in the 1940s. They said the mountain views of the property reminded them of their homeland of Austria. The Trapp Family Lodge opened in 1950 and, after a fire in 1980, they built the lodge that’s there today. The mountain resort property spans over 2,500 acres and is still owned and operated by the Von Trapp family.
You can book a stay at this Austrian-inspired lodge here or just visit for a peek into the history.
7. Explore Smugglers Notch State Park
Smugglers Notch State Park is a beautiful area just northwest of Stowe. There is a gorgeous, windy road up here that takes you through the lush trees and plenty of hiking trails, too!
8. Indulge in Piecasso Pizza
We’d heard about the Pizza in the northeast (predominantly in places like New Haven, Connecticut, and NYC), but the pizza at Piecasso in Stowe certainly lived up to the hype! If pizza is on your New England bucket list, definitely head that way.
9. Go on a scenic bike ride
Just behind the Stowe Community Church, there is the Stowe Recreation Path. This is the perfect paved path for a scenic bike ride through Stowe. You can rent bikes (or e-bikes) at AJ’s Ski & Sports and then hop on the trail from there!
10. Take a gondola ride to the top of Vermont
From Stowe, you can take the Gondola Skyride to the top of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s tallest mountain! In addition to the gorgeous views and access to different hiking trails, there’s also a place to eat at the top called The Waffle. Make sure to check the website for availability, as it’s usually only open Mid-July to mid-October.
11. Road trip to Woodstock
Woodstock, Vermont, is the quintessential Vermont farm town. While it’s about an hour and a half away from Stowe, it makes for the perfect day trip. One of the best things to do here is admire all of the stunning farms along Cloudland Road. Our favorite (and the most popular) is called Sleepy Hollow Farm. While it is private property, it’s a beautiful place to admire from the road. (Make sure to be respectful of the residents)
Our other favorite activity in Woodstock was cheese and syrup tasting at Sugarbush Farms (sounds dreamy, right?). In addition to maple syrup, Vermont is world-famous for its cheese. During our tour, we must have sampled at least 10 different kinds, and all were out of this world!
While at the farm, you can also go on a maple walk, which is a nature walk to see all of the maple trees and how they are. You can also tour the factory and learn how they make the syrup. We even got to smell and see where they were smoking their award-winning cheese, which was quite the experience. If you have time for a day trip, this is a must-do!
12. Seek out the best pancakes in the world
If you know anything about us, it’s that we are pancake-aholics. During our 6 years together, we’ve had pancakes for breakfast EVERY morning we’ve been home. And when we were traveling abroad full-time, we sought out pancakes for a little taste of home in too many countries to count (Bali, Indonesia, and Split, Croatia won, for those wondering).
That said, we figured if Vermont has the best maple syrup, they’re bound to have the best pancakes, too, right? Let’s just say we were NOT disappointed. If you’re willing to drive 45 minutes into Winooski, VT, you’ll find the BEST pancakes we’ve ever had. It’s hard to make a to-go box of pancakes look appetizing, but take my word for it. The pancakes at Sneakers Bistro are worth the trek!
13. Conquer the Great Vermont Corn Maze
The Great Vermont Corn Maze is the biggest corn maze in New England and is only an hour outside of Stowe. It covers 24 whole acres and is the perfect fall activity! Make sure to get tickets in advance here and note that they are only open August through mid-October.
14. Have fun with winter sports
During the winter months, Stowe Mountain Resort offers incredible skiing. In fact, Forbes named Stowe one of the Top 10 Ski Towns in the US! If winter sports are your thing, Stowe is the perfect place in the northeast to head to.
When to go to Stowe, Vermont
September through February are the most popular times to visit Stowe. This is because it’s known for gorgeous fall foliage and some of the best skiing in the northeast. That said, it’s also popular to visit as a summer getaway in July and August. March through June are the quietest months, but visiting at this time should still be beautiful. Truly, it seems like there isn’t a bad time to visit Stowe.
Stowe, Vermont, in the Fall
Stowe, Vermont, is absolutely magical in the fall, which probably comes as no surprise. The town of Stowe, like many parts of New England, is a leaf-peeper’s dream. Whether you’re just strolling Main Street, driving up Smugglers Notch, or hiking up Sunset Rock, the fall foliage is everywhere!
The town certainly made our list of top 10 places for fall foliage in New England – make sure to read about what the other 9 are!
Where to stay in Stowe
There are quite a few adorable places to stay in Stowe! There’s everything from grand lodges to quaint boutique hotels. You can check out all of the accommodations in Stowe here, and below are some of our top recommendations.
- The Trapp Family Lodge is obviously a great option. It’s super quaint with gorgeous Austrian-inspired architecture and incredible mountain views, not to mention the history.
- Sun & Ski Inn and Suites is a great option for walkability into the town and more modern-style accommodations.
- The Lodge at Spruce Peak is a gorgeous lodge that is in the perfect location if you want to ski.
How to get to Stowe, Vermont
Vermont is super easily accessible by car via both VT-100N and VT-108. If you type ‘Stowe’ into the GPS, it will take you right to the heart of Main Street.
Airports near Stowe, Vermont
The closest airport to Stowe is Burlington International Airport, 45 minutes away in Burlington, Vermont. Other airport options would be Montreal, which is 2.5 hours away (plus a border crossing), or Boston Logan, which is 3.5 hours away.
Have a great time in Stowe!
